European Parliament Opens Contact Office in Albania, Strengthening EU Engagement in the Western Balkans

 Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, the European Union has taken a significant step to reinforce its engagement with the Western Balkans by opening a European Parliament contact office in Albania. This decision underscores the EU’s commitment to strengthening ties with the region and supporting its path toward European integration.

 

The European Parliament officially announced that Tirana has been chosen as the location for its contact office for the Western Balkans, while another office dedicated to Eastern Europe will be established in Moldova. According to the announcement, the Tirana office will serve as a key communication hub between Brussels and national parliaments, civil society, and local partners in the region.

A Key Hub for Communication and Cooperation

“The office will promote the positions and activities of the European Parliament, particularly in relation to EU accession. It will support democracy and institutional reforms in the region and assist in the organization and follow-up of official visits by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs),” stated the official announcement. Additionally, the office will work to strengthen cooperation with other EU actors on the ground, as well as with international organizations and civil society groups.

By opening this office, the European Parliament aims to facilitate a closer and more structured dialogue between EU institutions and Albania, further integrating the country into the European framework. The presence of this office highlights the EU’s recognition of Albania’s role in the broader European landscape and its dedication to advancing democratic reforms.

Commitment to EU Enlargement and Regional Stability

The establishment of the contact office in Tirana reflects the EU’s broader strategy to deepen its engagement with candidate countries. “The creation of this office underscores the European Parliament’s strong commitment to supporting the Western Balkans on their path toward EU membership,” the statement added. It further emphasized that this initiative is aimed at fostering stability, democracy, and closer ties between the EU and its neighboring regions.

Currently, the European Parliament operates three external offices in New York, Jakarta, and Addis Ababa. The decision to establish additional contact offices in Albania and Moldova follows a previous decision by the Parliament’s Bureau to set up offices in Ukraine and Panama.

The opening of this office in Albania is a testament to the country’s increasing importance within the EU’s enlargement strategy. It signals a proactive approach from the European Parliament to ensure that Albania and other Western Balkan nations receive the necessary institutional support as they move forward on their European path.