On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister. They speak to the press following their meeting.

press point

meeting

official visit

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

EU - Albania (T)

Tirana

Albania

RAMA, Edi

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: meeting with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister, and extracts from the press point

SOUNDBITE (null), Albanian Prime Minister Edi RAMA, (in Albanian) The main subject today was of course the integration process and the finding of a new deadline to open accession negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, You know, we felt the same delusion of the Albanian Civil society. Now we have to overcome some of the questions addressed to Albania and there is time and space enough to do it, ensuring that the questions will be good enough to persuade everybody of the unrelenting way we have to walk together. Because we have a common fate and a common future.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, It is very important that the accession process and other agendas are aligned with the great challenge that is reducing our reliance on coal by 2050 and improve the fight on climate changes to get a sustainable development model.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, I really appreciate that there is a bit of Italian contribution regarding this reform. We had been fighting the organize crime in a large part of the Italian territory and we are happy that our experience could be useful for others.

SOUNDBITE (English), Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister , <p>Albania has problems to solve: with justice, with rule of law, with organized crime, with corruption, everything you want. But exactly because Albania has these problems, we are not asking to become a member of the EU today. And why are we so much asking to open the negotiations? Because for us negotiations are know-how transfer from Europe to us and the only road-map that makes countries like ours to continue in a very clear and consolidate path of homework.</p>