On 9 September 2026, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, visited the CEI - Executive Secretariat in Trieste today, where he was welcomed by Secretary General Franco Dal Mas.
During the meeting, the two discussed current geopolitical developments and the EU enlargement process, focusing on the importance of regional cooperation in fostering stability, dialogue and development across Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
Particular attention was devoted to the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the need to maintain strong political momentum in support of the accession process. In this context, the CEI's commitment to accompanying its non-EU Member States along the path towards accession and, through regional cooperation, towards the reunification of the continent was reaffirmed.
Dal Mas praised the progress made by Albania on its European path, highlighting concrete initiatives benefitting the country and, more broadly, the CEI Member States in the Western Balkans.
For his part, Minister Hoxha thanked the Organisation for its work over the years through numerous projects — sometimes small in scale but highly impactful — which have addressed concrete needs and contributed to Albania's path towards the European Union, as well as for its continued support of the country's European ambitions.
The meeting was also attended by Albanian Ambassador to Italy Anita Bitri Lani, the CEI Deputy Secretaries General and Italy's CEI National Coordinator.
The visit concluded with Minister Hoxha signing the Book of Honour of the CEI Executive Secretariat.
