Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati held a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Parties focused on the migration crisis, cooperation with the EU on security issues and prospects of Albania's EU accession.

Minister Bushati expressed Albania’s commitment to contribute to the overcome of the migration crisis, in the framework of a coordinated European solution, taking into account the country's capacities, and by avoiding unilateral actions which do not comply with the commitment to provide a common and reliable solution. In this context, Minister Bushati underlined the need for coordination of efforts and further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Western Balkan countries and the European Union, in facing challenges of migration crisis together. This strategic partnership, Bushati stated, should include a reinforced political dialogue, part of which must be the European perspective of WB countries.

Furthermore, Minister Bushati focused on Albania’s close cooperation with Italy, specialized agencies of the EU and the UN, as a clear indication of the active and coherent engagement of our country to prevent uncontrolled migrant flows and their trafficking.

Commissioner Avramopoulos praised Albania's readiness to tackle the migration crisis and highlighted the urgent need to find a solution through a common European approach, by making use of all necessary political and financial means available. He expressed support for strengthening the strategic partnership with Western Balkan countries.

Moreover, Avramopoulos commended Albania's progress in the reform process with regard to the rule of law and the country's European integration, underscoring that this is a good moment for our country to advance towards the EU.

In terms of security issues, parties shared the idea of ​​further strengthening Albania’s cooperation with EUROPOL.