In his remarks at the meeting called by the Albanian Media Institute and the Institute of International Studies, Gonzato spoke about Albania’s values, based on his personal experience.
Gonzato said that Albania has proven to be a reliable partner of the EU in the international arena.

“I come from New York where I have been impressed by your diplomats’ capability to ensure that Albania as a member of the Security Council can really contribute to the safeguarding of the rule-based international order. It has really been fantastic to cooperate with them.”
He emphasized that Albania has drawn appreciation for its role in the region, as the only country without neighborhood problems.

“Albania is a great asset for the European Union, there is no doubt about that. Another contribution that Albania should make is its constructive role at the regional level, something that is highly valued in Brussels. Albania is a significant factor for peace and stability in the region,” Gonzato said.

The ambassador of Spain in Albania, Alvaro Renedo Zalba, underlined that not only Europe gives to Albania, but Albania also gives to Europe, that is why its place lies in the European Union.

Meanwhile, the director of the Institute of International Studies, Albert Rakipi, underlined that, “the time has come for the prevailing narrative of what Europe can do for Albania and the Balkans to be challenged by the other narrative of what Albania and the Balkan countries can contribute to Europe. It is important to see the positive reasons why the EU should be enlarged with new members from the Western Balkans, including Albania.”

For the second year in a row, the Institute of International Studies and a number of Albanian and foreign partners, among them the Spanish Embassy, in its capacity as the country holding of the rotating Presidency of the EU, the Delegation of the European Union and the embassies of Italy, Germany, Austria and Greece, organized the International Conference about the perspectives of the European integration of Albania. Organized as an open debate, the Conference brought together researchers of European affairs, academics, diplomats, journalists from Albania, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Greece, etc.
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