"EU to accelerate the integration of the Western Balkans" - Rama from the Summit: EU must be bolder about enlargement
Prime Minister Edi Rama calls on the EU to show more political courage and accelerate the integration of the Western Balkan countries, gradually including them in European structures even before full membership.
At the start of the European Union and Western Balkans Summit being held in Tivat, Montenegro, he brought up the unification of Germany as an example, arguing that the EU should treat candidate countries as part of the European family as they continue reforms.
"I believe that Europe, above all, must be more courageous for itself, must maintain the merit-based process, must move in the direction of gradual integration, but must find the means for a new Helmut Kohl-type moment. When the Wall fell, this great man did not tell the East Germans that you now have 35 chapters to complete before we can be together. No, he said we are together and then we will help you to complete them. So, if the EU wants to convey a very strong message to the world and give itself great energy, it must say that just as we are around the table today, we must always be around this table, but each with our own status until we become full-fledged members," said Rama.
Asked about the ongoing civic protest for the cancellation of Jared Kushner's project in Zvërnec, Rama once again stated that the project has not been prepared yet, so there is nothing to discuss yet.
"There are no requests to discuss, because there is not yet an approved project. So, first we need to have the project and then see the project and then discuss the project. We cannot discuss something that does not exist," the Prime Minister emphasized.
The gradual integration of the Western Balkans and the region's European future remain at the center of the summit discussions in Tivat.
The winner for the Milot–Balldren highway is announced - One of the largest road projects in the country is about to start
The winner of the competition for the construction of the Milot-Balldren road axis has been announced, bringing one of the most important infrastructure......
Ibrahimaj: "Lutech" investment confirms Albania's potential as a center of innovation and technology in the region
The Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, participated in the inauguration ceremony of the new headquarters of the company "Lutech" in......
EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat - Leaders discuss EU enlargement, regional security, Economic Growth Plan
The next summit between the EU and the Western Balkans is being held in Tivat, Montenegro. The theme of the summit is "The shared prosperity and stability of......
Tirana Bypass, tender ready for phase III - ARRSH: Works on the first two lots have reached about 20%
The Albanian Road Authority has prepared the procedure for the tendering of the third phase of the Tirana bypass, one of the most important infrastructure......
From “Doctor Google” to AI - How does technology impact healthcare? Dika: Challenging
From "Doctor Google", where citizens often reached the wrong diagnosis by referring to information on the internet, the approach has now changed and Artificial......
Albanians pay 39 million euros for property revaluation - Malaj: Figures for only two months. Very high expectations
In just two months, the state budget has collected around 3.9 billion lek from the real estate revaluation process, since the implementation began in March.......
When will pension indexation start? - Malaj: We are considering the possibility of bringing it closer to June-July
Pension indexation can be done within the months of June-July, without waiting for October as stipulated in the law. Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj,......
Today is the deadline for applications for Fiscal Peace - The procedure takes place online through the "e-filing" system
Today is the last day for taxpayers to meet the legal requirements and apply for the Fiscal Peace Agreement, a procedure that takes place online through the......
