Last week, ALDE Party Vice-President Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP visited Albania. On the agenda of his visit were meetings with representatives of the government of Albania as well as leading members of the opposition, where he addressed questions of justice reforms and the fight against corruption, challenges for democracy and electoral reform, the European path of Albania.

In addition he met with representatives of the Legality Movement Party.

Ilhan Kyuchyuk said:“It was great to visit Albania where I met the leadership and youth organisation of the Partia Levizja e Legalitetit and discussed the possibilities for future partnership. In practice, there is no liberal party in Albania, but it has the potential for it. This should motivate us to develop our political relations in the country, which is in the interest of Albanian democracy and Europe as well.”

The mission of @ALDEParty in #Albania is in progress. Yesterday I had a meeting with potential partners from Legality Movement Party. I would like to thank @GjanajSuleman for organizing it. pic.twitter.com/qVSXQbP2W7

— Ilhan Kyuchyuk (@ilhankyuchyuk) July 13, 2018

Kyuchyuk continued: “It was a pleasure for me to meet with Albania's Justice Minister Etilda Gjonaj with whom we have discussed the reform of the country's Electoral Code. I also met with Vasilika Hysi and Edi Paloka, two of the Vice-Presidents of the Albanian Parliament, and discussed the European path of Albania, the state of democracy and human rights.”

Today I had a very productive and fruitful meeting with Albanian minister of #Justice @GjonajEtilda. We talked about ongoing justice reforms and the fight against #corruption. @ALDEParty mission in #Albania pic.twitter.com/bdS0BseQ7s

— Ilhan Kyuchyuk (@ilhankyuchyuk) July 13, 2018

Another important meeting during my visit in #Albania. Today I had the opportunity to meet Vasilka Hysi, Deputy speaker and chair of subcommittee of #humanrights. We had a constructive discussion about electoral reform and parliamentary dimension of our cooperation. pic.twitter.com/tyfvZWMH4D

— Ilhan Kyuchyuk (@ilhankyuchyuk) July 13, 2018

Ending his comments, Ilhan Kyuchyuk said: “I welcome Albania's steady progress in pursuing reforms related to the five key priorities and appreciate the Council decision to open accession talks with Albania in June 2019 if conditions are met. We will continue to work for full integration of the Western Balkans in the EU.”