On June 25, 2020, the online meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) took place. In the capacity of the Kosovo Presidency of SEECP, the Ministerial was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, Meliza Haradinaj. Albania was represented by the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Sokol Dedja.

Discussions at the meeting focused on strengthening regional co-operation, particularly in dealing with the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as the region’s European integration process.

In his speech, the Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Sokol Dedja praised the constructive and productive approach of the Kosovo Presidency of SEECP and underlined Albania’s commitment in strengthening regional cooperation. He stressed the need for co-ordination in the region and with the EU, both in terms of measures to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and to deal with the consequences of the crisis and economic recovery.

Further, Deputy Minister Dedja stressed the importance of the European Council’s historic decision to open membership negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia, appreciating the support of EU countries that are members of SEECP. Dedja underlined that, after the positive decision of the European Council in March, the Albanian Government has further strengthened the efforts with the reforms in the country and has set the necessary political objectives and time periods for their realization.

At the end of the Ministerial, the Declaration of Pristina was adopted, which focuses on the economic and social consequences of the pandemic in the SEECP region, the European perspective of the region, regional cooperation, the priorities of the Kosovo Presidency and the taking over of the SEECP Presidency by Turkey.