Brussels, Partnership Agreement Signed with the European Union

Today in Brussels, the Partnership Document with the European Union was signed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, and the Minister of Defense, Pirro Vëngu, in the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas:

So, dear Eddie, dear ministers, it's really my pleasure to have this signing ceremony today. Albania is already a NATO member, so we have a cooperation with many European countries already there.

It is great to begin this Western Balkan summit with the signing ceremony.

We have already supported Albanian armed forces directly, and both of us want to do more. So, this agreement shows that we will do more together.

It clearly shows investment to our common security. It shows that Albania will be around all these important tables where we discuss the security and defense of Europe and it also allows us a smoother flow of information, which is very important. And it allows us to expand our cooperation in fighting hybrid threats, misinformation, all this cyber-resilience, tackling terrorism, the worries that we have both in Europe and also in the Western Balkans.

So also on the accession process, Albania is making significant process - progress in this process. So, I'm also happy that we get to discuss this further in our bilateral meeting. So welcome, and really looking forward to the cooperation.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: It is a long and significant day for us, as we have the annual summit with the European Union and in the meantime, we woke up with a very nice sensation of having already opened another cluster yesterday.

So, it's a very good moment but first and foremost I want to take this advantage to congratulate you for this appointment and to tell you that we feel kind of privileged because you have come from a long way and you know something about being born and growing up in a dictatorship and then fighting for freedom and then fighting to build democracy and develop society.

This agreement is important because it's a further sign that our bond is inseparable and that we have to make the best to get it stronger and stronger.

I want to express my gratitude for the European Union and also for whomever on behalf of the European Union is working to push forward this agenda of full reunification of Europe.

Thank you, and thanks to everyone and thanks to whoever welcomed us at the doorstep.