European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that Albania's bid to join the European Union is "in sight," casting the Western Balkan nation as one of the front-runners in the bloc's accession process during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama in the Albanian capital. "You in Albania have been working hard to turn Albania's European dream into reality," von der Leyen told Rama, crediting the country with "remarkable progress" over the past year.

Von der Leyen said Albania has opened the final clusters of negotiating chapters in its accession talks and, in July, closed its first three chapters, including the one covering external relations. She said Albania's foreign and security policy is now "100%" aligned with that of the EU, telling reporters the two sides "see the world with the same eyes."

Rama said his government was preparing to begin closing additional negotiating chapters before the end of the year, reaffirming what he called Albania's "ironclad will" to carry out the steps required for membership. Despite the progress, von der Leyen said further work remains across open chapters, singling out justice, the electoral framework and environmental protection as areas requiring continued reform.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that Albania's bid to join the European Union is "in sight," casting the Western Balkan nation as one of the front-runners in the bloc's accession process during a joint news conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama in the Albanian capital. "You in Albania have been working hard to turn Albania's European dream into reality," von der Leyen told Rama, crediting the country with "remarkable progress" over the past year.

Von der Leyen said Albania has opened the final clusters of negotiating chapters in its accession talks and, in July, closed its first three chapters, including the one covering external relations. She said Albania's foreign and security policy is now "100%" aligned with that of the EU, telling reporters the two sides "see the world with the same eyes."

Rama said his government was preparing to begin closing additional negotiating chapters before the end of the year, reaffirming what he called Albania's "ironclad will" to carry out the steps required for membership. Despite the progress, von der Leyen said further work remains across open chapters, singling out justice, the electoral framework and environmental protection as areas requiring continued reform.