Rama: We did everything for status

“We did everything possible. The European Commission made a report about our  progress, and it is the most positive one. France doesn’t consider Albania anymore as a source of human traffic, due to the exchanged information”, Rama declared.

Rama held a conversation with lawmakers, scholars and European diplomats, led by the Director of the French Institute, Thierry de Montribal, also President of the World Conference of Policies. The Albanian Prime Minister spoke about the expectancies for the candidate status in June.

“I hope that we will receive it in June. I would like to see a shorter time from integration to accession. I don’t expect the reforms to get easier, but my country needs the EU and the EU also needs my country. The same goes for the entire Balkan”, Rama declared.

Answering to a Slovakian diplomat, Rama declared that the EU enlargement process is not the same as before, referring not only to the growing requests of the Commission, but also to the political stances of the other members.

“Germany and France don’t want enlargement before 2020”, argued the former Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, Bozhdiar Gjelic, who led Belgrade’s integration talks with Brussels until 2011.

Despite the blocked negotiations with Serbia, Rama declared that the fatigue from enlargement cannot be equal, reminding that the visa regime has not been lifted for the Kosovo citizens, who could move freely to Europe even during the communist dictatorship.

Rama: Our future is in Europe

Prime Minister: Interview for the French show ‘Le Grand Soir 3’

The Albanian Prime Minister is attending an official visit in Paris, where he gave an interview on Le Grand Soir 3, expressing the will of his government for the European future of Albania.

Rama said that he is aware about the euro-skepticism that exists against the enlargement process, but he also trusts the clear vision of the European leaders.

When asked by journalists what attracted Albania to Europe, Rama declared that the Albanians are part of the Europeans who are not disappointed yet by the European Institutions. He mentioned that this is the first year since the beginning of the First World War that the Balkan is in peace, and that is because all Balkan seas Europe as the future.

As for the euro-skeptics, Rama declared that this is fed by fears that are not based on Europe’s reality, and he regrets seeing it growing, since he doesn’t see any better project for the future of the European children.

When asked if the EU needs to stop the enlargement for some time, Rama declared that the French public has nothing to worry since after the candidate status it takes at least 10 years until accession, but he added that it is strange seeing that France, one of the founders of the EU, is in a situation when feeling about Europe doesn’t seem politically correct.

When asked if he thinks he has the support of François Hollande for the status, Rama declared that the French President had a clear vision for Europe when last year he gathered the European leaders in Bordeaux and spoke about the European future of the Balkan countries, same as the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, when she organized a summit with the Balkan leaders to see how these countries could connect better for a joint future in Europe.

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