Taulant Balla, Chairman of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group and Co-Chair of the EU–Albania Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC), met with Andreas Schieder, the European Parliament Rapporteur for Albania, in Brussels.

During the meeting, Balla thanked Schieder for the draft resolution released by the European Parliament and for the positive assessment of Albania’s progress toward EU integration.

They focused on the accession negotiations and Albania’s strategic goal to complete technical talks by 2027. Balla reaffirmed Albania’s unwavering commitment to maintain its current pace. Notably, he highlighted the opening of all chapters in record time last year and emphasized the readiness to advance toward chapter closures as soon as the relevant conditions are met.

Moreover, the meeting recognized the European Parliament’s role and the annual report on Albania as key tools for deepening reforms. This includes strengthening the rule of law, consolidating democratic institutions, fighting corruption, and harmonizing legislation with the EU acquis.

Balla expressed gratitude for the European Parliament’s continuous support and Schieder’s personal engagement in monitoring Albania’s progress. He stressed that close cooperation between the two parliaments is essential for a transparent and democratically legitimate process.

As Co-Chair of SAPC, Balla emphasized the importance of structured parliamentary dialogue between the EU and Albania. He also confirmed his commitment to continue cooperation in upcoming meetings in Strasbourg.

Both sides reaffirmed that EU enlargement is crucial for European security and stability. Furthermore, they highlighted Albania’s full alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.