Earlier today, Hoxha was received in Vilnius by his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys, in a meeting that confirmed the excellent relations between Albania and Lithuania, based on shared European values and a common commitment to the security and stability of Europe as two NATO member states.
Hoxha expressed gratitude to Lithuania for its support of Albania’s European Union accession process.
According to him, Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2027 will represent an important opportunity to keep enlargement at the top of the European agenda.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that Albania is today an example of how a merit-based EU enlargement process, built on concrete results from candidate countries, can succeed, praising Albania’s progress on its path toward EU membership.
Hoxha also expressed appreciation for Lithuania’s resilience and leadership in the face of the daily security challenges stemming from Russian aggression.
“Our united stance with our partners remains essential for protecting peace, freedom, and the rules-based international order,” he said.
The minister also reaffirmed Albania’s unwavering support for Ukraine, as well as its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The ministers also discussed deepening cooperation within NATO, including the possibility for Albania to benefit from Lithuania’s valuable experience in successfully organizing the NATO Summit in Vilnius in 2023, as preparations continue for the NATO Summit to be hosted in Tirana in 2027.
In a post on X following the meeting, Hoxha stated that “during the meeting we also discussed ways to deepen our bilateral cooperation in key areas, especially our economic and trade ties, information technology, and tourism.”
The two counterparts also signed the Agreement on the Elimination of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion, marking a concrete step toward strengthening economic cooperation.
Hoxha’s visit to Lithuania will continue with meetings with leaders of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Center for Security and Geopolitical Studies.
