TIRANA, April 29 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha stated today that EU membership is not just a final destination, but a vital engine for ongoing modernization and progress.
At an event organized by the Institute for International Studies, FM Hoxha outlined the core pillars of our foreign policy and the strategic vision for the future.
According to him, EU membership is a transformative overhaul, not merely a political prize.
“Membership in the European Union is not simply another organization, but a way of thinking and living”, added the minister.
Focusing on regional cooperation, Hoxha emphasized that Albania has invested sustainably and successfully in this direction, with the conviction that without good neighborly relations and constructive bilateral and multilateral cooperation, it would be more difficult to build our European perspective.
“We may not choose our neighbors, but we choose the quality of our relationships. By fostering genuine cooperation, Albania is not just building bridges, but accelerating its path to the EU and strengthening the true identity of the Western Balkans”, he added.
In this context, Hoxha underlined that the partnership with Kosovo is deep, long-standing, and foundational.
“After 18 years of independence, it has been confirmed that our region, Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo, live better and with more prospects in this new reality. This fact should serve as the basis for a more pragmatic and future-oriented approach by countries that do not yet recognize the state of Kosovo, so that stability, coexistence and European integration can be placed above the divisions of the past,” said the minister.
Hoxha also emphasized that, “The support for Albanians in the region remains an important pillar of our commitment.”
“This strategy advances regional stability and integration by upholding European values, ensuring a constructive role for Albanians in North Macedonia, Montenegro, and the Preshevo Valley. For Albania, EU accession and robust Euro-Atlantic cooperation with the US are interconnected, defining our security and shared democratic identity,” he said.
Hoxha also underlined that for small countries like Albania, multilateralism remains an important instrument to be heard and to influence the international arena.
Another foreign policy goal, according to Minister Hoxha, remains the advancement of economic diplomacy.
In this vision, the minister emphasized that, “We aim to increasingly include the Albanian diaspora, as an important partner in national development”.
“We are cultivating strategic partnerships worldwide, strengthening our core ties in the Gulf and beyond to drive reciprocal growth and development,” he added. /m.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./
