Olha Stefanishyna meets with Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

During a working visit to Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Minister of Justice of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna met with Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Igli Hasani. The parties discussed expanding cooperation and sharing experiences between the two EU candidate countries as part of their EU accession processes.

“Cooperation between Ukraine and Albania has been and remains highly productive, especially since the start of the full-scale war. From the moment Ukraine submitted its EU membership application, your team and your government have been open to assisting, supporting Ukraine, and sharing expertise. You began your EU journey earlier, and the knowledge and expertise of your colleagues have been invaluable to us. We also look forward to learning more,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

She introduced the Ukrainian delegation visiting Albania and noted that Ukrainian experts would work with their Albanian counterparts over several days to exchange experiences and foster cooperation on the path to EU membership.

“We see the positive results of the reforms and transformations Albania has implemented. Therefore, we want to study your experience to understand what to expect now and what path lies ahead,” Olha Stefanishyna explained.

Minister Igli Hasani emphasised that Albania has focused significant efforts on combating corruption and strengthening the rule of law as part of its EU approximation process. In response, Olha Stefanishyna noted that Albania’s experience in these areas is particularly valuable, as Ukraine is navigating a similar path.

Another key topic was the EU enlargement process and the need to maintain its momentum.

“Since russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine began, Europe has mobilised to build a robust defence, ensure a sustainable enlargement process, and create new opportunities. However, while enlargement remains a defined strategic goal, the process itself is moving rather slowly. Candidate countries diligently fulfil their obligations but often get bogged down in technical matters. In this context, I am convinced that countries aspiring to membership must support one another and adhere to a merit-based approach. We are not seeking shortcuts—we follow all procedures. But it is crucial that our citizens feel we are moving toward the goal,” the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

In turn, Igli Hasani reaffirmed Albania’s unwavering support for Ukraine. He noted that in the enlargement process, it is vital for candidate countries to support each other, regardless of the stage they are at.