It is always a pleasure to see you and to be in Tirana. My experience is that Albanians carry Europe in their hearts. It's wonderful to be back. And you have been working hard to turn Albania's European dream into reality. So my first message is simple: the goal is in sight. Albania is among the frontrunners in our accession process. Since I was last here, Albania has made remarkable progress. You opened the final cluster of negotiating chapters. And in July, you closed your first three chapters. Including external relations. This is important progress. It means Albania is fully aligned with our common foreign and security policy. We see the world with the same eyes, and this is very important for the accession process. We stand together when our values and interests are challenged. I also want to convey not only to the Albanian people but also to the European Union citizens that Albania's membership will not only make Albania stronger. It will make our Union stronger too.
Nevertheless, now is the time to keep the focus. Because there is still work ahead. This leads to my second message. More reforms are needed across all open chapters. On justice. On the electoral framework. And the protection of your environment – Albania's breathtaking nature. Adopting reforms is important. And it is equally important to implement them thoroughly. To make sure they deliver real change, for the people of Albania. This requires genuine engagement across political lines. And a strong, continued dialogue with society, to address its concerns.
My third message is about the Growth Plan. You know the principle of the Growth Plan. We bring more EU investments to Albania. And, as you prepare to join our Union, we open parts of our Single Market to you already now. At the same time, you adopt the key reforms needed for your companies to compete and thrive in our respective markets. And to have a level playing field between Albania and the European Union's single market. This is how your economy can gradually converge with the Single Market of the European Union. As a result, Albania is doing very well on the Growth plan. You have achieved over 80% of reform steps. You have already received 213 million euro in EU funds. More payments are expected in the coming weeks. And we have achieved good results. I want to highlight three: You have joined SEPA, the Single European Payment Area. SEPA has the potential to save Western Balkan companies around 500 million euro a year. Transaction fees here in Albania have already fallen by more than 90%. Which is a real advantage for Albanian companies.
Secondly, we are also reducing roaming charges. Because it is a great opportunity of bringing people closer together. And I think we should really speed up on these negotiations. I promise that if you negotiate with us and the companies successfully, I come back on the day we abolish roaming surcharges here in Albania. And the business matchmaking between the European companies and Albanians is going strong. Last year, you hosted a very successful first Western Balkan investment conference. You mobilised 4 billion euro in new deals for the region. And I wish you an equal success for the second edition of this conference in November.
My last message is the following. You are getting ready. And so are we. Because enlargement is a two-way process. And the EU must be ready to welcome new members. That is why next week we will present our pre-enlargement policy reviews. We will look at our institutions, our policies, and our budget. To make sure our Union is ready to become larger, to welcome new members. And we will set out so-called Roadmaps on how to protect what lies at the heart of our Union. That is: our democratic values and the rule of law. Because the commitments made on the road to membership must continue to hold once a country has joined. Accession will always remain merit-based. But merit-based does not have to mean slow. Especially in today's geopolitical reality. That is why we will soon set out roadmaps for our most advanced candidates. Albania, of course, is among them. These roadmaps will turn the path to membership into concrete steps – what remains to be done, by when, and what progress should follow.
Dear Edi,
Tomorrow morning, I will have the pleasure of visiting the Emin Duraku school. When in 2019 the devastating earthquake struck Albania, and I remember these days and how horrible it was for the country, I told you, Europe will stay by your side. And we stayed by your side. EU4Schools is a program I really like, it is perhaps one of the most tangible and moving examples of this solidarity. With this programme, 63 schools were rebuilt or refurbished with EU support. Schools like Emin Duraku. Schools that are now welcoming and educating a new generation of Europeans. I am very much looking forward to this visit tomorrow.
