TIRANA, May 30 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, held a meeting in Rome with Piero Fassino, Vice‑President of the Defense Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Republic, and President of the Balkans Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Minister Hoxha emphasized that Piero Fassino is a longstanding friend of Albania and the Albanian people, as well as an active and tireless supporter of the European integration of the Western Balkans.
Their discussions revolved around Albania’s progress in the EU accession process, the country’s unwavering commitment to implementing ambitious reforms, the successful fulfillment of standards that led to the approval of IBAR (Interim Benchmark Assessment Report), and the forthcoming work required to advance toward the closure of the negotiating chapters.
He reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the current momentum and stressed that Albania remains determined to move forward decisively toward its strategic goal of completing accession negotiations within this decade.
Minister Hoxha stressed that Albania’s EU accession is not merely a national priority, but also the fulfillment of a European aspiration carried by generations of Albanians who have worked toward it for many years.
He noted: “We agreed that enlargement remains one of the European Union’s most successful strategic policies, capable of driving transformation, stability, and prosperity. We also exchanged views on the current dynamics in the Western Balkans, underlining the importance of preserving regional stability, strengthening good‑neighborly relations, and advancing the European integration of the entire region.”
According to him, in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, a secure, stable, and prosperous region is a strategic imperative for Europe’s overall security, unity, and credibility.
He added: “We agreed that the renewed momentum of EU enlargement represents a historic opportunity that must be seized by all countries of the region through reforms, dialogue, and expanded regional cooperation.”
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