The relations between Slovenia and Albania are very good and are developing and deepening further. Next year the two countries will mark 30 years of diplomatic relations, and it can be said already now that cooperation in certain fields is excellent, has said the Slovenian Ambassador to Tirana, Peter Japelj.

The Ambassador made that comment in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News during which he shared some views on the Brdo Summit during which Slovenia as head of the Council of the European Union tried hard to make to make 2030 a target date for the six countries to join the Union was unsuccessful. “The wish behind this drive was to foster an additional motivation for the candidate countries. A Summit declaration has to be agreed upon by consensus among the 27 Member States, whereby Slovenia is among the firm supporters which advocate enlargement as a strategic question,” said Mr. Japelj who, however, noted that being realistic, the chances of agreeing on the date were tiny and, in fact, the Summit was officially not related to enlargement. “However, there are many other achievements of the Summit which are important and substantive for the further EU integration of the Western Balkans.”  

Ljubljana’s top diplomat in Tirana was content with the deliverables of the first half of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU and among others he highlighted achievements like the “Health Union” over hybrid threats to the research and innovation. According to him, many issues are related to the Western Balkans and have involved the participation of the representatives from the region, as well. “For instance ,the pre-accession assistance (IPA III), Joint Declaration at the International Ministerial Conference on Women and their position in rural areas, Youth Guarantee Scheme for the Western Balkans and, of course, participation of the Ministers from the region at numerous informal Councils organized mostly in Slovenia.” 

Asked about the current situation in the Western Balkans Mr. Japelj was of the opinion that it is worth putting every effort in maintaining regular contacts, continuing talks and striving for a solution acceptable for all sides involved. “A better common future will make everyone forget the quarrels of today.”

As winter tourism is approaching, an asset for Slovenia, the Ambassador said they have learned in the time of the pandemic that it is difficult to predict the future. But he had a message to convey to Albanian tourism lovers through Albanian Daily News that Albanian COVID certificate is approved by the EU and guests from Albania are very welcome to enjoy the coming winter days in one of many Slovenian thermal and wellness resorts or on the slopes of the ski centers. 

In a comment on the ongoing activities in the frame the Conference on the Future of Europe he did not expect a different Europe at the conclusion of the Conference. However, according to him, the results of the Conference will represent certain guidelines for the future development in different areas in order to ensure a safe, quality based and comfortable life. “Taking into account the aims of the Conference, I expect that the main strategic considerations will be related to environmental issues, sustainability, circular environment and social questions.”

Ambassador Japelj was frank confessing that the team at the Slovenian Embassy in Tirana is sparse, but they use all possible opportunities for initiatives and projects that can contribute to intensifying the relations in different fields and enable the countries and the peoples to become better acquainted with each other. “We have many things in the pipeline, unfortunately it is impossible to do everything we would like. Until the end of my mandate I intend to pay special intention to the economy, culture and youth,” said Slovenian Ambassador to Albania Peter Japelj: 

Albanian Daily News: Mr. Ambassador thank you for sharing some of your opinions with ADN’s readers and the major interest of these days has been the Brdo Summit headed by the Slovenian EU presidency. Slovenia’s enthusiastic drive to make 2030 a target date for the six countries to join the Union was unsuccessful. Enlargement without setting a deadline… How would you describe such a situation?

Slovenian Ambassador to Tirana Peter Japelj: Thank you for the opportunity to share some views with the readers of Albanian Daily News.

As you mentioned, it was an enthusiastic and passionate endeavor to include the date in the declaration. The wish behind this drive was to foster an additional motivation for the candidate countries. A Summit declaration has to be agreed upon by consensus among the 27 Member States, whereby Slovenia is among the firm supporters which advocate enlargement as a strategic question.

Being realistic, the chances of agreeing on the date were tiny. And, in fact, the Summit was officially not related to enlargement.

However, there are many other achievements of the Summit which are important and substantive for the further EU integration of the Western Balkans. 

As you know, it was not self-evident to include the mention of enlargement into the declaration. Now we have it, and it is for the first time ever to have such a reference in an EU - WB declaration.

But there is much more related to and important for the future of the Western Balkans in the EU. Let me just mention the agreement on holding the EU - WB summits on regular basis - the next one is already planned during the Czech presidency in the second half of the 2022.

The Summit demonstrated that the EU remains the predominant partner and investor in the region, notably with the unprecedented Economic and Investment Plan for the region.

The focus on the socio-economic recovery of the Western Balkans and convergence of the region with the EU in various fields is another crucial issue, just as the establishing of the Common Regional Market and implementing the Green Agenda in order to align with infrastructural, energy and transport corridors of the EU. The Summit made it clear that we need joint promotion of sustainable development, connectivity, decarbonisation, research, innovation, and resilience, including the cyber resilience.

All in all, I think we managed to have a summit that sent a strong message of engagement and support for the EU perspective of the Western Balkans.

- Balkan countries are ‘family, ‘at the heart of Europe’, ‘our backyard’, ‘the second lung’ of Europe.  Your Excellency, don’t such reproduced considerations seem exhausted, and secondly, why does Brussels seem worried over the ‘growing’ influence of Russia and China in the region when it puts off indefinitely the membership of the WB countries?

- That Balkan countries are in the heart of Europe that is a fact and an important ground for the membership in the EU. “Brussels” in this case is the Council, and as mentioned, a consensus of 27 member states is needed in these topics. So, we are facing at least 27 positions which have to be aligned. The influence of third countries, which do not necessarily share the same views on what is important for the future of the region, is a strong argument of those who emphasize, among other things, the strategic importance of the enlargement. These arguments also contributed to the growing interest of the EU for the region recently, and we have to keep the momentum.

- Let me touch upon Slovenia’s busy schedule during the first half of its presidency. Is Ljubljana’s platform delivering and which are your expectations for the balance sheet at the end of its mandate?

- The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU is very content with the deliverables of the first half of the presidency. The results of the coordinated work of the state administration in Ljubljana and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia in Brussels resulted in several achievements that will furnish the EU for the future challenges. It reaches from the “Health Union” over hybrid threats to the research and innovation. Many issues are related to the Western Balkans and have involved the participation of the representatives from the region, as well. For instance, the pre-accession assistance (IPA III), Joint Declaration at the International Ministerial Conference on Women and their position in rural areas, Youth Guarantee Scheme for the Western Balkans and, of course, participation of the Ministers from the region at numerous informal Councils organized mostly in Slovenia. 

I believe that at the end of the Presidency, we will able to look back on a successfully done work which has produced many good and significant results.

- Slovenia’s role to pacify the Western Balkans has been exemplary. In this frame, Mr. Ambassador, which is your assessment of the current situation and why is it so hard for countries involved in disputes to overcome the differences peacefully in good neighborly spirit?

- During the EU negotiations Slovenia itself faced different issues with its neighbors. One of them was the question of the German speaking community in Slovenia, which tensed the relations with Austria. After harsh words, accusing articles and negotiations that took quite some time, both countries concluded an agreement on cultural cooperation which brought a compromise solution. At that time, I had been on my first posting in Vienna where I was following this issue, but afterwards, I had completely forgotten the affair until recently. It had crossed my mind only a few weeks ago when thinking about the open question between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

What I want to say is that it is worth putting every effort in maintaining regular contacts, continuing talks and striving for a solution acceptable for all sides involved. A better common future will make everyone forget the quarrels of today.

- Winter is coming, pandemic goes on unabated. Please how is Slovenia coping with the current situation and the expectations for the future in confronting it as winter tourism is an asset of your country?

- Slovenia has in force similar measures as other member states of the EU. Our government has launched a campaign for vaccination which is the best way to get the pandemic under control (a movie made by a renowned Slovenian director can be found on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GHValb5amE)

At the moment approximately 50% of the Slovenian adult population is vaccinated.

We have learned in the time of the pandemic that it is difficult to predict the future. However, I guess that the same as for the majority of present activities, winter tourism will be linked to a valid COVID certificate. I would like to use this opportunity to remind that Albanian COVID certificate is approved by the EU and guests from Albania are very welcome to enjoy the coming winter days in one of many Slovenian thermal and wellness resorts or on the slopes of our ski centers. 

- Mr. Ambassador, the conference on the future of Europe is underway with not so much fanfare. However, Sir, which is the part being played by Slovenia in it and as it will end by spring next year do you expect a different Europe, a different strategic approach of the EU in face of a changing world in many aspects highlighted by a sort of cold war not as in the 1970s between Washington and Moscow but between the US and China? 

- As Slovenia holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2021, we have a special responsibility to actively participate in the discussion and give added value to the conference.

The Conference on the Future of Europe is an opportunity for citizens to discuss the challenges and priorities of the European Union. At its conclusion, the conference will adopt the final report that will serve as a basis for considering the future path of the EU in line with the wishes of its citizens.  Particular attention is paid to including young people in the debate.

I do not expect a different Europe at the conclusion of the Conference. However the results of the conference will represent certain guidelines for the future development in different areas in order to ensure a safe, quality based and comfortable life.

Taking into account the aims of the Conference, I expect that the main strategic considerations will be related to environmental issues, sustainability, circular environment and social questions.

-Let me close, Mr. Ambassador, with a comment of yours on the current relationship between Albania and Slovenia. Besides the political atmosphere, what do you expect to move forward in other aspects and how much stronger cooperation can be complementary to the benefit of the two people?

- The relations between the countries are very good and are developing and deepening further. Next year Slovenia and Albania will mark 30 years of diplomatic relations.

Already now I can say that cooperation in certain fields is excellent. I am especially proud of the contributions that Slovenia has made in development cooperation, water and waste management, demining and mine victims assistance, education on the Rights of the Child, to mention only a few projects.

The team at the Embassy is sparse, but we use all possible opportunities for initiatives and projects that can contribute to intensifying the relations in different fields and enable the countries and the peoples to become better acquainted with each other. We have many things in the pipeline, unfortunately it is impossible to do everything we would like. Until the end of my mandate I intend to pay special intention to the economy, culture and youth.