Brussels, 5 September 2024 (MIA) — Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani on an official visit to Brussels met Thursday with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Director-General Gert Jan Koopman to discuss the country's completion of the screening process and the next steps for the opening of Cluster 1 of the membership talks. 

According to the Ministry of European Affairs in a press release, they also discussed the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the Reform Agenda, the upcoming EC Report on the country, fostering good neighborly relations, and boosting regional cooperation.

Minister Murtezani informed Koopman about ongoing reform processes and confirmed the government's commitment to aligning with EU standards and values.

They also discussed the EU's expectations for the country to make the required constitutional amendments to progress on its path to full membership.

Murtezani highlighted the need of pre-financing to facilitate the implementation of the Reform Agenda and realize the main goal of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans for 2024-2027, which is that the region's citizens to feel some of the benefits of EU membership even before their countries' formal admission to the EU.

On his two-day Brussels visit, the Europe minister met with a number of top EU officials, including European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. mr/