Video message by Prime Minister Rama before leaving for Tirana following visit to Berlin:

Hello everyone!

While returning from Berlin, I would like to inform you that the meeting with Chancellor was really a positive one, not just because this is the right word for this occasion, but because the meeting was very significant be it about the rebuilding program in the aftermath of the November 26 disaster, which was the main impetus behind demanding a meeting with the Chancellor, be it about the topic of the European integration in view of opening the accession negotiations, which I and the Chancellor discussed in detail, and be it about the Chancellor’s preferred topic on the regional cooperation and integration under the overall comprehensive framework of the Berlin Process.

Why then?

First and foremost, as far as rebuilding is concerned, the Chancellor affirmed that Germany will certainly assume its proper share of assistance both in the Donors’ Conference and in the post-conference period, because we know quite well that the Conference will help a lot, yet we know pretty well that it won’t fully meet the financial need to support the rebuilding program, since this is frankly saying objectively impossible, but not only that. The Chancellor was briefed on all my contacts with other countries and she gave me some very useful advice and pledged to her part so that the Conference turns out to be a success.

On the other hand, being like nobody else very much keen on statistics and figures, the Chancellor took note of every detail of our domestic financing plan to support rebuilding program and listened very carefully the ideas we are processing over this period to launch them as an additional financing actions after the Donors’ Conference, when we will get a clear picture of the process. She sounded positive about these ideas and put forward some very useful suggestions, offering also technical assistance for their structuring.

Second, as to the European integration, not only the Chancellor reconfirmed her last year’s position, but she also affirmed that Germany will make efforts so that the accession negotiations open in March – which you heard her saying at the press conference – with both Albania and North Macedonia. She made it clear that this is not impossible at all, but also that the process is not an easy task as long as the internal debate over the new enlargement strategy has yet to complete, while work should continue to the last day in order not to slowdown in the pace of reforms and deliver significant outcomes.

To the Chancellor, the Judicial Reform, the continued and complete overhaul of the justice system aimed at getting rid of corrupt or inept judges and prosecutors through the vetting process and, most recently, the creation of the special prosecution office are very significant results that deliver hope and security for the future of the judicial system in Albania. Likewise, she also sounded very positive on the special bill against the organized crime and the special amendments to the “Anti-KÇK” package, due to enter into force in the coming days after final consultations with the international experts.

As far as the topic of the region is concerned, the Chancellor reiterated her position in support or our regional Mini-Schengen initiative and expressed interest in progress and objections to this initiative, referring to the most recent steps between Belgrade and Pristina to restore the air traffic and the railway link. We fully agreed that the two results should serve to all to understand that the spirit of the Berlin Process and taking concrete steps to translate this spirit into shared and joint decisions by all countries to facilitate free movement of people, goods, services and capital in our region are the only and the right path towards the European perspective and further increasing the citizen wellbeing in all Western Balkan countries. The European Union and the European Commission will also provide concrete support in financial terms for this regional cooperation, just like the President of the European Council Charles Michel affirmed just three days ago in Tirana.

And lastly, since many friends here on social networking website have insistently urged me to raise with the Chancellor the issue of recognition of the driving licenses in Germany, I would like to spread the good news a team from Germany’s Ministry of Transport will travel to Tirana in February to prepare a report for Berlin about this process and this request. This is a request Albania has made several times over the years, but given that our friend in Berlin is now stronger than ever before, I am confident that this problem for the Albanians in Germany is being resolved.

I greet everyone from Berlin before we all depart for Tirana, urging everyone to be confident that nobody will be abandoned to their fate, starting with those facing today the gravest problem of returning back to their homes after the earthquake.

Goodbye!