Karl Bergner, the German Ambassador to Albania, was the latest guest on the “Inside Albania” podcast hosted by journalist Alice Taylor.

When asked about the importance of the Western Balkans’ membership as well as states like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia in the European Union, the ambassador clarified that this issue has gained added attention due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“We believe that, in this moment of conflict with a state within Europe, it is a geostrategic necessity. But this is not the only reason. For the Western Balkans, membership is like the return home of a region that is very important for Europe. Of course, this is a marathon. It’s not a short-distance race. It is long-term because it requires the transformation of the entire society. For candidate countries that want to join, it means adapting to the Acquis, the rules by which the EU operates. This translates into a lot of work on the legal aspect; laws need to be adjusted, and a fundamental transformation of society and the political system must occur”.

Regarding the deadline set by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, for the integration of Western Balkan countries by 2030, the German diplomat offered a different perspective.

“I would quote the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen when she said that setting a specific deadline like 2030 is not helpful. If everything goes well for Albania, the process could be completed even earlier, and there is no need to wait for 2030. If the conditions are not right and not met, 2030 would be an empty promise because the crucial point is to fulfill all the conditions for membership. This could happen in 2030. We hope for rapid developments, but it could also happen later. This is not as important as the question of how this process can continue”.

Ambassador Bergner also explained why the so-called “Franco-German plan” was developed and what benefit it has for the daily lives of European citizens.

“We are currently 27 EU member countries. With the accession of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, we will become 36 member countries. It is clear that the functioning and decision-making process within the EU must change. Some people are concerned that we want to condition membership on internal reforms. Everyone knows that this is difficult to achieve, especially when treaty changes are needed. We had some experiences with the EU Constitution that needed revision in the early 2000s, changes that were rejected by referendums in France and the Netherlands. Therefore, we are careful not to go in that direction, but we know that significant changes can be made to the current rules of the EU, allowing the bloc to make decisions without the need for treaty changes. In this regard, it is necessary to start a discussion within the EU on this process. For this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed a plan with a Franco-German group who proposed a practical proposal on how the decision-making process within the EU could change and reform. This involves removing the veto power of a member state to block the process by raising bilateral issues at the European level”.

Diplomat Bergner also commented on recent events in Albanian politics, where parliamentary sessions have ended in chaos due to opposition actions.

“The role of parties, the Parliament as a controller of the Government, is very important. We want to see a strong opposition that can play this role and be a counterbalance to the Government. Particularly, there needs to be a constructive opposition that can provide alternatives to the Government’s positions where necessary, if there are other issues that need to be addressed in the context of governance. So, to play a constructive role. That’s what we want to see. We, as the German Government, will not intervene in Albanian politics. We preach democracy and want Albanian citizens and politicians to take responsibility. It would be better if the opposition were united and strong, to be a true counterbalance. I think this would be good for the Government as well,” concluded Bergner.