Albania aims to join the European Union by 2030, prime minister tells expatriates in Greek city

Albania hopes to subordinate nan European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama has told an enthusiastic crowd of immoderate 2,000 supporters gathered astatine a edifice successful nan bluish Greek metropolis of Thessaloniki

THESSALONIKI, Greece -- THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Albania hopes to subordinate nan European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama told a crowd of immoderate 2,000 supporters astatine a edifice successful nan bluish Greek metropolis of Thessaloniki connected Sunday.

Rama besides promised that nan galore Albanian expatriates will beryllium capable for nan first clip to message successful their ballots successful nan adjacent wide election, group to return spot successful Spring 2025.

The boisterous arena included a batch of flag-waving and unrecorded singing by a lineup of Albanian stars.

Rama chose to downplay caller disputes pinch neighboring Greece, including nan imprisonment for electoral corruption of mayoral campaigner Fredis Beleris, a personnel of Albania's Greek-speaking minority. Beleris was elected past June to nan European Parliament, his candidacy put guardant by Greece's ruling conservatives. He has been released from situation since and allowed to return his seat.

Rama said relations pinch Greece were excellent.

There were fears of nationalist protests successful a metropolis wherever far-right parties are particularly strong. In nan end, astir 20-25 group showed up extracurricular nan venue, pinch a banner telling Rama to leave.