EESC President

In a meeting and a joint press point at the European Parliament today, 19 September, Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania and EESC President Oliver Röpke reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Albania and the European Union, with a focus on the role of civil society.

The meeting comes at a pivotal moment as Albania continues its EU integration efforts. "Albania's progress toward EU integration is commendable", Röpke noted.

The two leaders expressed their determination to complete the next steps for the establishment of the EU-Albania Joint Consultative Committee (JCC). This committee is expected to play a key role in ensuring civil society's involvement in the EU accession negotiations.

"We are ready to set up the JCC", said the Prime Minister and the President.

Prime Minister Rama expressed optimism about Albania’s future within the EU and reaffirmed his government’s dedication to the necessary reforms. "Albania remains fully aligned with EU policies, and we are committed to accelerating our path toward membership," he stated, ahead of his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Both leaders highlighted the importance of the Enlargement Candidate Members (ECM) initiative of the EESC, which already involves civil society in the EU decision-making process. This initiative was launched in February this year, with the presence of Prime Ministers Edi Rama and Milojko Spajic from Montenegro at the inaugural EESC plenary session.

"Civil society's involvement and social dialogue are critical to keeping the momentum for EU enlargement," Röpke added.

As Albania continues its EU accession journey, the cooperation between the EESC and Albanian civil society remains a cornerstone of progress. The next steps include finalizing the JCC’s structure and scheduling its inaugural meeting, which is anticipated in the coming weeks.