
The European Commission announced in a press conference that on Wednesday, September 30, President Ursula von der Leyen will embark on her tour of the Western Balkan countries from Tirana.
Von der Leyen will first meet President Bajram Begaj and then Prime Minister Edi Rama.
This visit comes after Ursula von der Leyen declared that she will present a concrete timeline for the membership of Albania and Montenegro.
The European Commission is ready to officially support the conclusion of Albania's EU accession negotiations in 2027.
On Thursday, the President of the European Commission will continue her regional tour in Pristina, where she will meet with the acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. She will then travel to Podgorica, and then to Skopje.
It is worth noting that Von der Leyen has postponed visits to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to a later date due to upcoming elections. The tributes held in both countries in honor of war criminal Ratko Mladić may also have influenced this decision of the head of the European Commission.