"Albania, at its best" - Rama speaks to "Financial Times", while tensions in the EU may shelve the "European dream"

2026-08-07 13:37:35Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

"Albania, at its best" - Rama speaks to "Financial Times",

European integration could become a dream left "on the shelf" for many countries that have longed to become part of it, while in the Western Balkans, hopes for Albania and Montenegro are greater to make this moment a reality.

After a period of 13 years without a new member in the EU, the latter is said to be facing increasing pressure to open the doors to enlargement again, as geopolitical uncertainties and competition between great powers have been increasing quite a bit recently. 

In an interview given to the prestigious media outlet "Financial Times", the Prime Minister of Albania reiterated that our country is at an important moment on the path towards the European Union.

"We have a clear path towards the European Union. Albania is at its best in many aspects," said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The desire to be a European country has increased for candidate countries, mainly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is because being part of the EU does not imply better leadership or a better way of life, but is closely related to national security.

Among the candidate countries for the Western Balkans, it is written that Montenegro and Albania are taking faster steps towards European integration than other countries such as Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

Montenegro has reportedly completed more than half of the reforms required for EU accession. It is also reported that European institutions have begun preparations for the legal steps of membership, while the country has also been included in the bloc's financial plans.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Moldova have launched official membership negotiations, while Albania has advanced in the reform process for rapprochement with the European Union.

However, some candidate countries are expressing doubts about whether Brussels' promises will become reality. But this remains to be seen.

Not infrequently, the Prime Minister of Albania has, with full conviction, said out loud that Albania will be a member of the European Union by 2030, a moment that will be "blessed" for all Albanians, who have also been promised a European passport.


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