The Speaker of the Parliament, Mrs. Lindita Nikolla, met this Wednesday in Brussels with the President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Maria Sassoli. The visit of Mrs. Nikola was realized in the framework of efforts to lobby for holding the first Intergovernmental Roundtable with the EU within 2021. 

President Nikolla thanked President Sassoli for his strong, personal and institutional support for the advancement of Albania and the Western Balkans region on the road to the EU. 

"Your initiative to establish a dialogue between the European Parliament and the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Western Balkan countries is an important instrument for accelerating the movement of the countries of the region towards the European Union. Despite the challenges and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Albania has advanced in its roadmap reforms towards the EU and has met all the priorities set by the European Council. 

We are confident that the European Parliament will influence the holding of the First Intergovernmental Roundtable with the EU by 2021. Albania has accepted the merit-based approach to membership talks and now it is the EU's turn to keep its promises and to bring us closer to the European Union. We think that it is unfair for the holding of the Roundtable for Albania and Northern Macedonia to be hindered by factors that have nothing to do with our countries meeting the integration standards.", Noted Nikolla. 

President Nikolla briefed President Sassoli on the progress of developments and reforms in the country and the efforts to build a positive climate and constructive dialogue with the opposition. 

"The implementation of comprehensive justice reform has yielded good results and is advancing positively. The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court are already operational, while vetting is progressing steadily and yielding tangible results. Albania has made progress in strengthening the fight against corruption and organized crime, including increasing co-operation with EU member states and Europol. The Specialized Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) and the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) are operational. 

Albania continues to maintain a 100 per cent rate of approximation to EU foreign policy and has continued to engage constructively in dialogue with neighbouring countries, to address bilateral issues and guarantee good neighbourly relations. The Albanian Parliament is also facilitating the advancement on the path of EU integration, by cooperating closely with the Delegation of the European Parliament within the EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, as well as through parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation for regional or European initiatives," said Nikolla.

The President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Maria Sassoli, thanked Nikolla for the information on the achievements of Albania for the fulfilment of the integration reforms as well as for the contribution of the Parliament in support of the legitimacy of this process and underlined that the relations of the European Parliament with Albania and the Parliament are excellent. The European Parliament has had a constant commitment to opening of negotiations with Albania. 

"The European Parliament will continue to insist that the First Albania-EU Intergovernmental Roundtable be held as soon as possible. 
Albania has met all the requirements recommended by the European Council in 2020. It is important for us that Albania has political stability. The European Parliament will be the voice of Albania within the European Union. 

The European Union without Albania and the Western Balkans has a big and obvious gap. We should not disappoint the peoples of the Western Balkans with our delays in the enlargement process and allow room for non-Western influence in the region. The European Parliament will continue the cooperation with Albania and we will help you during the negotiation process", said Sassoli.