8th January 2021 –Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka had a virtual meeting this Friday with the Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.
Minister Xhaçka commended the role of the Commissioner Varhelyi in the enlargement agenda, and valued the aid from the European Commission to deal with the damages caused by the earthquake and the pandemic effects during 2020. Minister Xhaçka appreciated the proposal of the Commission for an Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkan region, proposed in October 2020.
Minister Xhaçka emphasized that Albania has fulfilled her duties prior to the First Intergovernmental Conference, informing the Commissioner about the fulfillment of a functional Constitutional Court and the implementation of the electoral reform based on the recommendations of OSCE/ODHIR.
Minister Xhaçka deemed the positive decision of the Council in March 2020 to open the negotiations with Albania as historic and asked for the adoption of the approval of the negotiation framework for Albania and the holding of the first Intergovernmental Conference as soon as possible in 2021.
Earlier today Minister Xhaçka met with the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Albania, Luigi Soreca, whom she thanked for the Delegation’s and his personal support for the earthquake, pandemic and the integration process of Albania.
