Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels/ Germany and the Netherlands welcome Albania's progress

2026-05-26 20:30:00, Politikë CNA

Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels/ Germany and the Netherlands welcome

The German Ambassador to Albania, Karl Bergner, reacted after the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference in Brussels held today.

Bergner congratulated Albania on achieving the interim objectives and expressed that Germany strongly supports our country's membership in the EU.

Further, in his reaction, the German ambassador states that the steps taken by Albania in the "Fundamentals" chapter group determine the speed on the path towards the EU.

" Achieving the interim objectives in the "Fundamentals" chapter group constitutes an important step in the process of Albania's membership in the European Union. I congratulate on this occasion all the citizens of Albania as well as all those in politics, administration and justice, who have contributed by being strongly committed in this direction.

Albania is part of the European family. Therefore, Germany strongly supports its membership in the European Union.

A strong rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and a pluralistic democracy are the core of European values. Thus, steps forward in the area of ??“Fundamentals” determine Albania’s speed on the path towards the EU.

Therefore, the achievement of the intermediate objectives constitutes the starting point for further steps by Albania in the function of strengthening the rule of law. The agreement on the IBAR is an expression of our clear expectation and encouragement for the continuation of the reforms, their resolute implementation in practice and the consolidation of the responsible institutions.

Respect for the independence of the judiciary and the unhindered fight against corruption, even in high-level cases, are non-negotiable conditions for Albania's progress in the EU accession process. This includes the fact that decisions regarding the lifting of immunity must be in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

"The EU member states have very clearly anchored these expectations in their Joint Declaration as conditions for the conclusion of the talks. Like other EU institutions and member states, Germany will follow the ongoing developments very closely and will support further reform steps ," the German ambassador said.

The achievement of the intermediate milestones by Albania has also been welcomed by the Dutch embassy in Tirana. In a response, the embassy states that the Netherlands strongly supports Albania's membership in the EU.

Focusing on the adoption of IBAR, the Dutch embassy says it expresses encouragement to continue the reforms.

Embassy statement

The achievement of interim milestones in the “Fundamentals” chapter marks an important step in Albania’s EU accession process. I congratulate all citizens of Albania, as well as those in politics, public administration and the judiciary who have contributed to this achievement with great dedication.

Albania is part of the European family. For this reason, the Netherlands strongly supports its membership in the European Union. A strong rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights and a pluralistic democracy are at the core of European values. Therefore, progress in the area of ??the “Fundamentals” sets the pace for Albania’s path towards the EU.

The achievement of these interim milestones thus constitutes the starting point for Albania's further steps in strengthening the rule of law. The adoption of the IBAR expresses our clear expectation and encouragement to continue the reforms, to ensure their sustainable implementation in practice and to strengthen the responsible institutions.

Respect for the independence of the judiciary and continued efforts against corruption, including in high-level cases, are non-negotiable conditions for Albania's progress in the EU accession process. This also includes ensuring that decisions on lifting immunity are taken in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

EU Member States have set out these expectations very clearly in their Common Position as preconditions for the conclusion of the negotiations. Like the EU institutions and other Member States, the Netherlands will continue to closely monitor further developments and support reform efforts.