European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Albania’s progress toward European Union membership, describing it as “record-breaking” during her official visit to Tirana.
At a joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama, Von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s strong support for Albania’s goal to complete accession negotiations by 2027.
“Albania is on the right path toward EU integration. I want to emphasize that the progress is remarkable — record speed. Your goal is to finalize negotiations by 2027, and we will stand by you every step of the way,” said Von der Leyen.
Addressing Europe’s current geopolitical challenges, Von der Leyen also spoke about the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, highlighting Albania’s clear stance in support of European values:
“The geopolitical moment is now. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has reshaped our continent, and every European nation must choose its side. Albania has made its choice very clear.”
Von der Leyen’s visit to Albania is part of her Western Balkans tour, focused on EU enlargement and the €6 billion Growth Plan for the region.
