The leaders of the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans were received today by Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, in the premises of the Prime Minister’s Office, before the Summit for the Berlin integration Process.
In the opening speech, PM Edi Rama emphasized the differences between member and non-member countries of the European Union, adding that the economic promises of the Berlin Process have not been fulfilled.
“The biggest political challenge is the painful division between EU members and non-members. Living without the EU is not easy. The economic promises of the Berlin Process have not been realized, especially when compared to the transformative mindset it has brought.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the same time the ‘architect’ of the Berlin Process, stated that the Berlin Process summit proved the undeniable importance of the Western Balkans in the bloc. According to Scholz, the impact of the agreements signed last year of the Berlin Process have been concrete and others are expected. However, after the aggression in the north of Kosovo, the time has come to overcome the conflicts that keep the region stagnant.
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, emphasized the importance of the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union, saying that both sides should be ready for expansion until 2030.
“Enlargement is an investment in the peace and prosperity of the EU and our future members. Your journey started more than 20 years ago in the EU. It has been a very slow road. Disappointing. But now, I believe we should be ready on both sides by 2030 to expand. The war in Ukraine has focused our attention on expansion.”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, showed the intention of the union to give the Western Balkans access to the common European market.
“For this reason, I presented the growth plan and the countries’ access to the common European market. For this, we need reforms in the Western Balkans and those who have the will to reform will receive funding from the European Union”.
One of the pillars of the Berlin Process established in 2014 is good neighborliness in the region. And in this context, the tense situation after September 24 in the North of Kosovo is a topic to be discussed all the more, since the two architects of the Franco-German plan will beheard in Tirana tomorrow.
The second and most important aspect, the one with an economic character that is expected to be presented for the region.
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