Rama: “Europe needs Balkan”. Merkel: “We support Albania’s EU path”

Rama thanked Merkel for the cooperation and attention of Berlin to the region and to our country for several issues. He added that the Berlin Conference accelerated a cooperation process in a region that has been withheld by the past. And one year after that, a progress that used to be unthinkable before was finally realized with the visits of the Albanian and Serbian Prime Ministers in the respective countries.

“We are ready to reinforce the relations with our Serbian neighbors. Balkan need Europe as much as Europe needs Balkan. And also must also do its part, by not treating our integration as business”, Rama declared.

Rama added that the Albanian people have no asylum rights in the EU, but this should be seen not only as a security issue, but also as a social problem that can be relieved through EU economic support.

The German Chancellor expressed her pleasure to be in Tirana, and underlined that this visit should encourage more cooperation between both countries.

“Albania has made progress. We can reach other cooperation levels, an aspect that marks an important point in your EU path”, Merkel declared.

“Through cooperation, Albania can take advantage of the best judiciary reform expertises in the fight against crime and corruption”, Merkel said.

“Albania is not a country from where citizens will be recognized as asylum seekers. They are part of the countries that can offer qualified workers”, Merkel added.

Merkel also focused on the cooperation between Balkan countries, which, she said, made progress with the visits of the Serbian and Albanian Prime Ministers in both respective countries.

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