European leaders are arriving in Albania today for a summit that is expected to be largely dedicated to the war in Ukraine.
However, small Balkan countries hope that the European Political Community (EPC) summit will also discuss the enlargement of the European Union, writes Reuters.
The gathering, attended by the leaders of France, Germany and Britain, comes as Ukraine and Russia are set to hold their first peace talks since the early days of the conflict. Topics will include security, democracy and migration.
The EU is looking for a success story. Albania and Montenegro could have a chance because both countries are very small and would not pose a big pressure or challenge for the EU, said Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkans expert at King's College London.
Reuters reports that it is also a crucial moment for Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries with a population of 2,4 million, which is still trying to shake off the legacy of decades of oppressive communist rule and become a member of the European Union.
The country is bracing for a large influx of visitors today. Flights from Tirana's small airport, which is undergoing renovations due to the growth of tourism, could be disrupted by the additional air traffic, the airport said in a statement on Instagram.
Traffic restrictions are also expected across the capital, adding to the already congested ring road. Pedestrian routes in the vibrant city centre, where the summit will be held in a large new conference tent, will also be restricted.
"When you see how far Albania has come and that it is hosting a meeting like this with the leaders of the EU and Great Britain, it is a pleasure to see it," said Dritan Hoti (46), who grew up in the last years of communism.
"Albania is going in the right direction despite all the problems it has faced."
Before joining the EU, Albania must shed its reputation as a money-laundering hub for arms and drug traffickers, where a few live in luxury while many live in poverty, Reuters points out.
Political transparency is also important in light of the disputed elections in which Prime Minister Edi Rama officially won a landslide victory, but which the local prosecutor's office is investigating and the opposition has dismissed as rigged.
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha called for a peaceful protest during today's summit.
Experts say Rama's agreements to take in migrants from Italy, increase renewable energy production and open the country to foreign investment, including from Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, have boosted Albania's chances of joining the bloc.
“The EU is looking for a success story,” said Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkans expert at King’s College London.
"Albania and Montenegro could have a chance because both countries are very small and would not pose much pressure or challenge to the EU."
Much depends on how much Balkan countries want to join, writes Reuters. Hoxhaj said the EU has lost some of its credibility in the region, partly because the accession process is so difficult.
Reuters reminds that Kosovo and Serbia also aspire to EU membership, but a long-standing dispute between the two countries is slowing progress.
Kosovo is under EU sanctions due to Prime Minister Albin Kurti's role in fueling ethnic tensions in the north of the country.
Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić attended the Victory Day commemoration in Moscow this week, despite opposition from Brussels. Vučić will also participate in the 6th EEZ summit.
The summit "New Europe in a New World: Unity - Cooperation - Joint Action" will bring together 47 heads of state or government along with leaders of key European and international institutions.
Both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are coming to Tirana for the summit, an initiative launched by French President Emmanuel Macron to bring together EU and non-EU countries to discuss security, economic cooperation and regional stability.
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