Sofia Moreira de Sousa

Official account of the EU🇪🇺 Ambassador to Albania🇦🇱.

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Proper consultation with business and other stakeholders remains key to advancing reforms and ensuring effective implementation.
Looking forward to working together.
🇪🇺🤝🇦🇱 (2/2)

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Supporting small and medium-sized business & improving the investment climate are key to Albania’s🇦🇱 EU path.

Today, I had a good exchange with Minister Delina Ibrahimaj on #Albania’s EU🇪🇺accession process, the development of SMEs and attracting foreign direct investment. (1/2)

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Energy and transport connectivity ate two sectors that drive growth and tie Albania into the EU market. Today’s meeting with Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi gave the opportunity to prove the EU as a firm partner in both areas.

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

RT @EUinAlbania: A decade of EU-Council of Europe co-operation with Albania through the #HorizontalFacility has turned shared commitments i…

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Tere tulemast Tirana, ambassador Piret Urb!
Looking forward to working together.
#TeamEurope 🇪🇺🤝🇪🇪🇦🇱

[EU in Albania @EUinAlbania]

Connectivity in the Western Balkans is vital for its future in the EU, while also enhancing security and resilience in the region.

At the 12th edition of the Tirana Connectivity Forum, organised by the Cooperation and Development Institute, we touched base on the increased cooperation among the Western Balkan countries and their commitments to implementing the national reform agendas under the framework of the new Growth Plan🇪🇺.

Key takeaway: Albania and the region are shifting from a preparatory phase to one of delivery. 1/2

[EU in Albania @EUinAlbania]

New magistrate candidates at the School of Magistrates in Tirana today began their new academic year.

EU Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa addressed them, stressing the importance of the rule of law for Albania’s path towards EU membership and the important role they will play in the future of the country’s justice system.

“Your integrity and independence will be among the most important contributions you can make to the people you will serve. The justice system still needs to consolidate its efforts to improve judicial efficiency, maintain judicial independence and strengthen accountability. Without progress in the rule of law, the EU accession process cannot move forward. The EU is here to stand by you to achieve this goal”, said EU Ambassador Moreira de Sousa.

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

… with society.

The moment I will keep is the Emin Duraku School. Through EU4Schools, 63 🏫 have been rebuilt or renovated after the 2019 earthquake, and the children learning in them today are the reason this work matters. When 🇦🇱 joins, it will make our 🇪🇺 stronger too. 3/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Thank you, President Ursula von der Leyen, for coming to Tirana, and thank you to the Albanian authorities for the warm welcome.

"The goal is in sight," President @vonderleyen said, and Albania is among the frontrunners. That is the result of years of hard work by Albanians. 1/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Now the last stretch is the most demanding one: strengthening justice & the rule of law, the electoral framework and the protection of 🇦🇱's extraordinary nature. As the President put it, this requires genuine engagement across political lines & a strong, continued dialogue … 2/3

[EU in Albania @EUinAlbania]

Bylis is a site of great historical and cultural value for Albania, and the EU is proud to support its restoration.

Today, together with the Ministry of Culture and local authorities, we marked the start of civil and conservation works at Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park. This investment will help protect archaeological heritage and support local economic development. 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

… strengthen the rule of law.

We also discussed local governance, and how strong and efficient municipalities are essential to delivering for citizens. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

The rule of law remains central to Albania’s journey towards the European Union.

I congratulated Minister of Internal Affairs Ervin Demo on his appointment and we discussed the work ahead to continue to tackle organised crime, manage migration effectively and … 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

In her role as Deputy Chief Negotiator, we discussed the main issues and opportunities in view of the Cluster 1 closing benchmarks, and I had the chance to reconfirm the EU’s full commitment to supporting Albania🇦🇱.

#EUforAlbania #EuropeIsHere
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[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Albania’s EU🇪🇺 accession path is closely linked to the successful prevention and fight against corruption, and to an accountable public administration.

Pleasure to have met State Minister for Public Administration Reform and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni. 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Protecting the environment demands joint action, and the EU stands ready to support Albania in this work. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Environmental protection is one of the key challenges on Albania’s path to the EU.

At my meeting with Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj we discussed the reforms and action needed to meet EU standards. 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

I look forward to continuing this cooperation. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

In my first meeting with High Inspector of Justice Artur Metani, I discussed judicial independence, disciplinary proceedings, and future cooperation with 🇪🇺 support.

Strengthening justice reform is key to progress in the EU accession process and for the future of Albania. 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

An independent, well-resourced and efficient prosecution is central to the rule of law and Albania's EU path. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Justice and the fight against crime begin with a strong and well-functioning justice system.

I had a very good discussion with General Prosecutor Olsian Çela on the key challenges facing the prosecution service in delivering justice for citizens and fighting crime. 1/2