Albania concludes SEECP Presidency/ Hasani: Regional cooperation, foundation for EU integration!
Albania successfully concludes its Presidency of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) for the period July 2024–June 2025, with the motto “Shaping our European future”. During this period, Albania has focused on three priorities: strengthening political cooperation, accelerating economic integration, and concrete results on the path towards the European Union.
Today, Tirana welcomed heads of state and high-ranking representatives from 13 countries participating in the closing Ministerial. In his opening remarks, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, emphasized Albania's active role in promoting regional cooperation and accelerating European integration.
He recalled that during this period, Albania has successfully led five regional and international presidencies: the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Adriatic Charter, the Central European Initiative, the Asylum, Migration and Refugee Initiative, as well as the SEECP itself.
He also mentioned the organization in Tirana of the 6th Summit of the European Political Community on May 16, 2025, as a key moment for the dialogue on security, democracy and economic development in Europe. Minister Hasani underlined that regional cooperation strengthens the foundations for EU membership, a necessary and complementary step for the future of the region.
He stressed that “EU enlargement is not just a political process, but a strategic investment for peace and stability throughout Europe”. Speaking about Albania’s journey towards the EU, Minister Hasani added that “with the opening of four negotiating chapters, Albania is on the right track and fully committed to advancing the process towards membership in the European Union”.
"Our objective is ambitious, but achievable: to open all group chapters by the end of 2025 and to conclude negotiations by the end of 2027. We are working with determination to ensure that Albania is ready for full membership before the end of this decade," Hasani underlined.
SEECP includes 13 participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Kosovo and Turkey.
As a platform initiated by the countries of the region themselves, SEECP remains an important mechanism for strengthening cooperation, resolving common challenges, and preparing for full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
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