Visit to Rome and Barcelona/ Rama: Albania is no longer just present, but respected

2026-04-19 09:54:00, Politikë CNA

Visit to Rome and Barcelona/ Rama: Albania is no longer just present, but

In the episode of the podcast "Flasim", Prime Minister Edi Rama also spoke about his official visits to Rome and Barcelona.

Rama praised the cooperation with the current Italian government, saying that the relationship between the two countries has deepened through strategic cooperation projects.

Among other things, he also spoke about participating in the summit in Barcelona at the invitation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, where he stated that Albania is no longer simply present, but is trusted, respected and valued as one of the actors at the table.

"This week I had a two-stop trip, in Rome and Barcelona. In Rome, where I met with the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, it was a moment to take stock of the progress of joint projects and, on the other hand, to confirm through this progress the new phase of relations between our two countries, because Italy has always been close to Albania.

All Italian governments, without distinction, have been ready and always attentive to support and help Albania. But, with the current government of the Republic of Italy, things have gone to another level. Cooperation is not simply a cooperation based on mutual commitment. In this case, of course, the most important part is that of the Italian government to work together, to be constantly on a common path, but it is also based on a series of concrete projects.

So, the signing of the strategic agreement between the two governments at the previous meeting in Rome is, in fact, the most meaningful reflection of the fact that the relationship, which has always been characterized as strategic, has taken on a new color through strategic cooperation projects. A structured cooperation, a cooperation that is related to both development and security.

After Rome, I had a visit to Barcelona, ??where, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, I participated in the joint summit table called “In Defense of Democracy” and, before this summit, together with the delegation, we were received with special honor by the Chamber of Commerce of Catalonia, where a completely new level of respect and interest for Albania and the business of that country was clearly seen. A country whose name, not many years ago in Spain, like Albania, was associated with prejudices, today has become one of the favorite destinations of Spanish citizens, especially Spanish youth, as a tourist destination, while state relations have never been better than today. Participation in the summit “In Defense of Democracy” and the reception by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were also part of what I said a little above, in the aspect that Albania is no longer simply present, but is trusted, respected and valued as one of the actors at the table. And, to end on this note, these stops clearly highlight once again how our serious and internationally confirmed partners, for our commitments, for our will and, above all, thanks to our progress and transformation that everyone is talking about, have brought us to a point where we have only one and only one path: to move forward at a rapid pace", said Rama. / CNA