Albania’s capital, Tirana, is set to host the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC), an event that will bring together 47 heads of state and government from across the continent.
This meeting marks a historic moment it is the first time the EPC is convening in the Western Balkans, highlighting the region’s strategic importance in the European context. Italian media have emphasized the close friendship between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Italy will be represented by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will travel to Tirana thanks in part to her strong relationship with Prime Minister Rama, who emerged victorious from last Sunday’s parliamentary elections and is poised to lead the Balkan country through a period expected to culminate in EU accession. Meloni has already congratulated Rama on his election win and plans to use the meeting in Tirana to discuss bilateral cooperation, especially on the issue of migration.
Meloni and Rama will also hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, at the conclusion of which a joint declaration is expected to be adopted, aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. According to reports, the meeting will also provide an opportunity to assess the implementation of the Italy-Albania Protocol on managing migration flows.
Among the informal gatherings, Italy is also expected to promote its now-traditional “roundtable discussion” on migration an initiative Meloni has brought to the European Council as well. The presence of several non-EU states often countries of transit for migration flows is seen by Italy as a key element in continuing this dialogue.
The European Political Community continues to evolve as a platform for dialogue and cooperation in Europe. The next summit is scheduled for October 2 in Denmark, continuing the rotation between EU and non-EU host countries.
Italy and Albania are bound by a strong relationship rooted in deep friendship and strategic cooperation across numerous sectors: from defense and security to energy and civil protection, from healthcare to environmental policy, and from migration management to economic and infrastructural development. Italy remains Albania’s top trading partner. A total of 2,875 Italian companies operate in Albania, a clear demonstration of the strength of Italy’s economic presence.
