Hosted by Prime Minister Edi Rama and EU Council President António Costa, the summit drew 47 heads of state from the EU, NATO, and the UK. Leaders met outside the newly named “House of Europe” in Skanderbeg Square for a day of high-level talks on security, competitiveness, and unity.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas were among the arrivals.
Kallas praised Albania’s progress toward EU membership, calling the country’s reforms “excellent,” and said the EU must now step up. “There is real momentum for enlargement,” she said. “This isn’t just about the Western Balkans—it matters geopolitically and economically for the EU too.”
On Kosovo-Serbia tensions, Kallas confirmed the EU has appointed a new envoy to restart dialogue. She also addressed Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying new energy-sector sanctions are on the way and warning that Moscow “is not serious about peace.”
NATO’s Rutte echoed that tone, criticizing Vladimir Putin for sending a low-level delegation to peace talks. “He needs to get serious. All the pressure is on him,” Rutte said. He welcomed Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate and praised U.S. efforts, especially the role of Donald Trump, in unblocking the talks.
The summit continues with two plenary sessions and a press event later today.
