Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati is in Germany where he held a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The ministers discussed the excellent relations between the two countries and Germany’s great contribution to Albania and its EU integration prospect. In this context, it was agreed to continue the agenda with full intensity.

Minister Bushati thanked Germany for its clear stance on EU’s recent decision-making. “Our path concerning 2019 is clear and we will do our best during the next 12 months, working closely with the European Commission for the screening process,” underlined Bushati.

Minister Maas underlined that Albania is an important partner and stability actor. Germany welcomed the undertaken reforms by Albania, considering them as impressive and an example for the region as far as justice reform is concerned. He added that “it is crucial that this path continues”, and called on political actors in Albania to support such important reforms for 2019.

Minister Maas expressed his conviction that the integration of Western Balkans into the European Union is in the interest of the latter in order to avoid the expansion of influence of third party forces in the region.

The two ministers also discussed about the security and security climate the Western Balkans faces and the role of Albania as a peace and stability factor.

For Minister Bushati, the security climate in the region will only be improved on condition that the European prospects of the region are clear and materialized with concrete instruments and actions.

Ministers Bushati and Maas also discussed the cooperation within the OSCE and the School of Magistrates.