
Prime Minister Edi Rama was present at the European Convention Center for the closing of negotiations for Chapter 20, which relates to "Enterprise and Industrial Policies".
At a press conference with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Irish Foreign Minister Thomas Byrne, Rama said that Albania wants to close as many chapters as possible.
Irish Foreign Minister Thomas Byrne stated that Albania has made steps forward towards integration.
Byrne underlined that he encourages Prime Minister Edi Rama to continue with reforms.
"Albania has closed Chapter 20. Albania continues to make progress. Tirana is committed to joining the European Union and we can encourage the Balkan country to move in this direction. I encourage Prime Minister Rama to continue with the reforms. We want to close other chapters with Albania within our Presidency ," said the Irish Foreign Minister.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama has welcomed the interim closure of Chapter 20 in the negotiation process for Albania's membership in the European Union, calling this another decisive step towards integration.
He emphasized that this is the fourth chapter to be closed within a few months, while underlining the goal to further accelerate the pace of negotiations.
Rama emphasized that Albania's progress towards the EU should not be measured only by the number of closed chapters, but above all by the reforms implemented, the strengthening of institutions and the tangible results achieved.
He thanked the Irish presidency, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and her team, as well as all EU member states for their trust and commitment to Albania's integration process.
“Today, Albania has taken another decisive step towards its deserved place in the EU, with the interim closure of Chapter 20. This is the fourth chapter to be closed within a few months.
We want to do double! Let's work together, Albanians and Irish, to "shake" this house and make this objective a reality.
Progress is not measured simply by closed chapters, but by reforms implemented to strengthen institutions and tangible results achieved.
"Thanks go to the Irish presidency and there is no doubt about Marta Kos and her team, but also to all member states, for their trust and commitment. We still have a long way to go, but we are ready to do it ," said Rama.
Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, in her speech at the Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, stated that Albania is at the forefront of progress towards the EU.
She emphasized that Albania's future lies in the EU.
"We are preparing for a wider European Union. We are taking the necessary steps to make this objective a reality. The future of Albania is in the European Union. With you, Mr. Prime Minister, we are moving forward towards this goal ," said Kos.