Germany Reaffirms Support for Albania’s EU Path as Wadephul and Spiropali Highlight Continued Reforms

Today, Elisa Spiropali, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, welcomed Johann Wadephul, the German Foreign Minister, to Tirana on his tour of the six Western Balkan republics.
During the joint press conference, Wadephul commended Albania’s progress toward the European Union. He stressed the importance of ongoing reforms in the areas of justice, media freedom, and anti-corruption efforts. He reiterated that the Berlin Process is the primary mechanism for promoting regional reforms. He also stated that Germany will continue to play an active role in providing Albania with political and technical assistance.
Minister Spiropali thanked Germany for its continuous support, calling it an invaluable partner in the enlargement process. She emphasized that Albania has opened all negotiation clusters and is now awaiting a report on interim benchmarks, including judicial independence, the rule of law, and a merit-based public administration system. Spiropali stated that the government intends to finish technical negotiations by 2027 and achieve full membership within the next decade.
The German minister’s visit to Tirana comes at a time when Albania is preparing to advance in its negotiations with the European Union. This visit reiterates Albania’s commitment to European standards and values.