Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhacka met today with her counterpart, the Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva.
The meeting was focused on the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council regarding the enlargement process.
Minister Xhacka informed him about the reforms taken in Albania in fulfilling the prerequisites of the March 2020 Council.
Portugal, which has taken over the Presidency of the EU Council, from 1 January to 30 June 2021 is committed, under the motto for action, to work forward with the adoption of the negotiating framework for Albania and holding the first Intergovernmental Conference within June 2021.
The Portuguese chief diplomat underlined that the reforms undertaken so far by Albania are on the right track and that Portugal’s interest is to maintain the credibility of the EU in the region, through the implementation of the decisions taken.
Minister Xhaçka thanked her counterpart Silva for the support that Portugal has shown in Albania’s progress on the road towards the EU, and for the clear prioritization of the remaining work by the EU, for the enlargement agenda.
Both interlocutors assessed the impact of the pandemic in the respective countries and committed to be in contact to find imperative solutions, to combat its consequences, including cooperation on vaccines.
