During his participation at the 2025 Dubrovnik Forum, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, delivered a clear and resolute message: the Western Balkans can no longer be treated as the periphery of the continent – it is a vital part of Europe’s strategic future.

In the presence of high-level representatives from the region, Europe, and beyond – including the United States, the Gulf, Brazil, and Africa – Minister Hasani emphasized that in times of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry, trust, transparency, and transformation are no longer optional – they are essential.

“Albania is not a consumer of security – it is a contributor. We are not standing still with our hands in our pockets – we are moving forward.”

Minister Hasani highlighted that Albania has opened four negotiating clusters, including the fundamentals and the internal market, and that the path toward EU membership is strategic, irreversible, and based on genuine reforms.

He warned that delays in the enlargement process create vacuums that are exploited by authoritarian actors and welcomed the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as a concrete opportunity to accelerate integration.

“Europe will not be whole without the Western Balkans. And the Western Balkans will not be whole without a rightful place in the European family.”