Check against delivery! 

Dear Edi [Rama, Prime Minister of Albania], dear Ministers,  

It is really my pleasure to have this signing ceremony today.

Albania is already a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member, so we have a cooperation with many European countries already there. It is great to begin this Western Balkan summit with the signing ceremony. 

We have already supported Albanian armed forces directly.

Both of us want to do more.

This agreement shows that we will do more together. It clearly shows investment in our common security. It shows that Albania will be around all these important tables where we discuss the security and defence of Europe. It also allows a smoother flow of information, which is very important. It allows us to expand our cooperation in fighting hybrid threats, misinformation, cyber-resilience [and] tackling terrorism.  

The worries that we have [exist] both in Europe and in the Western Balkans.

On the accession process, Albania is making significant progress. I am also happy that we get to discuss this further in our bilateral meeting. 

Welcome and really looking forward to the cooperation. 

Link to video (starting 2:34 until 4:12): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-265414