Skopje, 14 November 2022 (MIA) – There is no other path in facing challenges and difficulties in the region – from climate change to conventional warfare – than cooperation, creation of new synergies and adapting in a situation where we are very small but have a lot to do for each other, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told a joint session of the countries’ governments in Skopje on Monday. “Our countries have opened the accession negotiations process and made a big step forward. An EU-Western Balkans summit will take place in Tirana on December 6 and we will be there together. I believe we will make another step forward then, so that the Union includes us even more in the efforts to manage the high electricity prices and inflation. On the other hand, let’s build a common plan that will give us the opportunity to look beyond this difficult stage that we must overcome,” said PM Rama. He added that one should not wait for the end of the war to project a future, with Albania and North Macedonia attempting to do this from the aspect of the Western Balkans as their region and EU as their destination. “I believe that Open Balkan has given us new opportunities to look forward and understand how we can overcome the present while at the same time projecting the future that will increase the capabilities of our countries to the maximum, so they gain more room than the one provided by geography,” said Rama. The Albanian PM recalled on the results of the Open Balkan and said they would continue to support the Berlin Process, while adding the two initiatives are complementary. “The time has come for us to project more with even greater strength and ambition, creating synergy in the European community. EU’s support for our budgets in managing the energy crisis is, without a doubt, good news, but considering these funds represent a reallocation of the IPA funds, we should be even more ambitions,” said Rama. Earlier, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski and a Government delegation welcomed Albanian counterpart Rama with highest state and military honors. At today’s session, countries’ ministers are set to sign agreements and memoranda aimed to strengthen cooperation in several segments. PMs Kovachevski and Edi Rama are expected to hold a news conference after the joint government session.