Dear Prime Minister , dear Edi, it is a great pleasure to welcome you here in Brussels few months after we met in Tirana.

I am also happy to see that Albania is steadily progressing on its clear strategic direction towards the European Union and demonstrating a clear will to move forward in the accession negotiation process. The integration process relies heavily on the support and engagement of the Albanian government and the Albanian people. That is why I emphasised in my discussions with the Prime Minister that we count on transparent and inclusive dialogue with all the stakeholders at a very critical moment – more than critical, a crucial moment – for the road to Europe for Albania.

The integration process relies heavily on the support and engagement of the Albanian government and the Albanian people. That is why I emphasised in my discussions with the Prime Minister that we count on transparent and inclusive dialogue with all the stakeholders at a very critical moment – more than critical, a crucial moment – for the road to Europe for Albania.

I am also happy to see that Albania continues 100% alignment with the European Union Common, Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including on the restrictive measures. This is a strong expression of Albania’s strategic choice of our community of values. It has made the country a reliable security partner.

I am also aware that this position makes Albania a target of hostile actions from abroad. You can always count on the European Union’s continued support in this regard.

We are working on a number of actions to help boost Albania’s resilience, but also of the whole Western Balkan region, against hybrid threats, on cyber security, on countering information manipulation and protection of critical infrastructure.

Unavoidably, we discussed the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and I thank you, Prime Minister. I thank you, Edi, for your efforts and support in trying to look for a solution.

I made it clear – and this was also the position of the Member States yesterday at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg – that the Parties have to de-escalate the situation and to find a way forward based on the European Union’s Roadmap that has been proposed to them and tabled to the Parties in Brussels, last week.

We agreed that the situation requires quick moves, requires de-escalation and looking for a solution urgently. I can tell you that the Member States agree on this urgency, and they are losing patience in front of the situation that continues deteriorating and requires immediate moves.

Thanks again, dear Prime Minister, dear Edi, for being here today, for sharing your commitments and your support to the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue.

I am very happy to continue working together with you.