TIRANA, Oct 21 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, participated on Friday in the meeting of Foreign Ministers as part of the Berlin Process.
In attendance of the meeting were the foreign ministers of the Western Balkans, as well as representatives of the EU, countries participating in this process, RCC and RYCO.
At the meeting with her German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Minister Xhaçka expressed her gratitude to the German government for its utmost commitment to further regional cohesion, underlining the fact that comprehensive regional cooperation is a fundamental factor helping the countries of the Western Balkans on their way to EU integration.
Minister Xhaçka went on saying that Albania views the Berlin Process as an impetus to advance the EU’s agenda in three main pillars: economic growth and interconnection, good neighborly relations and regional cooperation, as well as development of civil society and the connection between people.
She hailed the consensus reached for the signing of three agreements in the field of free movement in the region.
“The WB countries are facing the same challenges in the fields of geostrategic influence as the EU member countries, therefore they must be treated on equal terms. This is the reason why the revitalization of the Berlin Process is essential, along with other initiatives for the implementation of fundamental rights in our region,” Xhaçka said in her remarks at the ministerial.
In the end, the minister appreciated the joint efforts regarding the commitment to the youth, the work of RYCO and the empowerment that will come from the establishment of the Cultural Fund for the Youth. These efforts mark a success story in the region for supporting civil society in the Western Balkans, as well as for strengthening reconciliation and regional youth cooperation.
The main topics under discussion were energy security, the Green Agenda, the Common Regional Market, reconciliation and the role of young people, as well as geopolitical affairs.
One of the topics discussed in this meeting was the establishment of the Cultural Fund for Young People in the Western Balkans.
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