On 21 October 2026, the first Albania–Italy Cybersecurity Dialogue was held in Rome, with the participation of senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the national agencies responsible for cybersecurity in both countries.

The Dialogue took place within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation in the Field of Cybersecurity, signed at foreign ministerial level during the Albania–Italy Joint Intergovernmental Meeting (G2G), held in Rome on 23 November 2025. The meeting marks an important step towards deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries and continuing Italy’s sustained support for Albania’s European Union accession process.

The meeting was opened by the Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Mr Armand Skapi, and his Italian counterpart, Ambassador Riccardo Guariglia. During the meeting, the two delegations exchanged views on the latest developments in the cyber threat landscape, national strategies and policies in this field, the implementation of the United Nations framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, and the strengthening of cyber resilience within NATO. Both sides underscored the importance of international cooperation and respect for international law in ensuring a secure, resilient and trustworthy cyberspace.

Particular attention was devoted to Albania’s progress in aligning its legislation with the EU acquis and regulatory framework, especially the NIS2 Directive on cybersecurity and resilience. The importance of developing digital skills and strengthening national capacities to address cyber threats in the Euro-Atlantic area was also emphasised. In this context, Albania’s ranking first worldwide in the 2026 National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) was also highlighted.

The Dialogue reaffirmed Albania and Italy’s shared commitment to strengthening cyber resilience, addressing common challenges and contributing to the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. The two sides agreed to continue consultations on developing concrete cooperation projects in the coming months, particularly in the areas of institutional and professional capacity-building, the exchange of best practices, enhanced institutional coordination and the organisation of joint training activities.

The Cybersecurity Dialogue further strengthens the strategic partnership between Albania and Italy and reaffirms their shared commitment to cybersecurity, the protection of critical infrastructure and the advancement of a secure and resilient digital space. In conclusion, both sides welcomed the Dialogue as an important mechanism for bilateral consultation and coordination, expressing their readiness to hold the second meeting in Albania in 2027.