During his visit in Berlin, Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj met with the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.Discussions focused on the organisation of the donors’ conference to take place in Brussels on 17 February 2020, and the importance of the start of the EU accession negotiations for Albania in the course of 2020.

With reference to the meeting, the Head of Albanian diplomacy Cakaj in a Facebook post expressed particular appreciation for the French Government for their unstinting support for the restoration process in Albania, following the earthquake.

With reference to European integration, Cakaj pointed out that, ‘It’s beyond discussion that Albania has made undeniable progress, and has fulfilled all the requirements concerning the start of the EU membership negotiations!’Additionally, Cakaj stated that together with his French counterpart, they agreed on developing an intensive diplomatic and political communication for the purpose of the European project for Albania, immediately following the publication by the European Commission on the new methodology of accession negotiations.

‘Albania will continue to work ceaselessly, aiming to start of the EU accession negotiations,’ Cakaj ensured as he ended his post.