Minister Bushati attended on Thursday, by invitation of his Italian counterpart, Angelino Alfano the preparatory meeting of the Western Balkans Summit, to be held in Trieste on 12 July this year, as the next stage of the Berlin Process, in the wake of summits organized in Berlin on 2014, in Vienna on 2015 and Paris on 2016.

The interlocutors expressed the joint commitment that the Trieste summit will bring the regional countries closer to the European Union by concretizing the commitments made in previous summits, especially with regard to infrastructure and energy projects, as well as outlining new instruments for economic development of the region.

“All participating countries should contribute for the consolidation of the achievements of the Berlin Process both from the perspective of political dialogue and the implementation of transport and energy liaison projects,” underlined Bushati during a brief speech in this meeting.

He also emphasized the fact that the Berlin process, and the ideas or initiatives that derive from it, cannot replace the EU accession process.

“On contrary, the process initiated in 2014 should produce instruments that accelerate membership, and ensure that rule of law produces economic development,” stated the Albanian Minister.

In this context, Minister Bushati welcomed the commitment of the Italian government for the progress of the summit and welcomed the innovative proposals of the Italian Presidency in the preparation of specific measures in the field of innovation and development of small and medium-sized companies in the region.

“This pragmatic approach is the only one that may increase the region's ability to be more competitive and to absorb investment, generating development and employment,” declared Bushati.