Remarks by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ferit Hoxha, during Panel V of the Diaspora Summit

Panel V: “All-Albanian Diaspora: Are We Doing What We Should Together?”

Thank you very much, Rudina.

I will be brief, because what matters most today is not only what we say, but what we are prepared to do together. More than anything, I am here to listen — to hear ideas, proposals, and recommendations that can guide us toward a stronger and more effective partnership with our diaspora.

Allow me to highlight a few key points.

First, if we have a diaspora, we must have a strategy. And if we do not have a strategy, we cannot expect meaningful results.

As we work on the next Diaspora Strategy for 2026–2030, one fundamental question must guide us: do we have a clear and shared vision of how we engage with our diaspora?

Our states may be separate, and we fully respect each other’s institutions and sovereign responsibilities. But in Brussels, in London, in Washington, in Melbourne — the Albanian diaspora is one. It shares the same language, the same identity, the same heritage, and many of the same aspirations.

If we fail to adopt a common approach, we will fail to achieve common action.

That is why stronger institutional coordination is essential — among our ministries, diplomatic missions, agencies, and all the structures working with diaspora communities. Better coordination means better planning, stronger impact, and greater trust.

This coordination must extend beyond Albania and Kosovo, embracing our partners in North Macedonia, Montenegro, and wherever Albanian communities live and contribute. This is the foundation of effective cooperation.

Second, we must focus on what unites us: our language, our identity, and the shared interests that bind our diaspora to all our countries.

Whether we speak of investments, innovation, talent, or cultural exchange, our goal should not be competition, but harmonization. The needs of Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and our communities across the region are complementary, not contradictory.

If we coordinate our efforts, our outreach becomes stronger, our opportunities greater, and our results more meaningful.

This applies equally to cultural diplomacy. We must consider how our institutions can work in harmony to promote our common heritage abroad in a coordinated and strategic way. We share far more than what separates us, and that shared foundation must guide our action.

Finally, we must strengthen the institutional architecture that supports this cooperation.

In Albania, we have established dedicated structures for diaspora engagement: a specialized directorate within the Ministry, the National Diaspora Agency, the Diaspora Publishing Centre, and institutions supporting the Arbëresh communities. These efforts are valuable, but they remain too fragmented.

Fragmentation cannot deliver the level of coordination our diaspora deserves.

Over the years, we have experimented with different institutional models. We have learned important lessons, and we must now build on that experience to create a more coherent and effective framework.

The way forward is clear: clearer ideas, better coordination, and stronger cooperation — both within our institutions and between our countries.

Only through such an approach can we become truly impactful for our diaspora and deliver meaningful results for our citizens.

Our diaspora deserves not fragmented efforts, but a shared vision.

And that shared vision must be transformed into coordinated action.

Thank you.