During a tour of several countries in the Balkan peninsula to promote European integration, Michel said that “Albania is part of our European family.”

In this context, together with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, he expressed his commitment to opening the negotiations, and pointed out that the country meets all conditions to take this step.

“The entry talks should start as soon as possible,” he said, adding that they will seek to start at the EU leaders’ summit in June.

The opening of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania have been blocked due to historic and cultural differences that Bulgaria uses as an excuse with Macedonia, although the group agrees to open the talks in March 2020.

jg/abo/mgt/hml