Prime Minister Edi Rama was hosted this Tuesday in an official meeting in Berlin, where he met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. At the joint press conference, the two prime ministers were asked about the departure of doctors from Albania to Germany.

Rama said that this issue has been part of the discussions, but Albania cannot ask Germany to stop the free movement of human capital, one of the fundamental freedoms of the EU.

“We have discussed this issue and we cannot ask Germany to stop the free movement of human capital. On the other hand, we discussed how we should find ways and mechanisms so that Albania is not the direct financier of the German system. I explained to the chancellor that medical students pay only 1/16 of the cost to be educated. These are timely topics at a time when all countries need skilled and unskilled labor.

It is important to find a balanced way for the loss of human capital from Albania”, said Rama. Chancellor Scholz also described the departure of human capital as a major challenge that must be managed.