Topalli lobbies for visa liberalization in Brussels

TIRANA, March 17 – During the workings of Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) Speaker Jozefina Topalli had several meetings with representatives of European Parliament and counterparts of the EMPA’s member countries.
Topalli met with European Parliament President Pottering, chairman-in-office of the European Council Schwarzenberg and parliament heads of Jordan, Morocco, Monaco and Egypt.
She also met with Karel Schwarzenberg, Czech foreign minister, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, to discuss the visa liberalization issue.
“Parliamentary diplomacy has been focused with its mechanisms in this policy which is of an extraordinary interest to all our citizens,” said Topalli.
Schwarzenberg voiced more positive ratings for Albanian reforms undertaken along the integration process.
Topalli said that it was very likely that Europe would decide to liberalize visas for Albanians very early, probably later this year or next year.
Topalli also lobbied for Kosovo’s recognition when she met with the Egyptian counterpart.
Topalli also took part at the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly held in Brussels which discussed the global financial crisis and ways to resolve it.
The delegations of member countries of the Euro-Med Assembly, presented the economic situation of their countries.
Albania made another step closer to integration in the European family with their membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, Euro-Med.
Barcelona Euro-Mediterranean Conference has launched the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership with the objective of promoting peace and prosperity through a common strategy of political issues, security and economic, cultural and human exchanges.
The Assembly consists of 260 members, among whom 130 members of national parliaments of EU members and the European Parliament and 130 members of parliaments of the Mediterranean countries.