“The Catholic Church in Albania is in favour of Eastern Europe being closer to the 25-member EU, because sometimes, when we speak of Europe, we think it only consists of the 25 member states that belong to the EU”: these are the words of mgr. Rrok Mirdita, bishop of Tirana and, since last month, the new president of the Albanian Bishops Conference, as he commented today’s meeting in Luxembourg between the delegates of the Albanian Government and the EU authorities, to sign the Agreement for stabilisation and association between Albania and the EU. According to mgr. Mirdita, “Albania has always been the outcast of Europe. But now this country, which is the poorest in the continent, is seeing daylight”. “Both the political parties and the population – added the Bishops’ President – are in favour of integration for Albania, which is still exceedingly left out and isolated and which, despite the first advances, still badly needs to be helped in its development”. Mgr. Angelo Massafra, bishop of Scutari and ex president of the Albanian Bishops, highlighted that today at 12.00, to coincide with the signing of the agreement, the Albanian flag and the EU flag will be hoisted together in all the prefectures and the symbolic places of the country. “It is a sign of feast and progress which, also as a Church, we applaud and support for the good of the Albanian nation and population”, said mgr. Massafra.