Albania’s progress toward European integration is possible only with guarantees for and respect for the rights of the Greek National Minority, First Vice President of Parliament and Lasithi MP Yiannis Plakiotakis said.

Speaking during the Interparliamentary Conference on the “Strategic Agenda for EU Enlargement and Albania’s Accession,” held in Tirana on September 27–29, 2026, Mr. Plakiotakis stressed that Greece, in the spirit of the “Thessaloniki Declaration,” consistently supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans, based on merit, strict conditionality and the full implementation of the European acquis.

The conference was also attended by New Democracy MP Dimitris Kairidis, PASOK MP Ioannis Tsimaris, and Greece’s Ambassador to Tirana, Lambrini Komini.

The First Vice President of the Greek Parliament pointed out that key prerequisites for candidate countries include full compliance with International Law, the Law of the Sea, and full compliance with regard to respect for the rights of the Greek minority, with particular emphasis on property rights and education.

“Effective protection of the Greek National Minority in Albania, and respect for the rights of its members, particularly in education and property, is an issue of the utmost importance to us,” he stressed, adding:

“This is not a formal procedure, but a substantive element of the accession process, within which the rule of law remains fundamental. As the accession process moves forward, I believe this is the critical point at which its credibility will ultimately be judged and assessed: not only by the number of chapters that are opened or provisionally closed, but by the depth and sustainability of the reforms accompanying this process.”

Beyond these issues, Mr. Plakiotakis explained that the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU also represents a strategic investment in peace, stability, security and prosperity across the wider region.

“A stronger European perspective for the Western Balkans can contribute to broader and deeper resilience, stronger institutions and a greater, more robust capacity to address common challenges, including hybrid threats, disinformation, organized crime and other forms of threats,” he said.