Prime Minister Edi Rama’s remarks at Western Balkans Digital Ministerial as concluding event of Third Digital Summit in Tirana:

 

Welcome to this Digital Summit that is taking place in a different format than we would have wished this year, defined by very unpleasant bit necessary rules. New rules imposed by the pandemic. This being said, I would however like to underline that the fact we are able to do it in this format is quite an example of how much we have progressed in the area of digitalization. It was not many years ago, when this interaction we have established in our country with other countries would have been simply impossible.

During these times and also during these days, it has been made very clear that this Digital Summit is not just another summit like any other summit, it is not merely an even on our calendar, but it is part of an ongoing and unstoppable process that focuses on the interconnection between the citizens of our countries.

As we speak, I am pretty sure that we live in a defining moment for our future in many aspects, but of course we are here for the digital aspect and by no doubt the digital aspect is absolutely one of the main aspects to move forward. The digital program is characterized by dimensions that are very much connected to talent, imagination and innovation initiatives in all areas, involving a large spectre of citizens, regardless of their professions, activities and expectations in their everyday lives.

The digital society is the main challenge of this century, as it is also the most incredible tool to build an environment where people can live in a different space of freedom, responsibility and equality. On the other hand, there is the aspect of the society facing threats and unknown consequences of such progress.

I am very grateful to the organizers and participants in this table and also around this table through the digital connection, commitment and seriousness through which everyone has succeeded to transform this Summit into a completely online opportunity, promoting also a potential interaction model in the future. By no doubt, I am also very grateful to the German government, which was ready to assist this Summit, both during the preparatory phase and also during the working sessions.

I have been told that there are many things coming out as a result of the commitments undertaken on this occasion, especially the two memorandums of understanding due to be signed; one about the region’s 5G digital transformation and the other one about the interconnectivity of the region and the trusted services in the Western Balkans. I am absolutely convinced that these are not simply two memorandums of understanding, but two important commitments for us, which define our common future a lot.

The digital cooperation is an inseparable part of the package under the Berlin Process, but after the EU’s Digital Agenda was announced last February and also in the framework of the pandemic, this cooperation seems to be even more important and even more vital to all of us.

Both digital summits, the today’s summit and the summit of the head of governments in Sofia, are part of the Berlin Process and they contribute to efforts to narrow the gaps that still divide Western Balkans, as well as strengthen our ties to meet the European standards, not simply individually, but also collectively, to make sure that this region become a place where the four freedoms of Europe are implemented without to individually become part of the European Union.

By no doubt we face many deficiencies and voids to fill, as well as many problems that need to be treated and solved, but it is absolutely obvious that the Western Balkan countries have embraced this challenge and are working to individually influence as much as possible in a positive way a common vision and implement despite all understandable difficulties a single market within the region.

Of course, it was not easy, although it seemed much easier to do it since day one, but today we have a much broader understanding and accord about the regional Schengen. And this is an incredible accomplishment. It really is. Finalization of the process to get rid of the roaming tariffs should also be part of our objective and something about which we all have to work on daily basis. What has already happened with the progressive change of the roaming tariffs and the harmonized regulation of the mobile phone market for roaming is quite revealing about how much we can and we should do and how much we might do if we had no problems in understanding each other quickly and cooperate with each other quickly.

Nothing can prevent us from transforming this corner of Europe into a digital service and electronic infrastructure hub. Of course, based on this memorandum of understanding about the 5G network, we can move forward faster and we can coordinate to manage the spectre of the frequencies in the near future and implement clear and safe 5G technologies, by also preparing inter-regional agreements as an indispensable unification to unify licences, which would certainly represent absolutely a huge step forward.

Serbia and North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, where the next digital summit will take place, have already adhered to the roadmap on implementing digital strategies, with special attention ranging from education to the platforms of the online public services.

I am proud to state that Albania has invested a lot and intensively to move to another era in terms of the public service delivery to the citizens over the past few years.

By the end of this year, 95% of the public services from the Albanian state institutions will be delivered via the online platform for free. Every citizen can benefit public services by saving so much time, so much troubling delays , as well as fair amounts of money that so far has been spent in exchange of such public services.

I can’t even dare imagine what we could have done if the pandemic was to happen in a different time, with no opportunity of whatsoever to grant citizens a direct online access via our e-albania platform that has saved millions of times, especially during the total lockdown, when people needed authorizations and permits of all sorts to carry on with their daily lives amid major restrictions.

As we speak, a total of 700 public services that involve around 1.5 million actions are available within our public services digital programs. And thinking that such a service could have not existed, thinking that online services were not available to pupils and students while schools were shut down is frightening.

But this being said, of course this is just a beginning and not the end of what we need to do, although we have been considered with a lot of praise by various international reports about the  e-governance progress. We are absolutely clear this is just the basis and it is not the whole thing we need to work on and be able to move forward with same intensity.

I am not going to take more of our time, although my people who attend the summit have written for me the longest speech ever. Again, I would like to thank each and every one of you for being here, for your contribution, commitment and coordination. By no doubt, this is a very helpful moment for everyone of us, but it is also one of those moments when we can figure out how much time we have wasted  by walking alone and how many things we can do by walking together.

Thank you very much!