Prime Minister Edi Rama’s remarks at the Leaders’ Panel – Future of Europe – Enlargement at Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia:

 

*First of all let me try to bring some smile in this gloomy atmosphere, because in the Balkans there is something I think we should cherish a lot, that we can smile and laugh even in sufferings, which in the European unionists are not able to do really. Yeah, I mean Germans, yes.

Someone approached a Euro optimist and a Euro pessimist nowadays. And he asked the Euro optimist what was his view of the EU enlargement. He said Turkey will join the EU either under North Macedonia’s Presidency or Albanian Presidency. And then the Euro pessimist was asked and he said they will both will enter EU under Turkish Presidency. So, we have found a way to deal with all this Beckett’s incarnation through EU.

The EU is our Samuel Beckett; we are waiting for Godot. I don’t know who of us is Vladimir and Estragon, me or Zoran, but for sure North Macedonia and Albania are like these two people in the Beckett’s drama, when one says: “Shall we go?”, the other replies: “Let’s go”, while Beckett says “nobody moves.”

The beauty of it is that Beckett can show himself in the European Union through different colours and nations, lately he is a Bulgarian, but we are here to fight. Why to fight? Because we are not seeking for a license to be Europeans. We are Europeans. 

Whatever people in the Union might think, whatever people in the EU might say, we are Europeans and frankly I am very thankful to the Prime Minister here and the President of course, because finally in this debate about future of Europe, we are invited.

Of course, this is a side meeting, not the main meeting, but it is very dramatic and funny frankly to see the European Union engaging in the debate about the future of Europe and we are not invited. They could, at least, for kindness change the name, the future of the European Union, because if it’s future of Europe, we are Europe and there is no future of Europe without the Western Balkans within the European Union.

If the European Union will continue like that, it would be not good for us, but it would be worse for the European Union. Believe me. Not because I am giving to the Balkans all the weight we all always used to see each other, when we were isolated, but because I am frankly saying that you mentioned the founding fathers in the beginning and I can’t help but say that if the founding fathers were to wake up and were to follow this debate on the future of Europe, I think they would think better dead than alive.

I have no proof, but they are turning in the grave. What future of Europe and debating about what? Like this priest in Constantinople when the walls were going down and they were discussing the sex of the angels? Sorry for being so Balkanic, but this is a great thing of being European from the Balkans, because you never lose the sense of humour with your tragedy.

No, thank you, I am not finished, because at least here in Slovenia, at least here in Bled, we can take some of the time they didn’t give us in the future of Europe debate for so long. 

So I will finish with that. Please don’t mention anymore the third actors, the third factors, because it is too ridiculous.

On one hand they are saying to us: “You love us? Good. We don’t say we love you too.” But they say: “you are important to us. We will marry you one day, but until then, nor we can talk together, either you can talk to others.”

Of course, this is an attempt to test our character and our loyalty, but it shouldn’t work like that. And nobody is coming to senses. We are not talking about becoming members. When we become members, Macron, who is the youngest, will be writing his memories. We are talking about opening the accession talks.

So, I would take advantage and ask the President of Bulgaria, please, you Bulgarians don’t be purely European unionists, be a bit Balkanic. Open the way. What are you trying to save there? Open the way to talk. Let us talk with them and then, you are of course like other Balkan people, and as such you can be all the time on the way and say: “No, we block you here and there.” But, open the way.

***

PM Edi Rama: I just wanted to say that in all the decision-making process and in all discussions about the EU enlargement, there is a big elephant in the room. The founding fathers were driven by idealism and goals, while the driving forces now are nationalism and the polls. By nationalism I don’t necessarily mean the nationalist governments, but I mean governments and leaders that are scared about nationalism in their own countries and then before speaking about any of us, they look at the polls. Because there is no other explanation that we seem to be too corrupt, when there is an election coming in any of these countries, while when the elections are over, that country tells us: “you are fine.” But once we are fine with one country, another country has to hold elections and this just goes on. I am quite sure that when they finish their elections, the situation will be much more positive for North Macedonia and hopefully they won’t be asking to change the name again to West Bulgaria. Thank you!

*Simultaneous interpretation