Foreign Affairs Minister Ditmir Bushati attended the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean countries organized in the format of a Regional Forum in Barcelona. The meeting was chaired by two co-presidents of the Union for the Mediterranean, Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and Ayman Al Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It was also attended by the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and Ministers of the Mediterranean region. The UfM Regional Forum consisted of two segments: meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Conference with participation of representatives of the private sector and civil society. Panelists at the forum stressed that young people are the most precious asset of the UfM region and the creation of an ideal environment for their fullest participation and strengthening of human capital constitutes one of the main priorities of the Union for the Mediterranean agenda. Among topics addressed at the Forum panels were human development agenda and securing regional stability for the Mediterranean, sustainable development agenda, interconnection in the region etc.

In his address, Minister Bushati underscored that: “Because of its geographical diversity and inclusiveness, bringing together 43 countries, 28 of them members of the EU, the Mediterranean South and East countries, and three countries of the Western Balkans, the Union for the Mediterranean can help us find some collective purpose and action in addressing our common security challenges”.

Dwelling on the need to address the underlying causes of the phenomena of terrorism and migration, Minister Bushati said that: “These challenges also show the importance of the security-development nexus. This is not the time to forget human development, in particular as regards opportunities for youth. The political commitments we have expressed in this respect should translate into concrete action”.

During his stay in Barcelona, Minister Bushati held a meeting with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini talking about the progress of Albania's European path as well as the latest developments in the region and deepening cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans. Parties dwelled on the stabilizing and European role of Albanians in the region as well as Albania's vision for a safer region where state-consolidating democratic processes carry on without being misused by third actors. Minister Bushati underlined on Albania's commitment to continue its contribution to a region involved in current Euro-Atlantic community.

Furthermore, within the framework of this Ministerial, Minister Bushati held a meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan Ayman Al Safadi. Interlocutors discussed the very good cooperation in bilateral and multilateral level, and highlighted the very good cooperation during the past two years in the fight against violent extremism.