Through a video message in the social media, Balluku said that, “The Energy Community Treaty was founded 20 years ago, becoming a vital platform for all partner countries”, while noting that in the last 5 years, the ECT for Albania has become a roadmap.”

“Here we have managed to address all the issues, especially those of regional cooperation; to come closer to the requirements of the European Union, to have a voice to discuss them and through the Energy Secretariat, to take these issues to Brussels”, said Balluku.

She noted that, “At the meeting being held in Athens, we will talk about the future of this Treaty, but on the other hand also about the future of the entire energy sector in the Western Balkans”, while she expressed her belief that the task that the Energy Secretariat has carried out so far will be equally important in the future.

Balluku emphasized that, “Today, when one of the most important geopolitical issues is energy, today when Europe is struggling to maintain its capacities, especially to create other renewable energy capacities, Albania undoubtedly has a lot to say, has a lot to do and to help other countries that are part of the Western Balkans”.

But, above all, she underlined, today we are at the negotiating table and at that negotiating table the role of the Energy Secretariat is vital.

She said that Albania aims to develop towards renewable energy.

“It is a role that cannot be replaced and above all, today we are cooperating to change those regulatory frameworks that will bring us closer to the laws of the European sector, but on the other hand will also help us to fulfill all the requirements of the green agenda”, said Balluku.

“I very much hope that in this 20th anniversary, all the countries of the Western Balkans will find their way as easily as possible towards energy security; on the other hand especially regarding the interconnectivity part which is an important issue that is discussed at our tables, but on the other hand we need to do more, just as Albania is already connected to North Macedonia, to Greece and we are working intensively for an underwater connection with Italy”, stated Balluku, as she thanked the European Commission, the European Commissioner for Energy and the Energy Secretariat for all the work done in all these years and all the support they have given us. /e.xh/j.p/p.s./