Prime Minister’s Interview with France 24 TV:
Journalist: Albania is a former-communist country seeking to obtain the European Union candidate status in the next summit that will take place on 26-27 June.
Hello Mr. Edi Rama! I will recall that prior to becoming the head of the Government of Albania, you used to be an artist, a painter, the mayor of Tirana, a socialist one, allow me to emphasize. Why is it important for you to obtain the candidate status now?
I am of the opinion that the blueprint of the European Union, as conceived by its founders, is the best project our civilization could ever imagine. Both Albania and the Balkans are part of this project and the wish of the Albanians and the other Balkans people to join the European family is very strong.
Journalist: Mr. Rama, the European Commission has recommended that you are given this status, but it is up to the chiefs of states to take a decision in the next summit and, as the 2009 experience tells us, you have come across a series of blocks. Are you optimistic this time?
Yes! I believe that Albania should have been granted the status last December. Failure to obtain it immediately has not benefited Albania and the region at all. At the end of the day, the status does not equal membership. Membership as such will come in 10 years, but this is a very important stage to start work seriously for this process of modernization, which could be very qualitative thanks to the negotiations and this integration tool that is unique and priceless.
Journalist: Let’s recall that in 2013 France, Germany, UK and the Netherlands opposed the status by using the level of corruption and organized crime as an argument. You are ranked 116th out of a total of 177 in the International Transparency list.
I will be frank as this is the only way I know.
First, December’s refusal was linked to the elections of the European Union. That is the major issue of the European project nowadays, as Europe has become tactical, conditioned by the fate of elections within its member countries and it is increasingly becoming less and less strategic, election after election.
In addition to that, in December we counted only three months in government, following our elections’ victory by the people’s free vote with a clear result. Nevertheless, member countries needed more time and, consequently, asked the Commission to monitor the process until June and come up with a particular Progress Report on the sustainability of the fight against crime and corruption.
Journalist: You have declared you are going to fire some police officers, and also prosecute some former ministers and responsible??? as part of an investigation started by the prosecution. Will such investigation manage to tackle the overall issue in a country where investigations usually fail to produce results? There are several tasks you have been assigned, are you ready to accomplish them?
We are building the rule of law. It is not the Government that has to investigate. We are faced with a major goal, though, to carry out the reform in justice that should be based on the values, principles and mechanisms of a European country which observes European standards and criteria for a true and fair justice. That is another reason for which we need the candidate status, in order to kickstart the major project of reforms that will take time but shall, without doubt, take us in the right direction.
Journalist: Let me mention that you are a Socialist Mr. Prime Minister and when in opposition, a very active one against Mr. Sali Berisha at the time, you refused to pass the laws of integration, namely that on the Supreme Court, civil service and parliamentary functioning. Fortunately, the laws have already passed, but isn’t this particularly confrontational verbal climate in Albania a negative trait for integration?
The problem lies in the functioning of democracy and, as you mentioned, we were in such a position that we believed it was our duty to defend democracy and its values, because, in my view, the European Albania and Albania in Europe is not only about issuing laws every day, but about what is applied in daily life. This is the difference between the Socialist majority today and the former government. Previously, laws were written, but lacked in enforcement.
Journalist: When it comes to the daily life and reforms, economy is a critical issue you are facing. The World Bank has reported of a 2% growth, which is very good for 2014. The IMF has granted a loan worth Euro 330 million to boost your economy. Further, you are paying your arrears, but how will you manage to overcome the situation of the poorest country in Europe?
We are a country that is considerably rich in resources and has a significantly young population. On the other hand, we are proud to have an agreement with the IMF that includes a programme geared towards economic growth, not austerity measures. We are proud of having won the market’s trust and, finally, we are a country that shall grow in the proper direction, if we invest in education and culture. Our belief is that countries are undeveloped or underdeveloped not because of what they have, but of what they know.
Questions from the audience in the studio, Noelle Lenoir, President of Europe Institute:
Noelle Lenoir: Mr. Prime Minister, your country is seeking to become an EU candidate since several years now. We can say that there are many things that need fixing, but the moment of truth has come, since no later than next month Europe’s leaders will decide to welcome your official candidacy in the European Union. Albanians are pro-Europeans in their majority, something of which I am personally satisfied. However, taking a look at Europe, even more so after the European elections, there is an ever growing Euroscepticism among the European population. The nationalist party, the anti-European parties have grown in a way that is concerning, especially in France. In the meantime, the last country joining Europe, Croatia, that used to be a Euro-enthusiast, has manifested some indifference among the population, with voting results indicating of a support of only 25 %.
My question would be the following:
Do you believe that Albanians are ready to face the shock of acceding to a community like the European Union? Do you believe that your state is sufficiently strong to stand up to the challenge and don’t you think that some disillusioning will surface following accession into the European Union?
Journalist: Your answer Mr. Prime Minister?
First and foremost, the Europe we dream of is not the Europe we actually have. The increasing anti-European trend and of this negativity is linked to the need of having a different Europe, a European Union that is closer to the extraordinary project conceived by its founders; of a Europe that is more political, with greater unity and, ultimately, we need the United States of Europe. This current Europe is standing in between and such positioning is more of an argument against the European Union, rather than in its favour.
Second, allow me to tell you that the Balkans have always been associated with war, conflicts, hatred, hostility. Today, in 2014, where the 100th anniversary of the First World War is commemorated, the Balkans live in peace for the first year, without any conflicts whatsoever. Why so? Because all the Balkans people have agreed through their leaders to make peace for the sake of Europe, in order to join this exceptional project of the United States of Europe.
Journalist: Europe has gone through a very rapid enlargement. We have moved from 15 to 28 members in 10 years. While it is true that the process of enlargement is seemingly slowing down, Serbia was accepted as a candidate in January, whereas prospects for Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo look a little grim. Don’t you think of an enlargement fatigue Europe is experiencing based on this project?
I don’t know whether Europe has enlarged rapidly, but it has not yet come to know how to adjust with the new challenge of a world that has gone through an even more rapid change than Europe, than the European Union itself. It is clear that what we need is more Europe rather than less of it.
This rise in extremism is clearly frightening, because of the way how the simple feelings of people have been manipulated and arguments that are downright wrong have found staying grounds. This is why it should serve as a great drive towards what we have not yet achieved in terms of the European project, not to go back, which would be suicidal, as I totally agree with President Hollande when saying that ‘to exit Europe, is to exit History.’
For us, exiting a tradition of conflict is to enter History for Europe and with Europe.
Journalist: By way of concluding, one often has this feeling that Serbia has been favoured compared to Albania and that is linked to you being a Muslim country. How can that be explained?
I have to make something clear in this respect. We are not a Muslim country, but rather a European country with Muslims and Christians who live together. We are for that reason a unique country, in the sense that Christians celebrate Ramadan and when Christmas comes Muslims celebrate the same as Christians do. This Albania is an asset to Europe and it would be wrong if it were introduced merely as a Muslim country. On the other hand, allow me to tell all those who depict the history of the Muslim Albania as the history that prevents us from going towards Europe that I feel sorry of your ignorance and incapacity to realize that Europe is not a Christian Club, but something that is much greater, much more humane and wonderful than that. I have never heard anyone speak of the Christian France; I have heard of the secular France, which, of course, has both Christians and Muslims.
Journalist: Thank you Mr. Rama!
