Albanian Interior Minister Ervin Demo highlighted the strategic partnership between Albania and Greece at the Balkan Strategic Cooperation Forum, citing progress in trade, regional development and security.

Trade between the two countries has exceeded 1 billion euros, while more than 300 Greek companies operate in Albania. Demo identified further opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, tourism, technology and green transition.

Meanwhile, the two countries are implementing 20 regional cooperation projects under the Interreg programme. The projects total 25 million euros and involve 55 partners, around half of them municipalities. They cover areas such as ecotourism, infrastructure and local development.

Demo also called for stronger cooperation on border management, organised crime, trafficking and civil protection. He cited cross-border cooperation between Albanian and Greek firefighting services as an example of efforts to improve emergency response.

He also welcomed academic exchanges and Greece’s continued support for Albania’s European Union membership bid. Albania aims to conclude its accession negotiations by 2027.

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