The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, participated in the 17th meeting of the EU-Albania Stabilization-Association Parliamentary Committee.

Minister Hasani appreciated the institutional support that the European Parliament has given to Albania over the years, for the progress on the path of European integration, noting that the last report of the European Parliament on Albania, approved by the overwhelming majority of the plenary session, is a proof of strength of this support.

During his speech, the Albanian Chief Diplomat focused on recent developments regarding the implications of Russian aggression against Ukraine for security in Europe and, of course, for the situation in the Western Balkans region, which, as he emphasized, remains very worrying.

The only answer to these challenges, added Minister Hasani, is the strengthening of strategic cooperation between the countries of the region and the EU in all dimensions, especially in matters of foreign policy, strengthening the rule of law, as well as in matters of economic development. .

Minister Hasani appreciated the fact that the EU has increased its focus on geopolitics and the element of security, especially after the decisions that have strengthened the European perspective of the countries of the Eastern Partnership, but on the other hand expressed regret that the Council of December 2023 failed to respond positively to Albania’s expectations to take the most important step of the membership process, the start of negotiations for the chapter group of “fundamentals”.

He underlined the fact that the geopolitical realities in the Western Balkan Region have brought the need for bold decision-making, unaffected by efforts to politicize the process for the interests of the moment. We need, he added, approaches that help develop a more reliable and predictable membership process, which serves to maintain the pace of reforms, strengthen citizen support for the process, but also to conclude a process at an optimal time. that has been going on for almost two decades.

During the meeting, it was discussed about the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, proposed by the European Commission, as the most efficient means by which the region would begin to gradually benefit from greater access to the EU single market, as well as reduce the economic development gap between it and the EU.