site.btaUPDATED Parliament Chair: Bulgaria Is Committed to Supporting Albania's EU Path

After meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, Elisa Spiropali, here on Thursday, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova said that Bulgaria will be committed to supporting Albania in every aspect of Albania's European integration. Spiropali is in Bulgaria for an official visit.

Kiselova added that the understanding of the Bulgarian state is that all countries in the Western Balkans should be part of the European Union on their own grounds and upon achieving the Copenhagen criteria. She noted the excellent bilateral relations that Bulgaria and Albania have.

Kiselova reported that this is the first instance of a head of a foreign parliament visiting Bulgaria during the term of the 51st National Assembly. She added: "Elisa Spiropali is here to show the great importance that the Bulgarian state attaches to the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union and the willingness of the Bulgarian state to support any country that wishes to become a full member of the European Union."

She praised Albania as a "champion in European integration", as it has opened 24 out of 31 negotiating chapters and is willing to open all of them by the end of the year.

Kiselova said that Spiropali's visit is taking place only a day after the European Parliament adopted the annual report on North Macedonia’s progress towards EU accession, which she described as a "sign for everyone in Bulgaria how we will continue to work with all countries in the Western Balkans".

Kiselova and Spiropali will participate in a forum organized by PanEuropa Bulgaria in Sofia's Central Military Club on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Spiropali's visit to Bulgaria also includes meetings with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and President Rumen Radev.