TIRANA, Oct. 4 – Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn, who was in Tirana on Tuesday, said Albania is likely to open accession talks next year.
“In 2009, Albania submitted its formal application for EU membership. In 2014, it received the status of candidate country, and 2018 may be a very good year for opening negotiations,” Asselborn said at a press conference with his Albanian counterpart. “There are good opportunities and Luxembourg will continue to support it in this process.”
Minister Asselborn said recent events in the European Union, referring in particular to the events in Spain, the elections in Germany and Brexit, do not mean that the focus has shifted away from the importance of EU enlargement in the Western Balkan countries.
Like other countries in the Benelux region, Luxembourg usually holds a conservative views on enlargement, advocating for strict criteria before countries are allowed to advance, integration experts say.
The Luxembourg minister, who also covers issues dealing with immigration and asylum, also spoke about an influx of asylum seekers from Albania, including the issue of parents leaving behind their children for asylum-seeking purposed in European Union.
He said these were concerning issues that require immediate reaction and joint efforts.
Albania’s government is continuing its efforts to stop abuse of the visa-free travel regime, Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said at the press conference, including an awareness raising campaign on travel rights at border crossing points.
Asselborn also met with President Ilir Meta and Speaker of Parliament Gramoz Ruci during his visit.
