Following are the statements of Prime Minister and Vice President of the European Parliament for media:   

Prime Minister Edi Rama: I had the pleasure to start this day by welcoming a dear friend, a precious partner and above all a proven admirer of Albania, Gianni Pittella. With whom, certainly, shared opinions about Albania’s progress regarding EU integration process, current developments, as wells as steps undertaken in all directions and absolutely also for strengthening of cooperation with Party of European Socialists and group of Socialist and Democrat europarliamentarians, and perspective of new European Parliament following the upcoming elections.

I thanked our friend for constant support provided to Albania and absolutely for support always offered to Alliance for European Albania. I assured him that he is not only always welcomed but we welcome also all his suggestions, because his and our friends suggestions are always precious to us.

EP Vice President Gianni Pittella: I am here to reconfirm my historic friendship to Edi Rama and Albanian people and to express my appreciation and admiration for work that Edi Rama is pushing ahead in the capacity of Prime Minister in fight against criminality, fight against corruption, reform in public administration and historical administrative-territorial reform in the Albanian territory. I am here also to highlight the steps undertaken in the course of Albania’s path toward EU integration. European Parliament officially expressed its opinion in favour of the granting of candidate country status to Albania and will support this stance also in assessment of efforts and reformation processes that Edi Rama, Government and Parliament are pushing ahead.

I wish European Union would give the green light to granting of candidate country status in June. And I have an appeal for opposition forces in Albania because European integration objective is not only part of one political force or the government, but also the objective of all of those who believe and fight for modernization of the country. This is my appeal and also my engagement.

I wish the Government and Edi Rama success in their work and a good luck to Albanian people.

 

Question: Mr. Pittella, Albanian Government is strongly committed to realizing the administrative-territorial reform, but opposition has refused to cooperate in this respect. How important is this reform for the European perspective?

EP Vice President Gianni Pittella: This is an important reform for re-establishment of the efficiency of Albanian public structure. I think opposition is making a mistake. I hope opposition will change its approach.