The European Council President António Costa defended the idea that the European Union should “continue on the current path” of accession negotiations “as regards Western Balkan countries, and Montenegro and Albania in particular”, because “we are on a very good trajectory”, in response to recent proposals by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to grant Ukraine “associate member status” as well as “observer status” to the Western Balkan countries, together with privileged access to the single market before their full accession (see EUROPE 13872/3).
“We can always improve process, but today we must focus on implementing what is already under way”, António Costa said at a press conference in Tirana, alongside Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, during a tour of Western Balkan capitals ahead of the summit with EU, scheduled for 5 June in Montenegro.
According to Mr Costa, the main objective of Friedrich Merz’s proposals is to “find a solution” enabling Ukraine to be integrated, a country whose integration many believe will take longer. He called for “continuation on the current path” with Montenegro and Albania, recalling work already begun on drafting Montenegro’s future Accession Treaty, while Albania has now opened all negotiation chapters and can begin provisionally closing some of them after meeting the interim benchmarks for the cluster of chapters devoted to the fundamentals. Albania’s aim of concluding accession negotiations by the end of 2027 is “difficult, but possible”, he said.
Asked about the tourist complex project in which private investment firm Affinity Partners, led by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, is interested in the protected wetland area of Vjosa-Narta, António Costa refused to comment on “specific project”, but indicated that European Commission was in contact with the authorities and recalled that Albania “will have to fully align its environmental legislation with the Community acquis” and “implement it”.
For his part, Edi Rama stressed that the project is in the study phase and assured that it would comply with EU standards and even “higher standards”. (Original version in French by Ana Pisonero Hernández)