President of the Riigikogu to the Speaker of Albania: Our cooperation for security will continue
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar and Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Peeter Tali met with Speaker of the Parliament of Albania Niko Peleshi at the Riigikogu today.
President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar said at the meeting that Estonia and Albania were good allies in NATO. He acknowledged that Albania had contributed significantly to European defence and support for Ukraine. “Our cooperation for security will continue,” Hussar said. He noted that Albania had also made significant progress towards joining the European Union. “Like-minded countries must stand together. Estonia supports Albania’s accession to the EU. Albania’s membership would strengthen the European Union’s internal market and security.”
Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee Peeter Tali said that in order for Albania to join the European Union, it was important to continue with implementing reforms. He added that he was happy to see the country’s commitment and rare consensus regarding integration with the EU. “Albania’s plan is to close most of the chapters in its negotiations with the European Union by the end of next year and achieve full membership by 2030. This requires the support of all 27 member states,” he said. “Enlargement is a political decision, but consensus is always easier to achieve when the candidate country has done its homework perfectly.”
Bilateral relations, cooperation – particularly in the fields of defence industry and digital skills – as well as the situation in the Western Balkans, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and transatlantic relations were also discussed during the meetings. Member of the European Union Affairs Committee Urve Tiidus also participated in the meeting of the Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee with the Speaker of the Parliament of Albania.
In the morning, Peleshi met with President of the Republic Alar Karis and visited the Memorial to the Victims of Communism at Maarjamäe. The Speaker of the Parliament of Albania will also meet with Chairman of the Estonia-Albania Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu Eerik-Niiles Kross and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Andrei Korobeinik later today.
Photos ( (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]
