Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said during the European Union-Western Balkans summit in Tivat that the region needs greater unity and a stronger political approach to the European integration process.
Rama said he believes that the messages from the Western Balkans have finally been heard and that there is a need for new momentum when it comes to the region’s European path.
“Finally, I have been heard, and I think we need unity,” Rama said.
Speaking about the EU enlargement process, he drew a comparison with German reunification, noting that at the time there was no complex negotiating process like the 35 chapters candidate countries face today.
“When Germany was being reunified, there was no talk of 35 chapters. They knew what needed to be done,” Rama said.
He said that although the process is not finished, there is still room for progress.
“However, it is not all over yet, but it is not too late either,” Rama said.
Commenting on the German-French document relating to the enlargement process, Rama said he sees it as a good basis for further discussion.
“We see this German-French paper, and I think it is a good starting point for discussions. I think Germany and France do not want to keep us in a waiting room,” Rama said.
He believes the region could be given more space for gradual integration into European processes, but stressed that responsibility also lies with the candidate countries.
“I think we are getting more integration. I think the European Union needs that Helmut Kohl moment. Of course, we also need to meet the conditions,” Rama said.
“Three things you cannot predict”
He also told the EU not to behave like an indifferent parent.
“You cannot tell children: ‘Stay with the neighbours until you are ready to come and eat with us.’ Because then one of them meets Russian gangs in the neighbourhood. Another starts to like Chinese dolls. No, keep all the children together,” he joked.
Albania submitted its EU membership application in 2009 and has been a candidate country since 2014, but formal accession negotiations were only launched in 2022.
While Montenegro aims to conclude its EU negotiations as quickly as possible, Rama has been open to joining the bloc under less favourable conditions in order to speed up the process.
Albania had previously targeted 2030 as a possible accession year, but in Tivat, Rama dismissed speculation about timing.
“There are three things you cannot predict: God, sex and the EU,” he said.
(EUpravo zato)