Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha in Luxembourg Highlights the Role of Informed and Engaged Citizens in Democratic Resilience

Albania is enhancing its collaboration with the European Union to safeguard democratic processes and combat disinformation by forming an association with the European Center for Democratic Resilience.
Albania’s formal association with the European Center for Democratic Resilience was established, along with Western Balkan partners and other candidate countries, during a meeting in Luxembourg held within the framework of the European Union’s General Affairs Council, in which Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha participated.
In his remarks, Minister Hoxha underscored the significance of accurate information, the role of citizens in preserving democracy, and the necessity of a society that is both aware and engaged in order to confront foreign interference and information manipulation.
Hoxha emphasized that democratic resilience is not solely the responsibility of institutions, but also necessitates the active participation of citizens, as a whole-of-society response can only be successful when society is informed, aware, and engaged.
The Minister emphasized the challenges presented by foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which not only erode public trust but also aim to weaken the quality of democratic debate and undermine the functioning of institutions.
Hoxha posits that Albania’s experience in bolstering institutional resilience and responding to cyberattacks serves as a critical foundation for the expansion of cooperation with European partners. He also emphasized the necessity of more effective and well-coordinated public communication to assist citizens in recognizing information manipulation and addressing emergent challenges in the digital realm.
Hoxha asserted that the integration of candidate countries into common European mechanisms provides citizens with a more tangible comprehension of EU enlargement, connecting this cooperation to the European integration process.
“When citizens throughout Europe observe Member States and candidate countries collaborating to safeguard democratic resilience, they comprehend enlargement as a collective investment in our shared future,” the Minister declared.
Albania’s partnership with the European Center for Democratic Resilience is designed to enhance practical collaboration with the European Union in the context of addressing threats to democratic processes. The primary objectives are to safeguard public trust, ensure that citizens are informed, and fortify societal resilience.
Hoxha concluded, “Democratic resilience and EU membership are inextricably linked in Albania.”