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"Unwavering support for EU enlargement"/ Minister Hoxha receives counterparts from Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia

2026-04-30 16:50:00, Politikë CNA

"Unwavering support for EU enlargement"/ Minister Hoxha receives

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, hosted this Thursday his three counterparts from Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In a joint conference, the four ministers emphasized that the Western Balkans are an integral part of Europe's future and in today's geopolitical context, enlargement is not simply a political choice, but a strategic necessity.

Also, during the meeting, the support of these countries in Albania's European membership process was confirmed.

"We had open and constructive exchanges on Albania's EU accession process and the broader European perspective of the Western Balkans, in a spirit of trust, partnership and shared responsibility. I reiterated that EU membership remains Albania's top strategic priority, strongly supported by a broad national consensus."

We are fully committed to maintaining this strong momentum and expect the IBAR to be completed as soon as possible in the near future, paving the way for the next phase of negotiations, that of chapter closure, for which we have been working intensively and preparing in parallel.

This is and must remain a merit-based process, supported by concrete and verifiable reforms and results. We continue to focus on strengthening the rule of law, advancing justice reform, fighting corruption, improving governance, and full compliance with EU standards.

In this joint effort, continued commitment and mutual trust will be essential for the credibility of the process and for moving forward towards a common European future.

We also exchanged views on regional developments, stressing the importance of stability, cooperation and a clear European perspective for all Western Balkan countries. I was briefed on the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans Group in Bratislava, and we agreed that political support for enlargement, gradual integration and closer coordination between EU Member States and the Western Balkans should remain at the heart of the agenda on 12 May and beyond.

"Our discussions also focused on energy interconnections and transport corridors, especially in light of current geopolitical developments, including the situation in the Middle East. These developments further underscore the need to strengthen regional connectivity, sustainability and energy security," Hoxha stressed. /CNA





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