The Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Megi Fino, participated today in the 17th Plenary Session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), where she shared Albania’s vision on the importance of regional cooperation, the European Union enlargement process, and the role candidate countries are playing in strengthening the security, stability, and prosperity of the European continent.

In her address, Deputy Minister Fino praised ARLEM as an important platform for dialogue and cooperation, bringing together local and regional authorities and building bridges of cooperation among the peoples and communities of the Euro-Mediterranean region.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that good interregional relations, economic cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and people-to-people contacts directly contribute to strengthening trust, stability, and development, creating the conditions for faster and more sustainable European integration. She highlighted that the common challenges facing the Mediterranean and Europe, ranging from energy security and infrastructure links to climate change and digital transformation, require joint responses and deeper cooperation among partner countries.

Speaking about Albania’s European path, Deputy Minister Fino highlighted the significant progress achieved in recent years, stressing that the country has now entered the final phase of its accession negotiations. She reiterated Albania’s objective of concluding the accession negotiations by 2027 and becoming a full member of the European Union by 2030. According to her, this is an ambitious but realistic objective, underpinned by tangible reform results and the country’s commitment to meeting European standards.

Deputy Minister Fino also stressed that candidate countries should not be seen solely as beneficiaries of the enlargement process, but also as active contributors to shaping Europe’s future. In this regard, she highlighted Albania’s contribution to European security, including its 100% alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, its participation in missions and operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), as well as its continued commitment as a NATO Ally.

During her address, Deputy Minister Fino pointed out that maintaining the pace of reforms remains essential for the success of the integration process. She warned that, alongside the traditional challenges of institutional and democratic reform, European societies are increasingly facing hybrid threats, cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation and interference, as well as disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.

In this context, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening democratic resilience through strong institutions, enhanced media literacy, greater public awareness, and closer cooperation among partner countries. She underlined that the ability of societies to maintain public trust, resist manipulation, and address legitimate concerns through democratic mechanisms will be decisive for Europe’s stability and security in the years to come.

Full Speech of Deputy Minister Megi Fino: https://punetejashtme.gov.al/newsroom/fjala-e-plote-e-zevendesministres-megi-fino-ne-sesionin-e-17-te-plenar-te-arlem-it/