Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly thanked Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama after his latest statement reaffirming Albania’s commitment to the migrant centers agreement with Italy.
The diplomatic exchange gained international attention after comments linked to Albania’s Foreign Minister, Ferit Hoxha, sparked widespread debate across European media regarding the future of the Italy-Albania migration protocol. The remarks, originally published following an interview with a foreign media outlet, led to speculation about whether Tirana was reconsidering its position on the controversial migrant processing centers in Gjadër.
Following the growing international reaction, Hoxha clarified that his statements had been misunderstood. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Edi Rama issued a public statement emphasizing that Albania’s agreement with Italy remains unchanged. Rama stated that the protocol regarding migrant centers in Gjadër “will remain in force for as long as Italy wishes.”
The issue quickly escalated into a major political discussion across international media, given the significance of the migration partnership between Rome and Tirana. The agreement, originally presented as a strategic solution to migration pressures in the Mediterranean, has faced both political support and criticism across Europe.
In a social media post, Giorgia Meloni shared Rama’s statement and publicly responded with a short but highly symbolic message: “Thank you, Edi.” Her response was widely interpreted as a sign of political unity and continued cooperation between the two governments on one of Europe’s most sensitive policy issues.
The Italy-Albania migrant agreement remains one of the most closely watched migration initiatives in Europe, particularly as migration policy continues to dominate political debate across the European Union. Statements from both leaders are expected to influence regional discussions on border management, asylum processing, and bilateral cooperation.