The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, received in a meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno. This visit precedes the EU Presidency by Spain, during the second half of this year.

“I informed Minister Albares about Albania’s progress in implementing the commitments undertaken in the integration process, as well as about our expectations towards this process. Albania plans to complete the screening process for all negotiation group-chapters and start negotiations with the basic group-chapters by the end of this year. For this reason, I asked my counterpart that Spain, as a member

state and as the future Presidency of the Council, to support and facilitate the discussions in the Council for a positive decision, based on merits,” said chief diplomat Xhaçka.

The focus of the discussions between the two ministers was also the Mediterranean dimension of foreign policies.

“Albania is grateful for the commitment of the European Union and our American partners to reach an agreement on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. We hope that the agreement will be implemented as quick as possible, as this would have a very positive impact on stability, but also on regional cooperation, and will certainly open a new perspective for a final solution between Kosovo and Serbia. In the meantime, we believe that it is in the interest of the region, but also of the EU itself, to have a constructive engagement with Kosovo, including its membership in international organizations, to avoid an isolation that has consequences not only for Kosovo, but also for all of us”, said Minister Xhaçka during the press statement.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, in his speech, said that during the Spanish presidency of the EU, Spain will actively support Albania’s progress and the European Union accession process.

“My visit shows the interest of Spain with Albania and for Albania, as a NATO member country, as a country that will join the EU, but also as a very important partner of the Mediterranean. We talked about Kosovo’s relationship with Serbia. We shared the same opinion with Minister Xhaçka, about Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine, as well as about Albania’s role in being active in global security issues. Spain promotes the values described in the United Nations Charter. During today’s meeting, we also talked about the good economic cooperation between Spain and Albania, mainly in the tourism sector. We hope to increase the presence of Spanish companies in Albania,” said the Spanish chief diplomat.

The two ministers signed today a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two countries, through which Spain will provide consulting services and technical assistance, as well as try to maintain the appropriate participation of Albania in the allocation of pre-accession funds (IPA III).

In conclusion, Minister Xhaçka thanked Minister Albares for the integration of the Albanian diaspora in Spain. Both ministers appreciated the great potential that exists in the relations between the two countries, especially in the economic, educational and tourism fields. Currently, an evaluation and negotiation process has started for the signing of the Agreements for the Conversion of Driving and Social Protection permits between Albania and Spain.