Speech of Prime Minister Rama at the first meeting of the National Council of European Integration:

Dear Mr. President of the Assembly!

Dear Madam Ambassador of the European Union,

Dear Madam President of the Council!

Dear members of the Council and representatives of the diplomatic corps!

First, let me say that I am very happy that, after endless efforts and thanks to the good will of the parliamentary majority and of the government, we succeeded in launching the National Council of European Integration and entrusted the leadership of this council to the Albanian opposition.

In addition, on behalf of the government I want to express very clearly the conviction and the will to fully support the work of this council and to ensure everybody of the total commitment of every representative of the executive in this council.

I also hope that a joint effort will allow us to create in this council at least, a place where he will talk about the acute problems of integration and the acute social and political challenges imposed by integration, and to leave outside the door a climate that is not suitable at all for the spirit of integration, namely the climate that prevails in Parliament.

On the other hand I hope that the launch of this council will be an inspiring example for the opposition to join the comprehensive effort of the majority at the table of the reform in justice in which I believe that, as never before in the history of pluralism in Albania, an extensive process has been started, is going on and, as never before, is extending beyond the boundaries of politics, thanks also to the commitment of even high-level experts, both Albanians and foreigners, as well as of representatives of missions and Institutions.

In this way, by the force of its example, this council would give the first and really encouraging result to have the opposition as soon as possible included in the process of reform in justice.

Finally, allow me to wish the council the much desired success.

This is a totally new experience for us, it is an experience for which we have held as example a successful predecessor of the integration, which is now EU member. This is an experience that will test our maturity and our willingness to cooperate for the same purpose, not only in words. Everyone must do their own duty to achieve this purpose, which is the integration of Albania into the EU.

Thank you and I wish every success to everybody! First, to the President of the Council in leading this new institution created with the full commitment, as never before, of the governing majority of our country.