Hello. Hello everyone. It is a special pleasure to welcome back the President of the European Commission on a day loaded with activity. Not only for the President's tour of the region, which begins with Albania, but also for the investment conference between the European Union and the Western Balkans, which is being organized for the first time and which will host a considerable number of enterprises from across the region. We aim to turn it into a tradition in the years to come.
With the President, we had a conversation that touched on all the topics of shared interest, and naturally, for us, it remains a very important moment. We value enormously the fact that the President and the current Commission give special importance to the Western Balkans and give special attention to the process of approximation of our countries with the Western Balkans. In this respect, we discussed the progress of Albania's negotiation process with the European Union — a process that, in our view, but also in what I heard from the President, is proceeding with great success and great speed. On the other hand, we also discussed the new growth plan that the European Union, the Commission under the leadership of President von der Leyen, has made available to the Western Balkans, giving every country the opportunity, despite the reform agenda and the achievement of objectives within this framework, to be financed by the European Union in support of the further deepening of reforms. I am very pleased that on this point as well, we received a very positive assessment from the President, and we will continue to carry out with precision and great perseverance all the tasks we have undertaken.
We also discussed strengthening cooperation in the region and strengthening security in the region, keeping in mind the necessity that we link ourselves much more strongly, in function of our being not just in Europe, but in the heart of the European Union from a geographical point of view, and in function of our tomorrow, which is in the European Union. We certainly also touched on the issue of Ukraine's resistance to the Russian aggression. And here too, we are fully in agreement that we must continue to support Ukraine without reservation, because there, in fact, among other things, there is a clash between one way of seeing the world and the understanding of coexistence based on the principles and values of the European Union and of Democratic Europe, and a completely different way of seeing the world that challenges and threatens these values and these principles.
This was more or less a brief summary that I can make, expressing a special thanks to the European Commission — not for protocol or for formality, but for the fact that the work we are doing to advance the internal processes related to reforms, related to the negotiation chapters, would not have been as successful as it has been so far without the continuous support of the Commission and of all the partners within the Commission who interact every day with our team. And certainly, I thank President von der Leyen not only for the fact that she returns to the region and returns to Albania, but for the fact that she returns unwavering in her support for the process of full membership of Albania in the European Union.
Thank you very much, Prime Minister Edi. A pleasure to be back in Albania and to start my traditional annual Western tour here in Tirana. And my first message is very clear: Albania is on the right track towards the European Union. You have come a long way, you have made progress, but I want to emphasize that there is a stunning and outstanding record-speed acceleration in the last three to four years. Five of six negotiation clusters are already open. We plan to open the last one this autumn, and I know the personal effort you, Prime Minister, and your team have invested in this journey. Your goal is to close negotiations by 2027. This is ambitious, but we like ambitions. And let me assure you, we will be with you on every single step of that way, because the geopolitical momentum is now. Russia's aggression against Ukraine has reshaped our continent. Every European nation must choose its place, and Albania has made its choice very clearly, aligned with European Union foreign and security policy. Together we are acting as one. Getting closer is not only about geopolitics, it is also about smart business, and we will discuss this at the investment conference later.
The principle is very straightforward: your economy gains access to our single market and new European investments, in exchange you deliver key reforms. This is how we get a level playing field with the Western Balkans and the European Union single market. In sum, the door of sectors of the single market is open to your companies, but our companies also gain a bigger common market, so it is a real win-win situation. And the growth plan has the potential to double the economy of the Western Balkans in this decade. We see it is already starting to deliver. Let me give you three precise examples. First, on reforms, I am glad to announce the disbursement of 100 million euros. Now it is about implementation, and I know that we are well on track. This is the road for Albania to access all the money under the growth plan, close to one billion. Second, the single euro payment area — in short, SEPA. I remember years ago when we first discussed Albania joining that extremely challenging process. Only a few years ago you made it happen in record time. Again, since last week, transfer of money between Albania and the European Union is safer and it is much, much cheaper.
In 2022, we achieved a landmark agreement — operators will very well remember that. Next year we will abolish all roaming charges between Albania and the European Union. It is good for business, it is good for tourism, and especially for bringing our people together. Prime Minister, my final point is perhaps the strongest case for enlargement: it is not economic and geopolitical, but the people. Albania wants Europe. A recent poll shows that if a referendum were held today, 92% of Albanians would vote for EU membership. And across our continent, Europeans are with you and support enlargement. And this is the clearest signal of all: our young generations want to live in a stronger, safer, and united European Union. Edi, I wish you every success. If you continue at this pace, access to the European Union is within reach.
Eksola Sheu, Euronews Albania. My first question is for you, Madam President. For years on end, the European Union has said the door is open for Albania, but this door is not opening yet, and Albanians are tired of constantly hearing about processes, about chapters, about negotiations. When will this door open, and what remains to be done? The question for you, Prime Minister, is about the same issue. You have often criticized the European Union for bureaucracy. Do you believe today that the European Union, despite all the bureaucracy, will be able to admit Albania in 2030? Thank you.
What Albania deserves is visible by now. As I just said at the beginning, it was a normal process of opening clusters and working on the reforms to join the European Union. I must say, for me, it is very impressive to see the acceleration in speed that increased in the last two years. And Prime Minister, the Albanian people know that reforms are in general good for us as democracies, to strengthen our country, and this is tangible and visible here in Albania. The success of the last years — I mentioned the investment conference — all these are positive steps forward. I can only say I am deeply impressed by the spirit that is here in Albania, and we are very focused on your ambition to be done by 2027.
