PRIME MINISTER EDI RAMA WELCOMED TODAY JOSÉ MANUEL BARROSO, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. RIGHT FROM THE OUTSET OF THE MEETING, PRESIDENT BARROSO CONGRATULATED THE PRIME MINISTER ON GETTING CANDIDATE STATUS AND SAID THAT THE “UNION IS READY TO SEE ALBANIA AS A FUTURE MEMBER.”

President Barroso consigned Prime Minister Rama the Agreement between the Republic of Albania and the European Union on Albania’s Participation in the EU Program “Creative Europe”, with the intent to support and promote Albanian art and culture.

President Barroso underlined that the status of candidate country takes relations with the EU to a new level, but at the same time it marks the beginning of a period of challenges, such as modernization of the country, economic development, consolidation of the rule of law and fight against crime and corruption. “The European Commission” assured President Barroso, “will always be by your side and will always support you in all your endeavors.”

Prime Minister Rama said that for the Albanian Government candidate status means taking on a new and greater responsibility and, at the same time, intensifying efforts to expand and deepen reforms to transform and modernize the country.

President Barroso thanked Albania also on behalf of the Commission for its constructive role in the region and for the approach the Albanian Government has taken in regional relations.