BRUSSELS — The European Parliament announced on Monday that it will open an office in Albania, a move aimed at deepening engagement with the Western Balkans amid heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed momentum for EU enlargement.
“In the context of heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed momentum behind EU enlargement, Parliament’s new office in Tirana will serve as a key contact point between the European Parliament and national parliaments, civil society, and local partners in the Western Balkans,” the institution said in a statement.
The office will serve as a hub for promoting the European Parliament’s policies and initiatives, particularly concerning EU accession efforts. It will also facilitate democracy-building efforts and institutional reforms in the region. Additionally, the office will play a role in preparing and following up on official visits by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and in strengthening cooperation with EU entities and international organizations active in Albania.
The European Parliament has been a staunch advocate of the Western Balkans’ European path, emphasizing the region’s strategic importance for stability and integration into the broader European framework. The decision to establish the Tirana office aligns with the EU’s broader approach to strengthening ties with candidate countries.
“The urgent need to reinforce the EU’s partnerships in the Western Balkans has become even clearer given the current geopolitical climate, including Russia’s war in Ukraine. The establishment of an EP antenna office in Tirana underscores Parliament’s firm commitment to supporting the region on its path to EU membership while fostering democracy and closer ties between the EU and its neighbors,” the statement added.
Currently, the European Parliament operates three such antenna offices: one in New York, to engage with the United Nations; another in Jakarta, for relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); and a third in Addis Ababa, to maintain ties with the African Union.
The decision to open two additional offices—one in Albania and another in Moldova—follows an earlier move by Parliament’s Bureau to establish representation in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Panama, aimed at strengthening relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
