Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj had a working breakfast in the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs with the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Lithuanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Linas Antanas Linkevičius, and the Undersecretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Märt Volmer.
The meeting was focused on issues relating to Albania’s European integration, concerning which these countries pledge absolute support for the immediate start of the EU accession negotiations.
In the press conference held at the end of this working breakfast, Cakaj stated that the new form for negotiations assures the Member States in general, and the sceptical States in particular, that progress towards the EU membership will directly be made conditional on the tangible progress, far-reaching reforms, and sustainable development.
Additionally, the Head of Albanian diplomacy pointed out in his speech that, ‘Albania definitely welcomes the new methodology considering the need for EU’s reliability to improve across the Western Balkans.’
In reference to the Progress Report that came out immediately following introduction of the new methodology, Cakaj announced that the European Commission has once again recommended the immediate start of the EU accession negotiations, based on Albania’s major accomplishments.
‘The Report highlights that Albania is an exemplary case of action being taken in absolute accordance with the European Union’s foreign policy and security policy,’ Cakaj pointed out.
Furthermore, Cakaj voiced the all-out commitment of the Government of Albania so as to help translate the Commission’s technical evaluation into the Council’s political will, through structured and intensive work.
In the end, Acting Minister Cakaj expressed gratitude to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, also for the unstinting technical and institutional support so as to help build Albania’s institutional and professional capacities in the course of integration.
 
Joint Statement of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as well as the Estonian Undersecretary for European Affairs, having paid a joint visit to North Macedonia and Albania on 3-5 March 2020, express our determined and unequivocal support for the European aspirations of the Western Balkan states and the firm, merit-based prospect of their full European Union membership.
In this context we strongly hope that the Council will agree this month to start the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, following the European Commission’s renewed positive recommendations and assessment of both countries’ reform efforts as well as the Commission’s Communication on enhancing the accession process. This decision is needed to reaffirm the commitment and credibility of the EU enlargement policy.
 
As representatives of countries who have joined themselves the European Union 16 years ago, we share the common belief that the EU enlargement policy contributes to the stability, security and prosperity both in the Western Balkan region and Europe as a whole. The European integration of the Western Balkan countries should thus remain a strategic political objective for the EU.
 
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland remain committed to supporting and assisting the Western Balkan states in their continued reform efforts linked to the accession process, both bilaterally and in the framework of the European Union and other multilateral formats. The speed of the accession negotiations should be determined solely by the progress in reform areas set out by the Commission and the Council, adherence to the EU values and the Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment.
 
Joint Statement of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as well as the Estonian Undersecretary for European Affairs, having paid a joint visit to North Macedonia and Albania on 3-5 March 2020, express our determined and unequivocal support for the European aspirations of the Western Balkan states and the firm, merit-based prospect of their full European Union membership.
In this context we strongly hope that the Council will agree this month to start the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, following the European Commission’s renewed positive recommendations and assessment of both countries’ reform efforts as well as the Commission’s Communication on enhancing the accession process. This decision is needed to reaffirm the commitment and credibility of the EU enlargement policy.
As representatives of countries who have joined themselves the European Union 16 years ago, we share the common belief that the EU enlargement policy contributes to the stability, security and prosperity both in the Western Balkan region and Europe as a whole. The European integration of the Western Balkan countries should thus remain a strategic political objective for the EU.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland remain committed to supporting and assisting the Western Balkan states in their continued reform efforts linked to the accession process, both bilaterally and in the framework of the European Union and other multilateral formats. The speed of the accession negotiations should be determined solely by the progress in reform areas set out by the Commission and the Council, adherence to the EU values and the Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment.