The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, together with her counterparts Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Antonio Tajani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Maria Gabriel attended in Brindizi the meeting for Corridor VIII.

At the joint press conference, Minister Xhaçka emphasized that Corridor VIII is much more than a simple infrastructure project, as it is envisioned as a cooperation and integration mechanism that will transform the economic situation of the countries involved.

“Investments of this kind are essential to make the EU perspective tangible for our citizens. Albania leads this year the Berlin Process and we intend to make the strengthening of EU financial assistance for the Western Balkans and Corridor VIII one of the main topics of the Summit. The focus of the Berlin Process should be to achieve economic compatibility with EU standards. This is essential for the stability and resilience of our region in this turbulent period for European and global security. Corridor VIII is a corridor that will unite us, and it will also be a security corridor. We all support it and will work together to advance it as soon as possible”, said Minister Xhaçka.

Corridor VIII Pan-European constitutes one of the priority projects for the four countries involved, Albania, Italy, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, and its inclusion in the European transport network has been one of the main goals of the respective governments. Its construction would enable regional connections, good neighborliness, economic development, travel facilities for people, businesses and goods. Corridor VIII is considered a project of strategic importance for the EU and NATO.