In Bratislava, where he is participating in the meeting of the “Friends of the Western Balkans” Group, Minister Hoxha met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani.

At the meeting, Minister Hoxha particularly praised Italy’s enduring role as one of the strongest defenders of Albania’s European perspective.

Together, the Minister emphasized, we will continue to strengthen cooperation in all areas of common interest, for the benefit of our countries, our citizens, and a stronger Europe.

“We appreciated the high level of bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including high-level political dialogue, defense, energy, security, connectivity, economy, trade, culture, and exchanges between our citizens,” said Hoxha.

 

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, post on X:

Bratislava: Very pleased to have a first meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani.

We reaffirmed the excellent relations between Albania and Italy, rooted in a special friendship between our peoples, deep historical ties and an ever-growing strategic partnership. We highlighted the outstanding level of bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including high-level political dialogue, defense, energy, security, connectivity, economy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

We also underlined our strong like-mindedness on key European, regional and international issues, as well as our shared commitment to peace, security, regional stability and the European future of the Western Balkans.

Italy remains not only a close friend, a close partner and a strategic ally, but also one of Albania’s strongest supporters on our European accession path.

I expressed Albania’s sincere gratitude for Italy’s continuous, unwavering and tangible support for our EU integration process, and particularly commended Italy’s steadfast role as one of the strongest advocates of Albania’s European perspective, both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU.

Together, we will continue to strengthen cooperation across all areas of shared interest for the benefit of our countries, our citizens and a stronger Europe.

I also gladly accepted Minister Tajani’s invitation to visit Rome in the coming weeks.