Remarks by President António Costa at the joint press conference with Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama

Thank you Prime Minister Rama, dear Edi, for your hospitality. I am really glad to be concluding my tour of the Western Balkans in Tirana.

As you know, for the European Union, the enlargement to the Western Balkans countries is the most important geopolitical investment we are doing. This is the right moment, and it is up to us to complete this process as soon as possible.

Albania embodies the European Union's enlargement momentum and Albania is on track to join the European Union.

The result of the elections this week re-confirm the desire of Albanians for European Union integration. Dear Edi, let me congratulate you once again on this impressive victory.

Albania's accession to the European Union is our common goal. It's not a question of 'if' or 'how'; it is a question of 'when'. You know exactly what needs to be done; I can only encourage you to keep your eyes on the objective and deliver on these last milestones.

Keeping up the pace and intensifying work on European Union reforms is now key, particularly rule of law and fight against corruption.

We also stand together on the global stage, determined to deepen our cooperation on issues related to security and defence. The recent first EU-Albania Security and Defence Dialogue is a prime example of our close alignment.

This week marks another milestone. You will host the meeting of the European Political Community, that will gather over 40 European leaders.

This meeting will take place for the first time in this part of Europe, and I want to commend the impressive organisation of this event. I look forward to a productive day and meetings tomorrow.

If you allow me to also use this opportunity to congratulate Federica Mogherini for taking the initative to open, in close cooperation with you, a campus of the College of Europe here in Tirana. Welcome to the students of this first year of the College of Europe in Tirana, Jacques Delors promotion.

Europe is not only about prosperity, it is not only about values. Europe needs faith for the future, for our common future together. And to give the name of Jacques Delors to this first promotion here in Albania is a very good sign, because Jacques Delors is effectively the father of the foundation of the European Union.

And now, dear Edi, it is the moment, like it was in '92, to make another big step, and fortunately you have good leg to make this big step.