The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, at the invitation of her Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, participated in the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries of the Western Balkans organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy.

During her speech, Minister Xhaçka said that the war in Ukraine made the EU aware of the fact that the security and stability of the region is inherently linked to the security and stability of the Western Balkans.

The EU is showing a strategic approach to the region and there is no doubt that the credibility of the European perspective is a key factor in guaranteeing the security and stability of the Western Balkans and the EU itself, the Minister said.

Additionally, Minister Xhaçka emphasized the region’s renewed spirit of collaboration as well as the numerous potential for economic cooperation and strategic investments, particularly in the energy sector, where Italy can unquestionably play a significant and welcome role.

She expressed Albania’s gratitude for Italy’s significant contribution to the developments in the region and praised Deputy Prime Minister Tajani for his dedication to Albania and the region.

Oliver Varhelyi, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, the foreign ministers of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Tobias Billström, the MFA of Sweden, the country that holds the next EU Presidency of the Council, attended the meeting.

In light of recent geopolitical developments in Europe and around the world, the meeting discussed issues of cooperation not just amongst the region’s nations but also with the European Union. The region’s countries’ process of European integration as well as concerns relating to energy, cyber security, foreign and defense policy, and migration were all in the spotlight.