“Albania deserves to start the accession negotiations,” PM Rama told a joint news conference with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn.

“We can speak with full conviction that Albania deserves to start the accession negotiations, but on the other hand although this process is to take place, we will consolidate our position regarding this aspiration of all Albania.”

Rama thanked Commissioner Hahn for the EC’s positive outlook on Albania which highlights the sustainable and ongoing process of Albania in fulfillment of priorities necessary to start the accession negotiations.

“Last year, Albania received a positive recommendation from the EC for opening the negotiations conditional on the vetting process. Albania has kicked off the vetting process and together with Commissioner Hahn, we discussed the steps that need to be taken in tandem with view to reinforcing the position of Albania in relation with member countries, so as to put on the table of European Council a solid report that will affirm the progress made by us and identified by the Commission last year.”

At issue was tangible success in the fight against cannabis cultivation and trafficking. This success has been reflected in the analytical report released shortly after the monitoring of Guardia di Finanza and also regarded by Albanian govt. as the end of stage one to move on to stage two of this fight. This crackdown through Specialized Task Force “The Power of Law” has been announced in public and shared with Commissioner Hahn,” Rama said.

We are very encouraged in the course of the Berlin process, which demonstrates on an ongoing basis its benefits and makes room for modernization and Europeanization of our country, Rama said.

In the end, PM said: Of course we feel encouraged by the latest developments that are turning the situation in favor of our European journey, conveying upbeat messages in our countries from President Juncker, whom I am delighted to meet earlier December.