Central Europe and Western Balkans Defense Ministerial held in Bratislava

Published: Tuesday, 23 September 2025 13:52

 

The Central Europe and Western Balkans Defense Ministers’ Meeting (CEDC+WB) was held this year in Bratislava, Slovakia, bringing together defense ministers from Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and counterparts from the Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

The 2025 conference focused on the defense industry, modernization, and armament, set as key priorities by the Slovak presidency.

Defence Minister Pirro Vengu underlined Albania’s role as a producer of stability and security in the region, citing the contribution of over 500 Albanian troops in NATO and EU missions, alongside major defense industry investments in artillery systems, combat drones, armored vehicles, and munitions.

He stressed that these investments, undertaken in coordination with the EU and NATO, are closely tied to critical infrastructure projects such as Corridor VIII, Porto Romano, and the strengthening of Civil Defense.