The minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, welcomed today the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Michael Linhart, who is paying a two-day visit in Albania.

Minister Xhaçka appreciated Austria’s continuous commitment and the unsparing support of the integration process and important reforms, making Austria one of the most powerful voices in support of the EU integration of Albania.

“Albania has made efforts to implement a range of important reforms, efforts that are recognized form the European Commission as well as member states. Austria is one of the countries that we share the same idea regarding the necessity to strengthen the engagement of EU and the political cooperation with Western Balkans. In these challenging times, where the phantoms from the past have started to resurface, we must rise to the heights of understanding the implications that come from developments in the region and to think that the revival of the EU integration perspective of the countries of the region be an efficient instrument to encourage the continuing of the reforms and the strengthening of the stability”, said the Minister in the joint press conference after the meeting.

On the other hand, Minister Linhart reconfirmed the engagement and the support of Austria to approve as soon as possible the Negotiation Framework and to hold the First Intergovernmental Conference with Albania during the Slovenian Presidency of EU.

Both Ministers agreed that there are positive signals from Bulgaria regarding the gridlock with North Macedonia that is holding back the integration process for both countries.

This visit is part of the regional tour that Minster Linhart is paying in the Western Balkan region, after being appointed as Federal Minister for Europe and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria.