The Albanian government has accepted the “challenge” made by the European Commission to close its 2027 membership negotiations, Prime Minister Edi Rama from Slovenia, where he is for Bled’s Strategic Forum, said on Monday.
He was part of the leaders’ panel in discussing the challenges of EU enlargement, along with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić.
In his speech, Prime Minister Rama said that the Albanian government sees approach with the European family as the height of a state -building process for Albania.
“We are not saying that we are ready for 2027, but thanks to the Slovenian swimming record we have clear goals put on the table by the commission that challenge us to realize all the milestones and all the criteria to conclude negotiations by 2027. Then, of course, it is the member states and is another part of the process.
There is no room for a hurry, because I believe that the most important part for us, at least for Albania, – Montenegro is a big country, I talk about Albania – is to use the membership process, as a state -building process, because Europe is a blessing for places like ours, because it is the only place where you can get knowledge of how to build institutions. We have never had institutions before in the literal sense and building institutions is the most difficult process and here is the difference with Afghanistan, Iraq or others, where our loved ones from the other side of the ocean have thought that you can change a place with bombs and value, but it is not. Europe is here to teach us how to set the traffic lights, how to ensure good circulation in institutional life is something extraordinary.
We are moving forward, we are progressing, but in the sense of leadership, we are the Albanian people to us. We are absolutely Euro-optimists, we love Europe unconditionally, even though Europe has made us suffer a lot. We have the full conviction that one day we will get married. He has finally left some of those vanities during the years “We love you, but we are not ready to talk to you”, now we are talking. So it’s a step further, as Martha says. I say it is based on marriage, it says it is based on merit. So we need to deserve the marriage and are working on this,“Stated Mr. Rama.
He said enlargement would make the EU stronger and compact. “Why? Because it does not leave part of its body open, to enter germs, viruses, infections and so on and this is the key. If tomorrow things go in another direction, this will be an open wound in the heart of Europe, while if we are inside, we are simply closing a space, a very small space that can become a big problem,“Said the prime minister.
Commissioner SOC also emphasized expansion as a historical but also geopolitical need for Europe as she faces unrest at her borders. She said “external forces” want the EU to fail.
“Enlargement is the same union of Europe that we have not had before in our history. The membership process is also about how the public or civil society supports. In 2030 both sides should be the candidate seats and we. There is no short road. The rule of law, human rights, the fight against corruption, free media are non -negotiable. Geopolitics has changed. We already face the fact that there are distinct distinct forces, as I define, who want to see us fail,“Said Ms. Kos.
Attendees appreciated the progress of Albania and Montenegro with the reforms, that both countries remain in vanguard with negotiations and are on the right track.
“We are moving forward with Montenegro. If we end in 2026 in the technical aspect of the talks, we can have the 28 EU members in 2028. And if Ed continues to do what you are doing excellently, we can have 29 members in 2029. However I don’t have much time. I only have four years, so speed!”Stated Commissioner Kos.
“The time has come to focus on the future or we will become more insignificant. The next three four years will be monumental in terms of the amount of exponential change that is coming to artificial intelligence, large technologies. We cannot lose this opportunity. To remove internal tariff barriers that prevent us from being part of the common market,Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic appealed.
