In a communication with journalists, Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj laid out the arguments about the European Council’s conclusions not to launch the accession negotiations.

During the press conference held at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Cakaj clearly highlighted that the EU decision not to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia is not related to the fulfilment of the conditions set for both countries, but to the political situation in which the EU is presently found.

‘Albania and North Macedonia were treated equally because both countries have fulfilled the conditions required for the opening of negotiations. Hence, postponement of the decision is not related to fulfilment by both countries of the conditions set, but to other circumstantial factors directly concerning the European Union reformation,’ Acting Minister Cakaj said in his speech.

According to him, whether the EU future is at stake, Albania cannot provide an answer to that.

‘The European Union will undergo their own process of reformation regarding the internal functional and institutional aspects,’ he underlined, saying that Albania has fulfilled the conditions required for advancing the vetting results, setting up the judicial bodies, and waging the fight against organised crime and corruption.

In the meantime, he confirmed his personal and institutional commitment to ensuring that integration is irreversible.

‘In terms of the reforms Albania has given an example across the region, while being actively engaged in delivering the European ideals in Albania,’ Acting Minister Cakaj ended his speech.