At this conference, Albania—holding the status of partner country this year—is represented by 17 startups from Albania, Kosovo and the diaspora. They are presenting not only their success stories, but also an overview of the transformation currently underway within the Albanian innovation ecosystem.

The Albanian stand was visited by Dr. Fabian Mehring, Bavarian State Minister for Digital Affairs and the Bavarian Government’s Chief Information Officer, accompanied by ministers responsible for digitalization.

Minister Ibrahimaj and Minister Mehring discussed close intergovernmental cooperation to further develop innovation and Albanian startups.

The Bavarian minister engaged directly with the startups, focusing on concrete opportunities to foster connections between German companies and the startups, particularly in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.

Minister Ibrahimaj stated, “The 17 startups selected for Bits & Pretzels operate in the fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and education. These sectors were chosen deliberately, as they are currently among the most in-demand in international markets. The goal is for these startups to share their ideas, network with peers, and attract as much funding as possible to our market. Such trade fairs serve to place Albania on the global startup ecosystem map, helping us reach the level of countries that have successfully expanded into foreign markets.”

The promotion of the Albanian innovation ecosystem at Bits & Pretzels is an initiative by Startup Albania and EU4Innovation (GIZ), part of efforts to expand the international presence of Albanian startups and connect them with European innovation and investment networks. /p.s./

Balla praised the facilitation of procedures for residence and employment permits in Germany, considering them as key factors for the integration and success of Albanians who live and work there.

“Around 18 thousand Albanian citizens live and work in Bavaria, so we appreciate the facilitation of procedures for residence and employment permits. Also, nearly 800 Albanian students study at Bavarian universities”, said Balla.

The meeting was considered a proof of the importance that Albanian institutions attach to the diaspora and the strengthening of ties with Albanian communities abroad. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

Rama shared in the social media footage of his arrival in Munich, where he was received by PM Söder.

“Germany, Munich – Invited by Prime Minister of Bavaria Markus Söder, a precious friend with whom we have built a special partnership between Albania and Bavaria,” Rama wrote in the social media.

PM Rama is accompanied by Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate Delina Ibrahimaj and Director of National Agency of Information Society Mirlinda Karçanaj.

The Albanian delegation is expected to hold talks with German counterparts on economy, innovation, and tourism. /a.f/p.s./

Balla appreciated that the bilateral relations between Albania and Bavaria have seen important developments during the recent years in the political, economic, educational and cultural fields.

“We are grateful to Bavaria and the CSU for the support they have given to Albania on the way to the EU”, said Balla.

While praising the easing of procedures for residence and employment permits, Balla emphasized that over 17,000 Albanian nationals live and work in Bavaria.

Also, according to him, more than 700 Albanian students study in the Universities of Bavaria. /m.m/p.s./

During the meeting, Hasani and Beißwenger highlighted the excellent bilateral relations and cooperation between Albania and Germany and in particular with the Land of Bavaria.

“We discussed on the concrete steps to encourage cooperation in increasing Bavarian investments in the renewable energy, tourism and infrastructure sectors in Albania,” Hasani said.

Minister Hasani expressed his gratitude for the steadfast commitment of the Federal Republic of Germany and the support of the Bavarian authorities in the path of Albania’s integration into the EU. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

In a post on social networks, Spiropali shared moments from this meeting.

“The state of Bavaria has become a valuable partner and steadfast supporter of the economic development and integration of Albania, intensifying and accelerating cooperation in all fields”, wrote Spiropali.

Earlier in the day, Beibwenger held a meeting with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Igli Hasani, with whom he talked about concrete steps to promote cooperation in increasing Bavarian investments in the renewable energy, tourism and infrastructure sectors in Albania. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

During the meeting, there were held panel discussions with Albanian and Bavarian businesses, an activity organized by the Association of Bavarian Businesses, VBW.

In her capacity as co-chair of the Albania-Bavaria Joint Commission, Manjani emphasized the important role that businesses have in consolidating economic cooperation and strengthening the relations between our countries, especially in priority sectors of our economy. /r.e/p.s./

After the meeting with the CSU parliamentary group, PM Rama appeared at a joint press conference with the Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder, Chair of the parliamentary group of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Klaus Holetschek, and the European Parliament member Manfred Weber.

* * *

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you! Thank you very much. I feel humbler and more honored than ever to be invited as a guest of honor by my very precious and dear friend Markus Söder and the CSU group for this extraordinary moment of exchanges, but also of a European feel.

For those who don’t know, around 40 years ago, Franz Josef Strauss visited a totally isolated and secretive country. Back then we were Europe’s North Korea. His visit was a sudden glimmer of hope. Shortly after, the German-Albania ties were reestablished a few years later. Since then, if you were to ask Albanians, there is a special relation with the state of Bavaria and, definitely, Bayern Munich has played its role – I can’t deny it – but it’s not just about football anymore, it’s about something more profound.

Thousands of Albanians live here and they can’t be more grateful and more fulfilled for being part of the economy and Bavarian community efforts.

We certainly discussed the way Albania can contribute to the efforts to combat illegal immigration under the agreement we have signed with Italy.

First and foremost, I have to say that Albania is not the solution, as we are very small and we lack the tools to be the right solution. Second, I would also like to say that the solution doesn’t even lie in the hands of a great country like Germany. However, Albania can do its part to contribute to this solution, just like any other European country should do their part, because this challenge requires a common pan-European response.

Any independent effort is doomed to bring about consequences that could turn out to be irreparable for the future and that’s why the whole European family must stay united and agree on a collective response and not resort to various, diverse solutions that sometimes have nothing to do with the future generations, but with the daily politics.

We are here. We wish to become part of the solution. We wish to be part of the effort. We are not the EU, but we are the E without the B, and therefore nobody can decide about us whether we are Europeans, because this has been already decided by God Almighty and by the geography that has located us right at heart of Europe and the European Union is the only reality in history of maps with external and internal borders. No other similar reality has ever existed in history.

So one enters the EU territory and to come to Albania one should leave Europe. It’s just a 1.5 hour flight from here and we’re right in the middle of Europe.

We wish to become a full part of Europe. To this end, we should deliver. We are already doing good things in many areas. Our economy is progressing well and Albania’s tourism is thriving. By the way, I invite all of you to come and visit us. You won’t regret and you would definitely want to return. We certainly want to do things with the government of Bavaria and we would be very happy to be of assistance.

This is my approach. We stand together for whatever we can and as far as this can be useful. However, we are small and not rich, but being small and not rich does not stop us from being together on a moral level when you are part of a family and when you know your place and how to honor this place of yours in the family.

Thank you!

* * *

Thank you! First of all, it is important to hear from both sides here in Germany that what we are doing doesn’t infringe any European and human values, because it was not obvious when we embarked on this thing and we faced many critics, especially from my Socialist counterparts in Europe. But it is pretty clear for me. If this agreement was to be signed between, let’s suppose, between Italy and the Czech Republic or if Albania was not to be Albania, but it were Slovakia instead, nobody would have talked about it, because such a deal would have been the most natural thing to happen – European solidarity – and there is an agreement, if I am not mistaken, within the European Union, based on the redistribution concept, which means that Italy is cursed for being the first onshore territory off the Mediterranean to be seen from Africa and it can’t be a curse to Germany.

So all the countries should take part and the fact that we are doing precisely what the European agreement stipulates, namely establishing a reception centre to process all the procedures based on the European laws and it should not be a reason to raise another senseless, useless and political conflict. Many political conflicts take place due to narrow political interests, when it comes to this topic.

Addressing the immigrant plight is not a matter concerning the leftist or rightist parties only, but it is an issue of what Europe will be in the next ten years; how this continent and these countries will look like in 2040 and in 2050. And this is the responsibility of the leadership and those who have been elected for this.

We could have wished that something else was to be done, but we should deal with it together. It is not something easy, it is not a very pleasant topic to deal with because it is a subject of so many discussions, but we have to make our contribution and it does not matter if we are not EU members.

It is our duty to behave as honorable, dignified, and fully trusted members of this community.

It doesn’t matter that you are the EU and that we are the E without the U. It doesn’t matter at all. This is the way I see it and this is certainly an effort. Markus put it right, saying we need to wait and see how it would work, because this is something new. Lessons will be drawn, adaptations will be made and other countries may follow the suit later. But you were speaking about Türkiye, because Türkiye is the source of the Balkan corridor. In a nutshell, should a fresh wave of immigrants take place, the Balkan corridor would somehow become the main route. So, why not try and find a collective solution in advance together with the countries along the Balkan route, mainly North Macedonia and Serbia. These are solutions, which are good will efforts at least and I don’t see it as a political line. A Socialist government is in office in Albania, while the Italian government is not a Socialist one – to say the least – but tackling the immigrants plight is neither a Socialist nor a Christian-Socialist or a Christian-Democrat matter, but it is a collective problem that should be solved of all of those who are tasked with representing the citizens of Europe and they should work together to deliver and do this for the European citizens.

/u.sh/

PM Rama is on a visit to Bavaria, Germany, upon an invitation of the Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder to attend the annual strategy meeting of the Christian Social Union (CSU) party.

In his remarks, the Premier also focused on the ways Albania thinks it can contribute to efforts aimed at preventing illegal immigration through the agreement the country has signed with Italy.

The government head stated that “Albania is not the solution, because it is a small country and it lacks the tool to be the solution.”

“The solution doesn’t even lie in the hands of a great country like Germany. However, Albania can do its part to contribute to this solution, just like any other European country should do their part, because this challenge requires a common pan-European response,” he added.

“Whole European family should stay united and agree on a joint response and not resort to various, diverse solutions that sometimes have nothing to do with the future generations, but with the daily politics,” Rama said.

Rama also focused on the strong ties between Albania and the Bavarian state, adding that “ thousands of Albanian citizens living in Bavaria can’t be more grateful and more fulfilled by being part of the Bavarian economy and the Bavarian community efforts.”

/u.sh/

Rama addressed the leadership of the Union speaking on the European challenges, Albania as an example of success in our region and the strengthening of bilateral relations with Germany and especially with Bavaria, through political, economic, commercial and cultural cooperation.

“Until a few years ago, it would have been unimaginable that thanks to the results of a completely new image in Europe, Albania would have a place of honor as a guest in this strategic forum of German politics, and moreover that it would not have any barrier to interaction with political forces in Germany, regardless of political color,” wrote Rama in a post in the social media./p.s./