20 years of cooperation with Austria

In this ceremony was invited the Deputy Chancellor of Austria, and also Federal Minister for European and International Matters, Mr. Michael Spindelegger, who identified the cooperation as a success of both countries.

Mr. Spindelegger listed a series of social-economic projects that reached a 100 million EUR cost, while Berisha declared that this is a special activity where the Austrian Nation is thanked for the constant towards Albania.

Berisha underlined that many young Albanians have received scholarships in Austria, and despite the economic crisis in Europe, the Austrian businesses in Albania are only progressing. Deputy Chancellor Spindelegger declared that Austria will support Albania and convince the sceptic EU countries for the EU candidate status, but Albania must fulfil the conditions first.

Top Channel asked the Deputy Chancellor regarding an Austrian news report in which two companies that operate in the energy area expressed their concern about the tense relations of the Albanian government with CEZ.

“Naturally, we are concerned for some events that are taking place in Albania. We have a good relation with different ministries, and I hope to resolve them. I had the chance to speak today with the Albanian Prime Minister, to whom I expressed some of our concerns. He promised that he would see all possibilities to find a solution. Everyone’s interest is to find a solution, so that our cooperation can continue in the future”, the Minister added.

The Deputy Chancellor added some details about the problems: “There are some problems that derive from the past, after the government promised a solution, such as the reimbursement of VAT. This was not realized, and we mentioned it with the Albanian authorities. We also have some other issues that are waiting for a solution in court, and we would like some verdicts. This is necessary to convince the Austrian businesses, so that they can be more active in Albania.”

Top Channel