
European leaders discussed EU enlargement this week in Brussels, a process that has long left the Western Balkans awaiting a real membership perspective.
Albania has closed many chapters of the accession process in recent years and is close to passing the important EU rule of law standard, the IBAR.
Mario Bikarski, senior analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, said that while the protests were the biggest challenge Rama has faced in his 13 years in power, they were unlikely to shake his position as prime minister or derail Albania's EU bid.
“There is a strong consensus in Albania that EU membership is positive and welcome,” he said, adding that the prime minister may have to make concessions to protesters, such as abandoning multibillion-euro coastal development plans.
“In the past, Rama has shown extraordinary resilience to various challenges,” he said.
“The opposition is equally distrusted by the protesters and it is difficult to see an alternative to a Rama government for now.”
Financial Times