Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday in Budapest that Hungary supported Albania's accession to the EU.

"It's in Hungary's and Western Europe's interests for Albania to be a member of the EU. Negotiations to this end should start and conclude as soon as possible," Orban said after a meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha in the Hungarian parliament.

"It's also in the interest of Albania and Albanians outside the country," he added.

Approximately 3 million Albanians live within the borders of Albania itself, while a further three million live elsewhere on the Balkan peninsula. Another 1 million Albanians are estimated to live throughout the rest of Europe, together forming one of the largest ethnic diaspora in Europe.

Berisha, who was visiting Hungary on the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, said that "albania is day by day becoming stronger and its economic climate is improving."

He cited the energy and water sectors as having particularly high potential.

"Companies from around the world are coming to Albania to build new infrastructure such as hydroelectric power plants and new motorways," he said, "We are waiting for Hungarian companies too."

Albania joined NATO in 2009 and its EU membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.