Journalist: Hello Edi Rama!
Edi Rama: Hello!
Journalist: A few days ago, the European Commission confirmed its recommendation for Albania to be awarded the EU candidate status. This is the fourth time the country knocks on Europe’s doors, but, its request has been turned down so far. The candidate status will be decided by the heads of governments of the European Union in the summit that will take place by the end of this month, on 26-27 June. Do you believe and have any reasons to hope that this fourth request will be accepted?
Edi Rama: Nothing can be fully predictable with these days’ Europe, but I am optimistic, as we have done everything we had to. We applied for the status in December as well, but as you mentioned previously, the Council declared it was too early, and that, perhaps, due to the fact that, at the time, the government had only been taking over since three months. While stressing the impressive work done, they concluded they needed time and, thus, asked the Commission to continue its monitoring and submit another report by June that would assess whether there was viability, in particular with regard to the efforts against organized crime and corruption. The Commission came up with its endorsement a few days ago and a very positive one. However, the unstated reason was European elections that were about to take place. Now they are over, I very much hope they will serve and be a strong drive to have more rather than less Europe.
Journalist: Anti-European parties have managed to score high in the European elections in many countries, such as for example, France, Great Britain, Denmark. We know that enlargement, the significant enlargement speed of these last years, has contributed to such shift, this Europhobia. Do you think this could eventually hold back Albania’s accession to Europe?
Edi Rama: I believe the enlargement pace is just an excuse, as this is not about a speed that is too high, but rather about the lack of more reforms in the Union, lack of a greater determination and courage to achieve the vision of the founding fathers towards the United States of Europe. A more political work is needed, rather than one entrapped in a tactical approach that is tied to the many elections in various countries.
Journalist: You met the President of the Republic, François Hollande, yesterday; do you think you have his support, since France in the past has been against Albania’s EU membership.
Edi Rama: I wouldn’t say it has been against, rather than conscientiously supportive. I am very glad about the way in which the President received us, and of his attention to everything we had to say, as well as his concern over the future of the region, of the Balkans, where 100 years ago the First World War started, and 100 years after, in 2014, we are living the first year of peace, war free, without any conflict, because we have all decided to come together in our path towards Europe. And Europe is the ideal of Europe, the objective of Europe that encouraged us all to close a painful chapter of fratricidal conflicts and wars and open a new one of regional cooperation. The President is very, very receptive of this matter.
Journalist: Did he clearly express support for your candidacy or was less explicit in the matter?
Edi Rama: I’d rather wait for the Summit that will take the decision, because this is work in progress and it is not only France, but also many other countries that have to come to one single conclusion, so we should leave time to time.
Journalist: In terms of the debate on Turkey’s eventual EU accession, the fact of it being a Muslim country is frequently called as an argument whenever the case is brought forth. On the other hand, though, Albania has a Muslim majority. Do you believe this is an issue for Albania or that it might be potentially in the future?
Edi Rama: There’s no room for comparison, although a reflection might be made in the case of Turkey. If it were part of Europe, Turkey would be a country with a much more solid democracy today. Period! However, that is a different subject for discussion. However, that would be more beneficial than detrimental to Europe.
Albania, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Albania is not a Muslim country, but rather a European country with both Muslims and Christians who celebrate Ramadan and Christmas all together. It is a unique and wonderful case of co-existence that would be of great value to Europe, as well. I am convinced that Albania and the Balkans need Europe as much as Europe needs Albania and the Balkans.
Journalist: Albanians, the citizens, the people, the political class have a clearly expressed penchant for Europe. What is the reason for that? What is it that you expect from Europe?
Edi Rama: What did Schuman, Adenauer, De Gaulle, Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl, all these people, and more others expect from Europe? A new space for humanity and our civilization, a space that bore much better prospects for the young generations. It is impossible to ensure prospects for young generations if we speak of a national identity at stake, or of unemployment that is result of Muslims, Albanians, emigrants or all these things. All such arguments that are falling in predisposed ears stem from the frustration generated by a Europe that is incapable of moving forward with its original project to a political European Union, an EU that is much more supportive of the common European identity, of those values and principles that make us all Europeans, and that concerns itself much less with the financial technicalities and the games that are linked to the elections in each member state.
Journalist: What is your opinion on the way the European Union approached Ukrainians?
Edi Rama: The Ukrainian crisis is, I believe, a very clear example of why we need a stronger Europe, a political and strategic Europe. There is no other way in which the European Community can behave, as that’s not where the weakness lies. Actually, it lies in the fact that the European Union is an unfinished project. It is in process, but yet unaccomplished. The world is changing much more rapidly than imagined, while Europe has not done so at the same pace.
Journalist: We cannot neglect the influence of Russia and Vladimir Putin, who are hostile to the actual idea that one of their former satellite countries is part of the European Union?
Edi Rama: I would say that if we had a different Europe, there is no doubt that we would see Russia behaving in a different way.
Journalist: Thank you Edi Rama. Have a good day!
Edi Rama: Thank you.
