Cernobbio Forum, Italy – “Agenda for Europe”, Focusing on the Role of the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans

Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in the prestigious international Cernobbio Forum, where he was invited to participate in the panel “Agenda for Europe”, dedicated to the role of the Mediterranean and the new European and global challenges from the perspective of the Western Balkans.

***

Prime Minister Edi Rama: 

Well, thank you. I saw that Andrej didn’t use all his time, and this is maybe because he’s already inside the EU, and I’ll try to do my best not to go beyond my time. I don’t promise, although I’ve been very clearly told that here time is not Italian is something different.

Anyhow, thank you so much for having us and especially having me here. It’s my first time, and you introduced us as two great Europeans, but it feels quite embarrassing because here there is Mario Monti, there is Enrico Letta; they are the great Europeans, and we are just some young Europeans trying to improve.

What to say? Now I’m separating from Andrej because, as I said, he’s in the club. We are still out of the club trying to get in, and I’ll try to give a perspective from our angle, which is not the same because we feel, on one hand, very encouraged by this new moment and this new mood for which we have to unfortunately thank first and foremost Vladimir Putin.

But on the other hand, we still see that something is off because  there is a lot of efforts being put in place. But on the other hand, there is another Mario who is persistent that things are not going as they should.

So it seems a bit like listening to the beautiful music while the Titanic is not turning and the iceberg is still in front of us, right? We talk about technology, and then we realize that only four of 50 top technology or largest technology companies are in Europe.

We talk about research and I saw someone here raising a question about science and research and there is no EU university in the top 20 and there are only four European universities in the top 50, we talk about one Europe, one market and then in a very strong docent by the way which I read passionately waiting to see where my country was, I realized in the end that the Western Balkans were not at all in that docent.

Which seems, you know, quite a luxurious you know attitude to leave us outside and then when it comes to one of the most important goals of Europe of today the strategic autonomy in critical raw materials within its borders it’s very obvious to me that while having in our part of Europe in the Western Balkans a very important amount of raw materials, we are practically out of the the common approach in that direction and what we understand from our angle is that  Europe cannot achieve its autonomy in critical raw materials within its borders and within the time frame it has it has foot while if the Western Balkans will be included and if some European instruments will be used which exist to have us inside this can change and guess what you know for example Albania has a very large reserve of copper and we are practically pushing back Chinese pushing back other potential investors waiting for waiting for Europe to come because  our unconditional love towards Europe and towards the west as Albanians.

We are, by the way the western Talibans; we are the ones with no relation to Russia is the only country I believe in Europe for sure, but maybe in the world, where since 1960 no Russian authority has landed to visit and no plane has taken off from Tirana to go to Moscow, and we don’t miss it, and we don’t look forward to having it.

We are the only country in Europe where there is no Chinese proper investment and  you know we don’t miss it strangely enough there is putting in the phone so  what to say, I believe that   you’re I’m a strong believer in in in in Europe anyhow, but these are the this is the outcry of a lover and what I see as a huge problem when it comes to the to the unity when it comes to looking forward together. It’s exactly what you mentioned in your introduction  the national the very nationalistic and inward-looking tendencies in the countries of Europe that once upon a time were the were the bacon of what the European Union was supposed to be.

So again, for us is quite frustrating because we were the nationalistic people. We were the dangerous, crazy in this continent and suddenly we became so much for the multicultural and pluralistic way of looking at life. Then it looks very, very frustrating to see that we are being pushed back because there are some here and some there that are conditioning.

So, what is most frustrating is that you have to deal with democratic, moderate governments that are not really fully in charge because their politics towards a stronger and more united Europe is  conditioned by the extremes.

So, from the fear of those extremes or from the need to tame those extremes in one way or the others or the other, you deal with moderate governments that deal with you on behalf of those extremes.

So, and here it comes: the point of gradual integration. Frankly, I don’t believe there will ever be a place for us in the European Union if something will not change within the European Union in the sense that I don’t believe that the 27 will happily welcome us with our veto power. I don’t believe it.

I don’t believe at least some capitals will have the capability to go to the public and say, ” Guys, we are taking the Albanians in, and they will have veto. I don’t see so that’s why I believe that the gradual integration is the only way to get us in the European Union and to start from the real the real part of it which is the the single market which is being part of the single Europe of universities of science of all the other all the other very important elements before thinking how you will take at least I count seven like the seven Ursula kids.

So Ursula has seven kids for real, and the EU has seven kids out there.  So that, as we speak, are trying to get in negotiating and all this, but they are out in the block there. So, and I said to Ursula, you know, when you grew up your kids, you had them around the table in a family. You didn’t tell them to grow up in the block and then come to the table.

So, we don’t need veto power to stay around the table. We don’t need all to stay around the table. And as a European, I’m against it.

So, this is the fight, not with Andrej. Andrej doesn’t need to fight with me because he is already EU. I’m E without U. So, but with the other guys in the Balkans, I have this fight because they say, ” Why, Edi? Why are you saying we don’t need a veto? We all need a veto. I say no, as a European, I don’t want you to have a veto because imagine to have seven more crazy  in that table. It will be impossible. So it’s better for Europe, it’s better for us, and it can happen that way; otherwise it it is not going to happen.

I don’t see let me say it: the problem is not Italy, right? I don’t see France having two-thirds majority in parliament; by the way, they don’t have two-thirds for themselves. Imagine, for us and saying yes: come welcome Albania or Montenegro or whoever; you are part of Europe now, and you can veto it. It will never happen. I’m sure that the veto is not the only thing, but at least the veto is psychologically an impediment, and it can be a relief to say No, we are taking these guys, but they’ll be like kids. They’ll grow with us. They’ll behave, and they’ll never be able to take hostage the table. So I am for it. And last but not least, looking at all of you and reading a bit of the history of this beautiful forum, it’s another reason for me to say while we are having this Europe of great thinkers of minds that are together to look forward and of people that think about the young generation.

We are allowing that in a parallel reality, which is this reality. The young generation is every day moving away from all of this, and it’s sinking in an ocean of hatred, divisiveness and purposes that are completely incompatible with the European Union values, principles, dreams and all of it. And it’s here that the enemy within all of us. And from where then we see popping up all type of proposals and all type of personalities that can attract people with them and fragment more and more and more our societies, while the center is disappearing; in every cycle we have more extreme and more extreme and more extreme and more extreme. I don’t know how this will be fixed but to conclude my time is ending I want to say that while we are paying money that we don’t have let be clear and it’s not me saying it’s the other Mario saying it we don’t have enough growth to pay all this expenses and while we are pouring all this money for weapons and to shield Europe from missiles.

We are completely unshielded in our brains, and all the enemies of democracy and all the enemies of Europe have a very easy path. They don’t need to come here with missiles. They are already messing with the brains of our kids, and they are already taking the young generation hostage, and there will not be a young generation capable of following all the great dreams and the great thoughts of the Ambrosetti. If we all together will not think about shielding also the space where the enemies are messing with their brains.

Thank you.

 

–Well, thank you very much, Edi, also for your non-diplomatic and realistic view. Maybe a little bit pessimistic from my point of view, but I think very useful.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Not pessimistic, tragically optimistic. Tragically optimistic.

 

-A question about the future of the European budget. President Costa has already mentioned the importance of having enough resources to invest in strategic investments but also the future of Europe. How do you see the discussion? And of course, for the members of the OECD and the EU already, but also for future members. 

Do you think that we need a much broader and bigger budget for the European Union, or do you think that the current proposal is fine? Thank you. 

-I have a question for Edi Rama, because I know Albania very well. I have travelled across and visited, and so I appreciate his country very much, and I am asking if to create more sharing of and cooperation and the basis for European Union cooperation. 

I think that the cultural side of cooperation is fundamental. So why not create more bridges with Italian universities and research institutions, and build infrastructure for example, for sharing data, which could be one area where you can create social impact and demonstrate that the benefit of being part of this system is to share data and be more active, for example, in healthcare or in climate change mitigation, which is important for young generations. They think don’t think to  enlargement of you at as a value itself. They think that climate change mitigation or health care or mental diseases are fundamental for their future. So they have different sensitivities. So I think that cultural and research exchange could be a really valuable means to cooperate. 

 

-Thank you. I just want to ask both men whether they believe a divided Ukraine will ever get into the European Union or if there is a place for it at Edi Rama’s special table. Thank you. 

Prime Minister Edi Rama:  Well,  I start from the last question. Is there a place at my special table for a divided Ukraine?

I think it’s not about my special table, is about Europe, and I start with: does Germany has the courage to find its new Helmut Kohl moment, when Helmut Kohl went there, and the wall was down. He didn’t say to his fellow  Eastern Germans Now you are free, and there are 33 chapters to go through before we get together. He said we are together. So, in my table would go very, very simply. All the countries the seven kids have to fulfil by the book: every criterion has to go by the book through every chapter and have to face the whole neurotic process of the 35,000 men and women machine that is the most ruthless machine of bureaucracy humanity has created, because they have to get a driving license, and you don’t give a driving license to someone because you like him.

But what needs to change is is the is the range. Not first the 33 chapters and then the political decision. No, first the seven, including Ukraine, should come and be around the table like Ursula’s kids. But like the kids, they have to listen to papa and mama, Germany and France and then to the great aunt Italy and then to all the rest, and then they have to behave.

But they have to be there in the Council of the European Union, and while they fulfilled by the book the criterias every chapter they close it make them members within that chapter. So, for example, coming to the question, she said I I know very well Albania. Congratulations. I don’t know Albania very well yet. But anyhow it’s  it’s that you close the chapter on science, culture, education, whatever, and you are a member, and you have the same rights, and this goes like that. And so everyone who wants to get more from the table gives more to the table, but they have to be there.

I know Serbia is a quite an interesting and difficult type of animal in the Balkan jungle, but what is better to have it around the table and to tell no, you can’t have a state funeral for this butcher or to leave it out there in the uncertainty and to make them totally schizophrenic between Europe, China, America,  Russia, and I don’t know who else Vietnam.

So this is my take, and it has to happen now. What is this mood? The mood. What mood? The mood of whom? The mood of them that tomorrow will be wiped out by the extremes. What mood? Mood to do what? To not have the courage to tell people, listen, hey guys, the Titanic is sinking.

We will not be able to face the competition. Yes, we have a single market. But how many things happen today in every single state that make, in fact 27 markets? Where are the capital markets of Europe? Where are the finance the financial capabilities of Europe as such? You talk about data. So when it comes to Albania, please come and take all our data. We have nothing to hide Italy. our our bad luck was that instead of being occupied by you, we were occupied by the Russians. But this is another story.

But in Italy, you have 19,000, and I was told this by a guy who knows very well about it. He’s in the room. I’m not going to quote him. 19,000 separate databases in Italy that do not talk to each other.

So imagine now in Europe how many, and we want to have a powerhouse of  AI with 19,000 databases only in Italy. I’m not talking about Albania because in Albania every Albanian is a database in its own but this is this is the story. So, finally, the budget: I don’t know; Andrejj knows about the European budget. What I know is that whoever around us that is a member of the European Union gets from the European Union 4,300 and something more euros per capita. We in the Western Balkans get 138 euros per capita. And when the Roman Empire started with coal, I ended with the Roman Empire.

When the Roman Empire was in full decline and the mood the mood was more or less the same. The Roman Senate was made of politicians, not of influencers and not of people depending on likes and followers in their Instagram and not from politicians that were proposing to change the world with magic, closing the borders.

They had a big discussion. Should they should we continue to have only the Romans living within the borders of Rome as Roman citizens, or should we give citizenship to everyone in the realm of the Roman Empire? And it was a big discussion because there were also black people out there. There were also different types of colours and cultures out there. And guess what?

The Roman Senate decided we have to give citizenship to every one we which is in the parimeter of the Roman Empire if we want to have steel soldiers. With whom? With whom will Europe fight the next war? With whom? With drones, because with soldiers it will not be possible.

Sorry, I took more of the time, which is in the in the typical Albanian and Sicilian tradition. So what you are not given, you take. It’s not very European, but as long as we are not in Europe, we enjoy being like the Sicilians. At least this is more fun than the boring stuff. Thank you!