Sofia Moreira de Sousa

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

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

We also talked about reaching young people, children's rights, fight online and offline hate spreech, and conditions in places of detention.

An independent and effective People's Advocate is part of what makes a country ready for the EU. 3/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Rule of law and fundamental rights are at the heart of Albania's EU accession.

Yesterday I presented the 2026 Albania Report to the People's Advocate, Endrit Shabani.

His office gives citizens a voice when their rights are not respected. 1/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Its recommendations show institutions where they can do better. Most are accepted, but too few are implemented. Taking them seriously is a test of how well public institutions serve citizens. 2/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

General consensus on the need for genuine public consultations.

Laws work better when the people who have to apply them are consulted early. Business needs a real seat at that table.

The prize is access to the EU single market. Getting there is a shared effort. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Business has a direct stake in Albania's EU path, and a lot to gain from it.

Today I presented the 2026 🇦🇱 Report to representatives of the business community.

We talked about what shapes the business environment most: the rule of law, legal certainty and fair competition.
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[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

The OSCE/ODIHR recommendations have long been clear, and the joint work already done should now deliver results.

With political will and genuine dialogue on all sides, this is within reach. 3/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

The quality of electoral reform matters as much as its timing.

I had my first meeting with the co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, Damian Gjiknuri and Oerd Bylykbashi. 1/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

We discussed the very tight deadline the Committee is working under, as well as questions about the scope, priorities & inclusiveness of the reform.

Electoral reform is about public trust, fair competition and the integrity of elections. It is also part of Albania's EU path. 2/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Accession concerns every part of society. To last, it has to be inclusive. We will follow up on the questions raised today. 3/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Civil society is a key partner in Albania's EU accession process, and many of its concerns are reflected in the 2026 Albania Report.

Yesterday, I presented the Report to civil society organisations and heard their questions: on environment, transparency, land ownership … 1/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

… rights, education and health, and above all on how progress is measured.

The Report is clear. Albania needs meaningful public consultations with real follow-up, and good laws need the budgets to implement them, including for social policies. 2/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

… & Security Policy, while also demonstrating strong commitment to EU integration in these areas.

I also took the opportunity to reiterate that now, more than ever, citizens need to know how reforms undertaken in the context of EU integration positively impact their lives. 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Starting the week by putting Albania’s EU integration path at the top of my agenda.

Today, I presented the 2026 Enlargement Report on Albania to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha. Albania has maintained full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign … 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

… dialogue and real consultation with the public.

Confrontation slows reforms and delays the benefits of EU membership for Albanians. This is a national project, and it will go further only when it is built together. 🇪🇺🇦🇱
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[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

I handed the 2026 Report on Albania to the National Council for European Integration & its co-chairs, Mr Taulant Balla and Ms Jorida Tabaku.

The Council brings majority, opposition and civil society to the same table, & Albania's EU path needs exactly that: real political … 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Speed matters, and so does quality. Good laws need time for debate and for hearing the people they will affect, including civil society.

Albania has a historic opportunity to join the EU. An open, constructive debate in its Assembly will help it get there. 🇪🇺🇦🇱 2/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

I presented the European Commission's 2026 Report on Albania to the Speaker of the Assembly, Niko Peleshi, with MPs Bora Muzhaqi and Tomor Alizoti.

EU membership will touch the daily life of every Albanian, and much of that change will be written into law in this building. 1/2

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

🔗 Read my full press statement here: https://t.co/n9CVgX42zz
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[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

Today I presented the 2026 Report on 🇦🇱 to Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The Report's message is simple: Albania has moved forward. The road ahead is demanding, but the goal is within reach. Dialogue & strong fundamentals will be crucial to getting there. As the Prime Minister ...1/3

[Sofia Moreira de Sousa @EUAmbAL]

... put it today, real problems should not hide real progress, and real progress should not blind us to real problems.

Reforms are not for Brussels. They are for Albanians. The EU stands with them on their way to joining the world's largest union of democracies. 🇪🇺🇦🇱 2/3