The European Parliament will open an office in Albania to further strengthen its engagement with the Western Balkans.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed momentum following the EU’s enlargement strategy, the new office in Tirana will serve as a key point of contact between the European Parliament and national parliaments, civil society, and local partners in the Western Balkans.

The office will promote the Parliament’s positions and activities, particularly regarding EU accession, and will support democracy and institutional reforms in the region. It will also assist in preparing and following up on official visits by MEPs while strengthening cooperation with other EU actors on the ground, as well as with international organizations and civil society.

The European Parliament has consistently supported the European perspective of the Western Balkans, recognizing its strategic importance for regional stability and the broader European project. The establishment of the antenna office reflects the EU’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with candidate countries. The vital need to strengthen the EU’s partnerships in the Western Balkans has become even clearer in light of current geopolitical challenges, particularly Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The creation of a European Parliament antenna office in Tirana underscores the Parliament’s strong commitment to supporting Western Balkan countries on their path to EU membership, fostering stability, democracy, and closer ties between the EU and its neighbors.