Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati, attended the Third Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum (UfM), which took place in Barcelona on October 8, 2018. This event marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of this union. The aim of the meeting was to revitalize Euro-Mediterranean co-operation, as a response to stability challenges in the region.

Minister Bushati in his remarks emphasized that the Euro-Mediterranean zone faces challenges such as terrorism, radicalism or illegal migration, which call for coordinated collective actions in order to address them, noted minister Bushati. In this context, he added, it is necessary to focus on the dimensions of human development, by offering more opportunities to young people, and by ensuring a sustainable economic growth that cannot yet be achieved with the current level of economic integration of the Euro-Mediterranean zone.

In addition to the need for closer coordination of the projects of the Union for the Mediterranean with the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian region, Minister Bushati also highlighted the need for more synergism between the pre-accession process of the Western Balkan countries with member states of the Union for the Mediterranean, on the connectivity agenda, as well as with the Regional Economic Zone of our region. Minister Bushati also highlighted Albania’s contribution to the security of the Euro-Mediterranean region.

“Despite current challenges, we believe that being a major maritime corridor, the Mediterranean is one of the most vital regions for trade development and it should continue to flourish in our globalized world. Albania supports a revitalized Union for the Mediterranean and determined in its vision for improving security in the Euro-Mediterranean region,” underlined Minister Bushati.

In the framework of the Ministerial of the Union for the Mediterranean, Minister Bushati met with the Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Al Safadi. The Ministers praised the very good relations between the two countries and the intensification of political dialogue in the bilateral and multilateral framework. They agreed on a greater commitment, resulting in concrete cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Minister Bushati asked for Jordan to support Albania’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for the period 2022-2023, as well as Kosovo’s application for membership in Interpol.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the recent developments in the respective regions and global challenges.