Tirana hosts another major international even, namely the Summit of the Berlin Process leaders 2023, taking place for the first time outside of the European Union borders with participation of the Western Balkan Six (WB6) leaders and their peers in Berlin Process host countries, as well as high-level representatives and international bodies of more than 25 countries, the EU institutions, international financial institutions and the region’s civil society, youth and businesses community. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, as well as a number of prime ministers of the EU member states are attending the event.

The Summit attendees were welcomed by Prime Minister Edi Rama during a special ceremony at Tirana’s Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard and then visited the Centre for Openness and Dialogue at the Prime Minister’s office, where a ballet performance was staged by the internationally acclaimed Albanian choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, illustrating exhibition of the painting L’Enlèvement D’Europe (Rape of Europa) by the Italian painter Giovanni Domenico.

“Welcome everyone! I thought it would be the right place and the right moment to exhibit the L’Enlèvement D’Europe, the masterpiece by Giovanni Domenico Cerrini,” Prime Minister Edi Rama said in his remarks at the event. 

Prime Minister Edi Rama, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, the European Council President Charles Michel, and the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez delivered opening remarks at the start of the Berlin Process Summit that is taking place at the recently-transformed icon Pyramid building along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard.

The session “Region’s Integration into the Single Market and Improving Convergence with the EU” will open the Summit that will be followed with a second plenary session ” Supporting green and digital transition in the Western Balkans: Challenges and opportunities for investment and development,” with EU leaders and delegation heads scheduled to address both sessions.

Inauguration of the College of Europe that opened doors to high world-class education for Albanian students, was another milestone event on this day. Tirana Campus of the College of Europe is the first to open outside the European Union.

The Regional Agreement on Mutual Recognition of the Professional Qualification will be signed on the sidelines of the Summit.

Later on the day, Prime Minister Edi Rama, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EC President Ursula von der Leyen will hold a joint press conference on today’s Summit.

A ceremony of inauguration of the newly-restored Pyramid building is set to take place after the press conference.