Hoxha took part in the meeting of European affairs ministers held on the margins of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC), where discussions focused on cooperation under the “Democracy Shield” initiative aimed at strengthening democratic resilience.

In his remarks, Hoxha said building collective resilience had never been more important, as democratic societies face growing challenges from disinformation, manipulation, foreign interference in the information space and hybrid threats.

He said Albania welcomed the opening of key EU resilience mechanisms to candidate countries, including as part of the gradual integration process, and remained committed to working closely with European partners to protect democratic institutions, strengthen public trust and safeguard the integrity of the information space.

“In today’s world, facts remain the first line of defence for democracy,” Hoxha said.

“A healthy society requires informed citizens, free, independent and ethical media, an active and engaged civil society, and trust in democratic institutions. Without citizens equipped to recognise and resist manipulation, malicious interference – often spread in sophisticated ways through social networks – can erode public trust and damage social cohesion,” he added.

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The meeting focused on current geopolitical challenges and the need to strengthen collective resilience against hybrid threats.

Foreign Minister affirmed Albania’s steadfast commitment to press ahead on the path towards the European integration, outlining some of the steps launched by the country to tackle hybrid threats and fully align with the EU and NATO.

“Albania’s commitment to EU integration remains steady and uninterrupted. Our work continues with focus and resolve to advance the accession process,” Hasani said in his remarks.

He highlighted the adoption of the Cybersecurity Strategy and Action Plan, alignment with EU regulations on the resilience of critical infrastructure by 2026, as well as the implementation of secondary legislation under the Law on Cybersecurity by 2025.

Hasani said that Albania’s membership in the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Helsinki is an important step towards fostering cooperation and exchanging best practices.

“No country is immune to hybrid threats and this is why we must remain vigilant and work closely together,” Hasani stating, adding that Albania is also ready to contribute to building a regional cooperation framework among the Western Balkan countries under the EU umbrella as part of the efforst to address disinformation and hybrid threats.

Foreign Minister Hasani also stated that EU enlargement should be a top priority, as it guarantees our common future against such threats while simultaneously contributing to preserving the unity of Europe.

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The proposal was presented during a hearing at the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, with Minister Balla underscoring the importance of the country’s membership, noting the rise in complex and frequent hybrid threats that challenge global stability and democratic processes.

“Hybrid threats are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and widespread around the world, including specifically cyber-attacks, disinformation, interference in all democratic processes and other forms of malign influence that undermine sovereignty and security of states. Joining this centre is essential for developing strong strategies to combat these threats,” Balla said.

The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats is an international, autonomous network-based organization promoting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to countering hybrid threats. The Helsinki-based Centre has grown to include a large number of European nations and NATO partners to share best practice, experience and expertise so that the Participating States and organizations can better understand and counter hybrid threats.

According to Balla, the centre will provide advanced training and resources for our institutions, making them more effective against hybrid threats. He also mentioned that membership would allow Albania to share information with other countries, enhancing its overall security.

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