PM Edi Rama made a follow-up statement expressing his reservations about the EU-Western Balkans Summit that took place today in Brdo, Slovenia. The head of the Albanian state said that 18 years after the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki, the integration of the 6 countries of the region into the block is still a distant vision.
Rama argued that the efforts made by Albania and North Macedonia to finally hold their first IGC and start EU accession talks, were quashed after Bulgaria’s veto, which he doesn’t think will be lifted any time soon.
“I can say with great regret that I have lost all hope that Bulgaria will be able to free up our way any time soon, because our Bulgarian friends seem to have been held up in the ring of fire, which they themselves ignited, in order to warm up the hearts of voters with the flames of a glorious past. It might also be the case, that those voters don’t even care about the fact that they’re holding two countries hostage, which based on all accounts are innocent and have done all of their homework. But, having said that, the one that should actually care is the EU, because it’s losing face in the eyes of the nations of all six countries in the Western Balkans,” – argued the Albanian PM.
Calling it a “senseless blockade”, Rama raised a question, asking how long will Albania still have to wait in the circumstances, where it’s unable to continue this process without North Macedonia.
PM Rama also added that at a time when the EU cannot keep its promises on the enlargement process, then it should at least help countries of the Western Balkans through a plan of investments, while also supporting the Open Balkan initiative.
Amongst other things, Rama also expressed his reservations about the role played by the EU during the pandemic, accusing them of leaving the region like a ‘fish without water’, making no efforts to include countries of the Balkans in their emergency vaccination plans.
Lastly, Rama criticized the EU’s inability to come through with their promise of lifting the visa regime for Kosovo, even though it’s been years that they have fulfilled all the prerequisite criteria.
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