“Albania has very ambitious goals and is approaching the EU enlargement process with full energy. I believe it is extremely important to move ahead with the reforms that need to be undertaken, and reforms should not only be adopted but also implemented. These are the next steps, which are necessary to genuinely continue on the path of enlargement towards the EU. However, I think Albania is making very good progress and truly has this goal in mind,” stated Kallas in an interview with TV Klan.

Kallas emphasized that Albania is a strategic partner of the European Union and that we have been very good partners in various fields.

“Today we also discussed cooperation, what more we can do in terms of security and defense, addressing hybrid threats, cybersecurity, and all these issues, but we are also good trade partners. So, I believe we can do much more to benefit from this relationship. It is therefore in the interest of both parties,” stated Kallas.

When asked about her perspective on the pre-election situation, Kallas stated, “Elections are a fundamental part of every democracy. We hear that there is widespread political support for EU membership. Naturally, for the reforms to be implemented, political backing from various parties is required, and I understand that this is a shared goal for everyone in order to genuinely join the European Union.”

Kallas spoke about the situation in the region, describing it as fragile.

“As you also mentioned, peace and stability are very fragile in the Western Balkans. It is in our interest for it to be a stable region. Therefore, we are certainly working with different countries,” stated Kallas.

When asked about Albania’s role in this context, Kallas said, “Albania has been a steady and peaceful partner, as well as a very, very good interlocutor when it comes to real mediation between different countries in the Western Balkans. So, I believe we appreciate the advice we receive from Albania on issues in the Western Balkans, and of course, we also appreciate the cooperation we have with Albania, because I think one of the roles Albania can play is that if you make good progress on your path to the EU, it is also a good example for others to do the same.”

“It is in our interest to see relations between Kosovo and Serbia normalize, otherwise these countries cannot move forward when it comes to EU membership. Therefore, it is in the interest of both countries. I also aim to invest my time and energy to truly bring the parties closer together,” said Kallas.

The Vice-President of the European Commission also spoke about the reasons the member states are taking close note of security and defense.

“We are addressing the ongoing threats and global events. When we witness instability, we must be prepared to defend ourselves. We are witnessing Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, another sovereign and independent country. Moreover, Russia is dedicating over 9% of its GDP to its military. Consequently, we must take steps to ensure our own protection,” said Kallas.

When asked about her take on the cooperation between the EU and Albania in the area of security and defense, Kallas said, “Today, we launched the first EU-Albania dialogue on security and defense. We are already engaged in many joint efforts. We are very thankful to Albania for its participation in European missions and operations, including those in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Red Sea. This is what we are currently doing. However, there are areas where we can enhance our collaboration, such as cybersecurity, countering hybrid threats, terrorism, and addressing disinformation and manipulation.”

Kallas emphasized that, within NATO and the transatlantic alliance, there is a push for Europeans, including Albania, to invest more in defense. She highlighted that steps are being taken at the European level to develop the defense industry, with partners like Albania also considering ways to contribute more.

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