President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Tirana one day before the Berlin Process. During this visit, she met with President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister, Edi Rama, with whom she is holding a press conference. Von der Leyen has evaluated Albania’s progress towards the EU, focusing on the European Union’s growth plan and the possibility that this plan has to double Albania’s economy within a 10-year period.
“Albania is moving successfully to become part of the EU. Expansion is at the top of all our priorities and that’s where it should be. This is because we want you to become part of us to complete the EU. This is in our interest because in this form the EU will be given the strength to act and will make Europe more powerful in a world that is changing so much. As we continue to push this journey towards membership we are building this shared future, and we must start this immediately so that your country becomes ready for membership and create new opportunities between us so that our economies become more and more close.
We have started this with the 30 billion euro investment plan. 1.4 billion euros have been mobilized with very important projects such as the Fierza hydropower plant, but also with the railway with Montenegro.
Today I want to focus on the new EU growth plan. We are moving towards a new phase of action, as this plan has the potential to double your economy within this 10 year period. Reforms are needed and reforms must be accompanied by investments. This is how the door opens for our market, for the common market of the Western Balkans.
Our third message is that our investments will have the same value as your jobs. I think this is coming at the right moment for Albania and the EU to be closer to each other. You are fully in line with the EU’s response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Edi, I thank you and your clear stance on the Hamas terrorist attack. A pleasure to be in Albania.’- said Von der Leyen.
Der Leyen also disscused the Kosovo-Serbia situation, stating that she considers the Ohrid Agreement a basis for the normalization of relations and the right path to the EU.
The Ohrid Agreement is the basis, the foundation for reconciliation through EU dialogue. It is very important that Kosovo and Serbia return to the table to normalize their relationship. The right place for them is dialogue, the EU. Kosovo and Serbia will be part of the EU. To do this is dialogue.
Regarding the attack of the Hamas organization on Israel, the president of the European Commission stated that the EC will condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas and that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
“From what I understand, a declaration is not foreseen at the Berlin summit, we will have a summit of the European Council the day after that we will also have a declaration. It has been made public, it strongly condemns the terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel and that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with international law. Humanitarian aid must be provided to civilians in Gaza and victims of Hamas. That’s why we tripled our aid to the Gaza Strip to 75 million euros. This is the framework on Tuesday that was made public.”- said Von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama thanked the President of the European Commission for the help she has given to Albania.
“Without the president of the Commission, without her personal commitment to very quickly call a big conference in Brussels and to ask everyone for solidarity, we would not have succeeded as we did.
Tens of thousands of children who lost their school, would not be today learning in schools that are no different from the best EU schools.
But today we are here with President Von Der Leyen on the eve of another summit, the first summit of the Berlin Process to take place outside the borders. This thing makes us proud and gives us pleasure as a country to show the power of Albanian hospitality, which I believe that if there was a competition in Europe, it would aim for the first place with great dignity.
The president informed us about the progress of the screening process within the framework of integration, I am saying with this term that I have not yet been informed what this word is in Albanian. It is an in-depth diagnosis of the entire situation in all sectors of the country. I am glad that we heard good words from the president about this process and what Albania has done. However, the president is not the person who only says good words, which makes good words important. We talked about the situation in the region for the common progress of the entire region”, said Rama.
