Through a video message on the social network X, Rama praised the contribution of the Italian government under Meloni’s leadership in security and illegal immigration issues.

“Instead of marching on the body of Europe, as they feared, you embraced Europe and even helped it understand some things better: in security issues, illegal immigration of course”, said Rama.

Following is PM Rama’s congratulatory message:

Giorgia, I am reading that from today you are at the head of the longest-lasting government in the history of the Italian Republic. Is that true? I was used to changing interlocutors in Rome almost at the same pace as the Milan coaches.

And yet, look how strange it is, Italian democracy does not seem at all in danger, despite everything that we, especially the leftists, had predicted when you arrived at Palazzo Chigi in black trousers.

I even remember that Ursula was quite worried at the time. Today, she will also be very happy about this record of yours. Because instead of marching on the body of Europe, as they feared, you embraced Europe and even helped it to understand some things better: on security issues, on illegal immigration of course.

But, you still have to say it all: since you came there has been a huge democratic deficit in Italy: you took the men out of the struggle for power, which has now become a job between ladies, exclusively between ladies.

What more can I say, dear Giorgia, now there is another record to break, mine! And woe to those who tell me that Italy is not in the Balkans, eh, because we are always behind Germany, where another brilliant lady has governed even longer than me.

Long live Italy, long live Italian and Albanian women.”

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The exchange came after comments by Albania’s Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha in an interview with a foreign media outlet sparked speculation over the future of the migration protocol between the two countries.

The remarks drew widespread attention in international media and prompted clarifications from Albanian officials, who said the Foreign Minister’s comments had been misunderstood.

Rama reacted to dispel doubts over the agreement, saying the deal on migrant centres in Gjader would “remain in force for as long as Italy wants it”.

In a post on social media, Meloni shared Rama’s statement and wrote: “Thank you, Edi!”

On Tuesday, PM Rama said Albania’s migration protocol with Italy was “here to stay” and rejected what he described as distorted interpretations of Hoxha’s comments.

“To all journalists from Italy and elsewhere who are reaching out regarding a distorted quote reported by a media outlet following an interview with Albania’s foreign minister: let me reiterate, clearly and hopefully once and for all, that our protocol with Italy is here to stay, for as long as Italy wishes,” Rama wrote.

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Building on November’s summit, PM Meloni met with Albanian PM Rama at Palazzo Chigi to strengthen bilateral ties, with a focus on defense and joint migration management.

“Five months after the Intergovernmental Summit in November, today’s meeting at Palazzo Chigi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama, provided an opportunity to review the strengthening of the partnership between our nations in areas of common interest, with a particular focus on connectivity, defense, and collaboration in combating irregular emigration”, wrote Meloni in x platform. /p.s./

The meeting highlighted strengthened bilateral ties and coordination on common regional and European affairs.

After Rome, Rama will travel to Spain.

These visits to Rome and Barcelona, undertaken as part of key international commitments, are aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing the strategic partnership with EU partners. /gj.m/p.s./

The Italian government reported about the meeting in its official webpage.

Albanian and Italian prime ministers are scheduled to meet at 15:00 to advance the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Building on the 16 cooperation agreements signed at the inaugural Italy-Albania summit in Rome in November 2025, there comes the meeting tomorrow between the two prime ministers.

These agreements advance Albania’s defense capabilities through key investments in military technology and the modernization of maritime infrastructure for naval construction.

The two sides have also agreed to advance the renewable energy underwater interconnector project.

The meeting has also yielded an agreement on governing migration flows within the health and education sectors. /j.p/p.s./

Speaking at a joint press conference in Rome with Prime Minister Edi Rama after a joint meeting of the two governments, Meloni said it would be best if Albania were to begin its political negotiations during Italy’s presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2028.

“It would be a great reason for satisfaction if we could open the political phase of negotiations precisely when Italy holds the EU presidency, given everything we have achieved together over the years,” she said.

Meloni praised the initiatives launched by Italy’s Foreign Ministry in support of the Western Balkans, stressing that Italy had always been among the first advocates of the region’s EU integration.

“This is not an enlargement of Europe but a reunification,” the Italian Prime Minister said. “It is not for us to decide who is European and who is not – Albania is clearly a European country and nation.”

“Our duty is to support this process as seriously and, if possible, as quickly as we can, because that is also in our own interest,” Meloni added.

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Speaking at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following the first-ever joint cabinet session in Rome, Rama described the day as “historic.”

“For the first time, the Albanian government sat down with the Italian government to discuss projects and a shared future, as well as to take stock of what has been accomplished,” PM Rama said.

He underlined several agreements on concrete projects were signed.

“In all the years I have led the Albanian government, I have never doubted the goodwill, affection and desire of all Italian governments to do more. But with this government, that desire has become a reality, and we are truly grateful,” he said.

Rama highlighted the “brotherly commitment” of Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, saying it has allowed both countries to plan concrete steps to strengthen national and joint defence capabilities.

“I thank Defense Minister Crosetto and [Antonio] Tajani, who as a true European and Foreign Minister has always been a friend of Albania. He supports us in all international forums, not only diplomatically but also in economic and joint project terms,” Rama said.

He credited Italian Foreign Minister Tajani also for advancing the Corridor VIII project, which he described as strategic for Europe, NATO, trade and defence.

“It has finally begun to move forward at an accelerated pace, thanks to Tajani, who brought all parties to the table and is personally monitoring the project,” Rama said.

Rama also thanked PM Meloni for her “personal attention,” noting that all Albanians who have worked in Italy and paid social insurance contributions now are entitled to pension rights.

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Rama and Meloni exchanged bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, signed within the framework of the first G2G meeting in Rome.

The agreements between the government of Albania and the government of Italy that were signed today in Rome guarantee strategic cooperation in the fields of healthcare, energy, environment, security and defense industry, migration management, education, innovation, diaspora, economic transformation and smart growth.

In total, there are 16 new cooperation agreements within the framework of the close strategic partnership between the two countries.

The ceremony of signing the agreements by the two senior officials took place in the outdoor premises of Villa Doria Pamphili, a seventeenth-century villa with what is today the largest landscaped public park in Rome, Italy. /m.m/a.f/r.e/p.s./

The official welcoming ceremony included a guard of honor and the playing of national anthems.

PM Rama is in Rome for the first government to government meeting during which there will be approved a series of bilateral agreements.

Both countries are expected to promote cooperation further through joint projects, in areas such as economy, energy, defense, infrastructure, etc.

PM Rama is accompanied by a delegation of cabinet ministers and will chair together with PM Meloni the G2G meeting. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Further on, Meloni added, “The fact that we are here today means that we are taking a step forward in this important and historic process of European reunification, because if we want to build a new Europe in a new world; and we cannot do it without the Western Balkans, without these peoples, without these states, without these countries because it is precisely these peoples who are part of it; they are its heart, they are the bridge between East and West. What Pope John Paul II said is precisely that they are the heart of Europe”.

For this reason, Meloni added, “Italy is committed in Brussels to Brussels’ strategic approach for the Western Balkans, despite the challenges that the region faces, but that these countries must in any case have a clear perspective for EU membership”.

Of course, the Italian prime minister underlined, “Enlargement also means new challenges, but I am convinced that the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, but also the integration of other countries in the east, is only for the benefit of Europe’s security, especially considering what is happening on our borders.”/j.p/p.s./