Albania and Italy, closer - First meeting between the two governments. Defense, industry, immigrants the main issues
For the first time, the Albanian and Italian governments will hold a joint meeting in Rome on Thursday, where the main issues to be discussed are defense, industry, immigrants and more. Scheduled to start at noon, this meeting marks the highest level of cooperation between the two countries.
About a month ago, the Albanian government approved in principle a cooperation agreement with Italy for at least 10 sectors, an agreement that is expected to be signed between Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni.
Also, the signing of several agreements and memorandums is expected in areas such as defense and security, energy, migration, civil protection, health, environment, economic development, and infrastructure.
Agreements by sector
In the defense sector, Italy will provide equipment and technology and in Albania, maritime infrastructure for shipbuilding and maintenance will be built, as well as the implementation of technical and professional training initiatives. In the energy sector, work is underway to expand cooperation based on the trilateral agreement between Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Albania signed in Abu Dhabi on 15 January 2025, which foresees the production of renewable energy in Albania and a submarine interconnection for renewable energy connecting Italy and Albania. Referring to migration, a joint working group will be created to deepen cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration and to strengthen Albania's maritime patrol capabilities. In parallel, an agreement has been reached to create a "Civil Protection System" in Albania for the transfer of professional expertise. Referring to healthcare, the two countries will focus on maternal and newborn health in Albania, with the construction of a neonatology department at the "Koço Gliozheni" Public Hospital in Tirana.
Great attention will also be paid to economic and infrastructural development, thanks to the framework agreement that officially recognizes Cassa Depositi e Prestiti in Albania as a development financial institution. This will further strengthen bilateral economic and infrastructural cooperation, including Italian technical support for the establishment of the new Albanian Development Bank.
In this regard, the joint creation of a trade fair center in Tirana, called "ExpoAlbania", is imminent. Furthermore, the cooperation between SIMEST and the National Economic Council of Albania will be strengthened through training and support initiatives for Italian and Albanian small and medium-sized enterprises on mutual market opportunities, promoting partnerships and investments.
Relations between the two countries
Several projects between Italy and Albania are listed, including those related to EU enlargement, as well as to new investments and opportunities, not to mention the reception centers set up in Gjadra. On May 16 last year, during the meeting in Tirana between Meloni and Rama, a joint declaration was signed, reaffirming their strong mutual interest in further strengthening bilateral relations with a view to Albania's accession to the European Union. The two countries have a strong common foundation in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation of October 13, 1995, as well as the Declaration of Strategic Partnership of February 12, 2010 and the Protocol on Strengthening Cooperation on Migration Issues of November 6, 2023.
The first Italy-Albania intergovernmental summit held in Rome is the natural continuation of this relationship. It will be an opportunity to review bilateral cooperation and agree on further initiatives aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between Rome and Tirana.
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