Madam Co-President,
Distinguished Mayors, Regional and Local Leaders,
Excellencies,
Dear Friends,

Welcome to Tirana.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to address the 17^th Plenary Session of ARLEM here in Albania, a country that has always believed that geography matters, but that cooperation matters even more.

For centuries Europe and the Mediterranean have been a space of exchange, mobility, ideas, commerce, and civilization. They have connected peoples, cultures and economies long before the existence of our modern states.

Today, in a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, growing security challenges, economic fragmentation and technological disruption, that spirit of cooperation is both desirable and indispensable.

This is precisely why ARLEM matters.

Local and regional authorities are often the first to feel the effects of global developments and the first to respond to citizens’ expectations. They are where European integration, economic development, climate action, connectivity and democratic governance become tangible realities.

For countries like Albania and for all EU candidate countries, cooperation among regions is one of European integration strongest accelerators.

Over the years, we have learned an important lesson: If we cannot choose our neighbors, we can choose the quality of the relationships we build with them. That has been Albania’s approach. We have invested continuously in our cooperation with the neighbors because we firmly believe that a region that cooperates is a region that progresses faster towards Europe. And this logic extends beyond our countries.

 

Dear friends,

Europe and the Mediterranean today face common challenges that require common answers: climate pressures, migration flows, energy security, water management, economic competitiveness, demographic change and technological transformation. Not to forget the social unrest in some of our capitals and cities. None of these challenges stop at borders.

In Albania, especially among younger generations, aspirations are increasingly shaped by comparison not with the past, but with the realities they see across Europe. Expanded mobility, digital interconnection, and closer engagement with the European Union have created higher expectations and strengthened the belief that Albania’s future lies within the European family.

The protests and public demonstrations witnessed in recent months in Albania reflect a combination of social, economic, and political concerns. Peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic freedom that must always be respected and protected. Equally important, however, is preserving a clear line between the legitimate exercise of democratic rights and violent actions directed against institutions, law enforcement personnel, private businesses or public property. Democracies are stronger when they can uphold both individual freedoms and public order, while maintaining citizens’ trust in the rule of law.

These developments are not unique to Albania. Across Europe, societies are facing similar challenges arising from rapid economic and social change, political fragmentation, and growing skepticism towards institutions. The influence of social media, disinformation campaigns, manipulated content, and new technologies has further complicated this landscape by accelerating the spread of misleading narratives and amplifying divisions.

In this context, democratic resilience has become a strategic necessity. It depends on strong institutions, informed citizens, enhanced awareness, and close cooperation among partners. The ability to sustain public trust, counter manipulation, and address genuine societal concerns through democratic means will remain a key determinant of stability, security, and democratic strength in the years ahead.

 

Distinguished colleagues,

For Albania, the European Union has become a national transformation project. It consists in building stronger institutions, stronger rule of law, a more competitive economy and greater opportunities for our citizens.

Our European journey has gained today unprecedented momentum, and Albania is among the frontrunners in the accession process. In the words of Ursula von der Leyen, the country has made remarkable progress while being fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. This is not a diplomatic courtesy. It is an acknowledgement of tangible results.

From zero open chapters in October 2024, we succeeded in opening all 33 chapters by November 2025. In May 2026, we passed the EU’s new Interim Benchmark Assessment Report for Cluster 1, unlocking chapter provisional closures. Between July and October 2026, Albania provisionally closed its first four chapters, with a focus on closing five more by the end of the year.

Every chapter opened, every benchmark fulfilled, every reform implemented moves Albania closer to the EU. Heading into 2027, Albania is preparing 300 legislative acts for the European Commission. With our administration and state machinery fully mobilized, the strategic goal is to wrap up all technical negotiations by end-2027 and achieve full EU membership in 2030.

 

Distinguished participants,

Allow me to make a point that is particularly important. Candidate countries should not be viewed only as beneficiaries of European integration. Too often, enlargement is seen exclusively through the lens of what candidates receive.

The reality is far more balanced. Candidate countries are increasingly contributors. Contributors to European security, to economic growth, to connectivity, to resilience and to the future of Europe itself.

Albania exemplifies this commitment. We maintain 100% alignment with the EU’s CFSP. We have consistently stood on the side of international law, Ukraine’s sovereignty and the rules-based international order. We participate actively in CSDP missions and operations. We contribute to regional stability and Euro-Atlantic security as a committed NATO ally.

We do so not because we are obliged to, but because these are our convictions. Because Europe’s security is our security. And because candidate countries already form part of Europe’s security architecture.

The same applies to economic and energy security. The Western Balkans are becoming increasingly integrated into European transport corridors, energy networks, digital connectivity and supply chains. We are helping build interconnections that strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and resilience. Whether in renewable energy, transport infrastructure, logistics, digital connectivity or regional markets, candidate countries are helping shape the Europe of tomorrow before formally joining it.

In this sense, enlargement should be understood not as a concession to candidate countries, but as an investment in a stronger, safer and more competitive Europe.

 

Distinguished colleagues,

This brings me to the final point. Strategic communication. If reforms are important, explaining them is equally important. If enlargement is strategically necessary, it must also remain publicly understood.

Too often, discussions about enlargement happen among experts, politicians and diplomats. Meanwhile, perceptions are formed elsewhere, sometimes by those who have little interest in presenting facts.

For this reason, we must engage more actively with public opinion across the European Union. We must communicate not only what enlargement costs, but what it delivers. Not only what candidate countries receive, but what they contribute. Not only the challenges we still face, but also the transformation we have already achieved.

In our case, Albania should be known not through outdated stereotypes or misconceptions, but through today’s reality. We are a democratic NATO member, a reliable partner, a negotiating candidate country, a contributor to European security and a growing economy.

The same applies to the broader enlargement process. It is not an act of charity, but the most successful geopolitical investments Europe has ever made. Every previous enlargement has made Europe stronger, more prosperous and more secure.

Thank you.