Rosen Zhelyazkov to Bajram Begaj: Bulgaria consistently supports Albania's EU accession

Bulgaria consistently supports Albania's accession to the EU and takes an active position in favour of the key decisions for the country's European path. Speaker of Bulgaria’s Parliament, Rosen Zhelyazkov, said at his meeting with the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj. A Bulgarian parliamentary delegation, led by the Speaker of Parliament Rosen Zhelyazkov, is on an official visit to Tirana at the invitation of Albanian Parliament Speaker Lindita Nikolla.

Increased engagement with the Western Balkans and Eastern partners has become an integral part of the EU's response to the new geopolitical reality following Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, the Parliament Speaker noted. He pointed out that Bulgaria has never supported the artificial linking of the European paths of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. The acceleration of integration processes cannot and should not be at the expense of the principle of own merits, he added.

Albanian President Bajram Begaj. expressed his gratitude for Bulgaria's consistent support on his country's path towards EU membership. Your friendship and help are invaluable for the future of Albania, he underlined. The Albanian President wished Bulgaria to be able to benefit fully from its full Schengen membership as soon as possible.

We consider our relations as excellent and stable, built on a solid historical foundation, traditional friendship, cooperation and partnership, the President of the Parliament underlined. There are neither open nor contentious political issues between our two countries and we enjoy an active and fruitful dialogue, including at the highest and most senior levels, he added. He said an active approach to bilateral relations would help the two countries become more effective and competitive both regionally and globally. Let's keep the peace and expand trust between us, Rosen Zhelyazkov urged in conclusion.

There is potential for deepening cooperation between Bulgaria and Albania in the spheres of economy, trade, tourism and regional infrastructure connectivity, Rosen Zhelyazkov said. He underlined the strategic importance of Corridor VIII and added that as an EU member state, Bulgaria has invested significant efforts to include it in the expanded trans-European transport network as part of the Western Balkans/Eastern Mediterranean corridor.

Although the volume of bilateral trade has almost doubled between 2018 and 2022, our economic cooperation lags far behind the level of our political dialogue, the Parlament’s Speaker noted. He stressed that tourism has been the most dynamically developing sector in bilateral trade and economic relations in recent years, with a steady increase in the number of visits of Albanian and Bulgarian citizens to the two countries, as well as the gradual recovery of tourism flow levels to those before the pandemic. The launching of a regular Sofia-Tirana airline is at a very advanced stage and we hope to have flights within a year, Rosen Zhelyazkov said. According to him, this will undoubtedly facilitate contacts between companies in the two countries and the exchange of tourists.

Cooperation in the field of education, science and culture also occupies an important place in the bilateral relations, Rosen Zhelyazkov said. He stressed that his visit to Albania is another confirmation of the will of the two countries to continue discussing further development of their relations in all areas of mutual interest.

As regards the Bulgarian national minority in Albania, your country has some of the most hard-working citizens for the prosperity of their motherland and strong supporters for the European future of Albania, Rossen Zhelyazkov said. We look forward to the publication of the results of the recent census in Albania, the first since the recognition of the Bulgarian national minority, he added.

The Bulgarian minority has all the opportunities for development and absolutely equal rights with other Albanian citizens, the Albanian President stressed.

The Bulgarian delegation includes the Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Media and member of the Bulgaria-Albania Friendship Group Toma Bikov (GERB-UDF), MP Vanina Vetsina (WCC-DB), the Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy and Innovation and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy and Innovation. Hamid Hamid, Chairman of the Bulgarian-Albanian Friendship Group Kliment Shopov (“Vazrazhdane” Parliamentary Group), MP and member of the Bulgarian-Albanian Friendship Group Rumen Gechev (BSP for Bulgaria Parliamentary Group) and MP Pavela Mitova (“There is Such a People” Parliamentary Group).