The two ministers, who met in Prague on 16 January, discussed the importance of strategic partnership, security cooperation, and cooperation between the Czech and Albanian police.
The main topic of the meeting was the current migration situation in Europe and EU cooperation with the Western Balkan countries. Cooperation with the Western Balkans also remains a priority for the Czech Republic, which is of the opinion that successfully addressing the constant pressure of illegal migration on Europe is only possible by strengthening cooperation with partners, like Albania, who are actively fighting illegal migration on Europe's doorstep. The Czech Minister stated that the stability of the Western Balkans is essential for the EU to be able to carry out a fundamental review of its external migration and asylum policy and implement the points of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Vít Rakušan also informed his Albanian colleague that the Czech Republic very much welcomes the recent Brussels Declaration, which reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkan countries.
The ministers also discussed police cooperation, which mainly takes place within the framework of Interpol. A Czech police liaison officer also operates in Albania. He ensures the exchange of information and, in connection with the investigation of serious organized crime, mediates contacts between the relevant police departments and their Albanian counterparts. Among others, the Czech side expressed interest in strengthening security cooperation with Albania in the area of arms and drug trafficking, as well as smuggling.