Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, joined the high-level panel at CEFTA Week 2025 in Pristina. The event brought together the region’s key decision-makers to shape the next steps of trade cooperation and economic integration.

During her speech, the minister emphasized that Western Balkan economies face a new global reality. Supply chains shift. Climate conditions worsen. Competition demands integrated and predictable markets.

Moreover, she stressed that CEFTA remains a vital mechanism for stability, security, and long-term growth. It also acts as the strongest bridge toward the EU single market.

Furthermore, Ibrahimaj highlighted the need to turn regional cooperation into a daily practice. She called for harmonized rules, digital border points, greater transparency, and stronger business involvement. She also underlined the importance of technical assistance and the inclusion of SMEs in policy design.

In addition, she noted that progress in CEFTA requires steady political will. The region must remove bureaucratic barriers, improve the business climate, and build investor confidence.

A key topic of the meeting focused on CEFTA’s role in attracting value-added investments.

“The region must move toward investments that bring technology, skills, and productivity. CEFTA should serve as a functional platform for gradual integration into the EU market,” Ibrahimaj said.

At the end of the panel, participants officially confirmed that Albania will hold the next CEFTA Presidency in 2026. Ibrahimaj presented four strategic priorities for this mandate:

• strengthen political and institutional cooperation within CEFTA;
• increase transparency and the participation of economic and social actors in policy-making;
• deliver concrete results for businesses, especially in the movement of goods, Green Lanes, tourism, and agri-food trade;
• support value-added investments through a more harmonized and predictable regional market.

Finally, the minister stated that CEFTA is ready to enter a new phase. Albania will push this process forward in the spirit of European integration and shared regional economic growth.

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