 |
| European Leaders in Tirana, May 16, 2025 |
In a heartfelt message shared on the social platform X, President Macron extended his gratitude to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama for the warm hospitality during the summit and emphasized France’s unwavering support for Albania’s EU accession.
“Dear Edi Rama, dear Albanians, thank you for your hospitality in Tirana and for our exchanges. The friendship between Albania and France is growing through concrete achievements. Your country belongs in the European Union. France supports you on this path,” Macron wrote.
Macron’s words were more than diplomatic courtesies—they carried the weight of France’s strategic vision for a unified Europe and reaffirmed Albania’s rightful place within it. His message resonates as a clear signal that the gates of the EU are not only open to Albania, but that its journey toward membership is seen as both legitimate and necessary by key European powers.
Adding to this wave of encouragement, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gave a powerful and emotive speech during the summit, stating unequivocally:
“Albania is Europe, just like Italy.”
Meloni highlighted the historical and cultural ties that bind Albania to the European family, and stressed that EU enlargement in the Western Balkans is not just a political objective—it is essential to the continent’s long-term stability and security.
“It is a crucial moment for the Albanian people and for all of us. Albania’s European identity is a historical fact. I always smile when someone tries to define who is European and who isn’t. All the countries around this table are part of Europe, just like the 27 member states.”
She also underscored that integration is not a matter of geography alone, but of shared values and destinies.
“We are taking a step forward in the process of Europe’s reunification. Enlargement means new challenges, but I firmly believe that integrating the Western Balkans is in the best interest of Europe’s security. Our futures are intertwined.”
A Moment of Real Possibility
The summit in Tirana has turned a hopeful chapter for Albania. With France and Italy—two of the EU’s founding and most influential members—publicly championing Albania’s path to membership, the sense of inevitability is growing stronger. What once seemed a distant dream is now a tangible horizon.
This wave of support isn’t just political—it reflects the growing acknowledgment that Albania has made significant strides in democratic reforms, governance, and regional cooperation. The tone set by Macron and Meloni paints a picture of a Europe that is ready to embrace Albania not as a distant neighbor, but as an integral part of its future.
A European Future Within Reach
There is now a renewed spirit across Albania—an optimism that the long and often arduous journey toward EU membership is nearing a turning point. As the European Union moves towards deeper integration and renewed unity, Albania is poised not just to join, but to contribute meaningfully to the European project.
With strong allies like France and Italy voicing support, and with a political will growing both at home and across the continent, Albania’s European future seems not only possible—but imminent.