Peleshi begins parliamentary diplomacy tour for EU integration/ Holds meeting with Austrian counterpart

2025-11-25 13:37:00, Aktualitet CNA

Peleshi begins parliamentary diplomacy tour for EU integration/ Holds meeting

As part of an official visit to Austria, the Speaker of the Assembly, Niko Peleshi, held a meeting with the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Walter Rosenkranz, marking the start of a new phase of Albanian parliamentary diplomacy to advance the EU membership process.

President Peleshi emphasized that after the support of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the governments of the member states, it is now essential to secure the support of the national parliaments and citizens of the EU countries.

Both sides appreciated the need to expand bilateral cooperation in all areas, as well as to intensify parliamentary cooperation at various levels, from senior leaders, to committees, friendship groups and parliamentary services.

An important part of the conversation was dedicated to Albania's active role in regional initiatives that support dialogue and European integration of the Western Balkans. The Speaker of the Parliament emphasized that Albania and Austria remain key partners in the field of security, sharing principled positions on European security and the protection of democratic values.

The focus was also on support for Kosovo in the international arena, including increasing recognition, advancing Euro-Atlantic integration, the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue and Austria's role in the complete lifting of EU restrictive measures against Kosovo. Both countries reaffirmed their common position to continue supporting Ukraine and efforts to maintain peace and stability in Europe and beyond. President Peleshi also commented on the visit and the history of relations with Austria.

"We have just concluded a very interesting and very valuable conversation during my first visit to Austria with my counterpart, the President of the Austrian Parliament. It is a special pleasure and not coincidental that my first visit, as well as that of a delegation from the Albanian Parliament, takes place in Austria, a country that has supported Albania since the first days of independence and the creation of our state," said Peleshi.

He added that ties with Austria are not only political, but also emotional and human, recalling the historical support that this country has given to the Albanian intellectual elite, initiatives such as "Democracy Workshop", as well as new academic collaborations between universities in Albania and Austria.

"Today I came not only to express gratitude on behalf of all Albanians for what Austria is doing for Albania, but also to build new bridges and spaces of cooperation. We Albanians want to be with dignity in Europe, not only beneficiaries, but also contributors with our knowledge and commitment ," said the head of the Assembly.

Pelesh's full statement after the meeting with his Austrian counterpart Walter Rosenkranz:

We have just concluded a very interesting and very valuable conversation during my first visit to Austria with my counterpart, the president of the Austrian Parliament. It is a special pleasure and not coincidental that my first visit personally, as well as that of a delegation from the Albanian Parliament, takes place in Austria, a country that has supported Albania since the first days of independence and the creation of our state.

Throughout our history, Austria has been close to Albania. Our interests are common, but above all we have emotional and human ties. Here in Austria lies our national pride, here is the sword and guardian of our national history.

Here Ismail Qemali, the founder of the Albanian state, received support in the first steps of the state. Here a good part of the Albanian intellectual elite was formed, which has made an extraordinary contribution to our country and we can mention many prominent names.

But Austria has been close to Albania even in its modern history. After the 1990s, in our process towards reunification with Europe, Austria has always been close to Albania, supporting our country not only with political will, but also with concrete actions. I would like to highlight here the Democracy Workshop, an initiative not very well known to the general public, but where over 6,000 children have been trained, who learn democracy, decision-making and the functioning of Albanian institutions.

Austria has also chaired the Group of Friends of the Balkans for decision-making, an important and powerful supporting hand for the entire region towards integration into the European Union.

So today, I came not only to express gratitude on behalf of all Albanians for what Austria is doing for Albania, but also to build new bridges and spaces for cooperation. As Mr. President said, in the field of education we also have some pioneering initiatives, such as the Peter Mahringer Academy in Shkodra, but also the most recent initiative, the cooperation between the Boku University of Vienna and the Agricultural University of Tirana. There are some of these initiatives that I am convinced will multiply and increase after this visit, because we Albanians want to be with dignity in Europe. We do not want to be only beneficiaries of the common market of opportunities, economy and politics, but we also want to be contributors with our knowledge, with our commitment, with the intellectual part of the knowledge economy, towards a new era where Albanians will be at high and European standards.

First of all, I would like to publicly thank my counterpart, the President of the Austrian Parliament, for the warm welcome and for the support he guarantees us for the future of Albania. /CNA