From 3 March to 5 March 2020, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkēvičs, will visit Albania and North Macedonia together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Jacek Czaputowicz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, and the Undersecretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Märt Volmer.
The Foreign Ministers intend to discuss the integration of Albania and North Macedonia with the European Union. The joint visit is a strong pledge of the European perspective, especially in view of the updated progress reports on the two countries published by the European Commission on 2 March, which repeat the recommendations, already given in May 2019, that EU accession negotiations should be opened.
During the visit to North Macedonia on 3–4 March, the Polish and Baltic Foreign Ministers will meet with the President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, Prime Minister Oliver Spasovski, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Dimitrov, for a discussion on the integration of North Macedonia with the European Union. The Ministers will also meet with students at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.
In Albania on 4–5 March, the Polish and Baltic Foreign Ministers will have joint meetings with the President of Albania, Ilir Meta, the Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Edi Rama, and the Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Gent Cakaj, as well as the Committees on Foreign Policy and European Integration at the Albanian Parliament. The discussion with Albanian officials will address Albania’s integration with the European Union. A meeting with students has also been planned at the University of Tirana.
North Macedonia was granted EU candidate country status in December 2005, and Albania – in June 2014. Latvia supports Albania and North Macedonia on their path to integration with the EU. Latvia supports the opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in view of positive recommendations and assessments of progress by the European Commission.