Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at the conference “Albania, The New Horizon”, highlighted Albania’s progress on the path toward European Union integration and compared it to neighboring countries in the Balkans.
Rama emphasized that Albania has made significant progress in EU integration, surpassing both North Macedonia and Serbia. He said:
“Previously, it was Macedonia; now it is nowhere on the map. And Serbia is also nowhere. Meanwhile, Albania was considered ‘who knows.’ We are ahead. It is very political, hypocritical, nonsense.”
He also stressed that it is crucial for Kosovo and Serbia to find a solution to bilateral issues, warning that Belgrade could further isolate itself if concrete steps are not taken.
“We need to resolve our own issues. Meanwhile, Kosovo and Serbia must find a solution, because Belgrade will further isolate itself if it does not resolve anything,” Rama said.
Historic Opportunity for Albania and the EU
Rama called for Albania to continue its efforts at the same pace to fully seize historic opportunities for EU integration. He cautioned that although the current context is favorable, political changes in the EU could alter the situation, emphasizing the need to maximize efforts now.
“We must approach this as serious work, and we will do our part. Opportunities are significant due to the context. But with the EU, nothing is guaranteed; things may change. We must do our best during this period, as this opportunity has never aligned so perfectly for our country. We need to act fast so we don’t let it slip away.”
