Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallström together with Foreign Ministers and senior officials from the Western Balkan countries, and the EU Commission Director Ruiz Calavera discussed in Stockholm the situation in the region and EU integration, as part of a High-level Ministerial Conference.

The Minister of Finance and Economy Anila Denaj and Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Sokol Dedja represented Albania at this debate that took place less than a month after the EU Commission published its annual reports on the Western Balkans recommending the opening of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania and a week after the General affairs council meeting where the Member States discussed the Commission recommendations.

Dedja stressed that the EU perspective is a driver of change in Albania and a constructive relationship with the EU will contribute to stability and progress in the Western Balkans. We need to make sure that this relationship remains a priority to the citizens and the governments of the EU as well as in the countries in the region.