Prime Minister Edi Rama hosted today in Tirana the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, who was first honored in an official ceremony and then held a meeting with Prime Minister Rama in his office.

After their meeting, Prime Minister Rama and President Von Der Leyen held a joint press conference, where they discussed the advancement of relations between Albania and the European Union, as well as the necessary reforms for the country’s integration into European structures.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama: Good evening! Honorable President of the European Commission, dear Ursula!

Today, we are receiving you again to Tirana. I’ve lost track of how many times you’ve visited. You’ve certainly come more than all your predecessors  since the start of this century. This is a very special day, and this press conference is particularly significant because I know well that before I hear what you’re going to say, you will not repeat the line with which you’ve concluded all previous press conferences:

“We want to start membership negotiations with Albania.”

Today, this sentence belongs to history, because today you’ve come to Albania after we have officially seated ourselves at the negotiation table for membership and opened the first cluster of the “Fundamentals,” entering a new phase. The next time you come back, you will need to conclude the press conference by saying:

“We want Albania’s membership in the EU.”

We are very downright resolute in this as well, and as you know, our negotiation team has demonstrated in Brussels that they are prepared to tackle this new challenge. We understand that this challenge does not become easier; it becomes more difficult as we are talking about a multitude of tasks—though I won’t specify how many to avoid alarming anyone unfamiliar with the internal process—but there are thousands of tasks that need to be translated into laws, subordinate acts, and evidence of their implementation.

Additionally, this visit is special because today, after this conference, we will greet the students and faculty of the College of Europe in Tirana together.

I’m here with you to confirm and reaffirm everything that Albania has shown on this journey, standing firmly alongside the European Union, fully aligned with EU foreign policy, and engaged fully in all processes and values that bring us together. This commitment from Albania will only strengthen and solidify moving forward, demonstrating not only our capacity to fulfill all membership-related tasks but also our stability in upholding the principles and values that bind this community of European nations and peoples.

I don’t want to extend further, as I’m sure that after the official opening of the negotiations, and with your upcoming tour in the Western Balkans, there’s much more interest in what you will say rather than in what I might say. However, I want to conclude with a heartfelt thank you.

A very special thank you, because without your determination, without the unwavering support of the European Commission, without the daily cooperation with the European Commission’s mission in Tirana, and without the constant  interaction with everyone in Brussels involved in this work, this day would not be possible.

We know very well how many challenges had to be overcome, how politically challenging it has been to turn the EU’s eyes once again toward the Western Balkans—not just to say that one day we will be together, but to bring that day closer.

So, thank you very much on behalf of all those I have the honour to represent, namely Albanians, because we Albanians are divided on almost everything. We can start a debate passionately about the color of the wall there, or about what time it is today, and at a certain moment, we can even debate about the date. But there is one thing that Albanians have no debate about: our country, Albania, belongs in the EU, and the future of our children must be built in the EU and if there is a common national mission for all the society, for all political parties, and for all active forces in society, it is to contribute to making this happen as soon as possible.

So welcome to the most pro-EU country in Europe, both inside and outside the EU. The EU enthusiasts are in Albania, and I’m not just saying this—European barometers say so.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen:

Thank you very much, Prime Minister! Dear Edi!

I am very happy to see how far Albania has come on its journey toward the European Union. In fact, it is true that last week we finally opened negotiations, so we no longer need to seek this; we opened negotiations for the chapter on fundamental issues, as we work with chapter groups.

Dear Edi, what a success you just described it!

A success that comes as a result of many years of hard work and commitment to this common goal. You have shown vision and patience, and these efforts are now paying off. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams, everyone who has worked day and night to achieve these milestones and who will continue their work on negotiations with the various chapters. Rest assured that enlargement will continue to be a top priority during my next mandate. We already have all the instruments and mechanisms in place, so we must ensure that the work is done well.

However, allow me to mention three key issues.

First, it relates to our Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. We actually discussed this last week in Berlin at the Berlin Summit, so you know our approach. We are opening our common market door of the EU to our partners in the Western Balkans—meaning companies from the Western Balkans in certain sectors. Our partners in the Western Balkans are also implementing important reforms, and we support these reforms through additional European investments.

It has now been a year since the work began, and most of the countries in the Western Balkans have their reform agendas ready. Albania is one of those countries.

Dear Edi!

You and your team have done an excellent job on the reform agenda. Now we need to start with the pre-financing of 64 million euros by the end of the year. The quality of the reform plan is good, so we have a clear vision for this as well. In total, Albania will receive more than 920 million euros from the Growth Plan. The Growth Plan will also bring further concrete results. For example, you are on the right track to become part of the unique euro payment area starting next year. What does this mean? It means that transfers in money between Albania and the European Union will be faster, safer, and free of charge. This is a significant benefit for both your citizens and Albanian businesses.

The second initiative I want to mention is our investment plan for the Western Balkans. We started working on this investment plan four years ago. In Albania, this plan has mobilized investments of 1.4 billion euros, with a strong focus on the transition to clean energy. You know that the European Union has begun working towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, which makes it crucial for our Western Balkan partners to be part of this initiative with us.

However, for Albania, this will not be an especially great challenge because you are a leader in this field. That is why we are working with you on projects that can strengthen your leadership in this area. In the field of renewable energy, for example, we have the Vau i Dejës hydropower plant combined with solar energy, hopefully I’ve pronounced that correctly—over the Drin River. It is the first of its kind in the region.

We also have a 50-million-euro program for energy efficiency, which we are using to install electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, we are investing in clean transport to achieve better connections within the region and between the region and Europe, including the railway line connecting Albania with the EU, as well as plans for the first electric bus system for Tirana.

The third issue I want to mention, dear Edi, is a very special project we have here in your city. I’m, of course, referring to the campus of the College of Europe. You had this idea, dear Edi; just two years ago, a brilliant idea, and we certainly wanted to make it a reality. It was a fantastic idea, and here we are two years later. We will officially open the academic year for the first group of students at the College of Europe in Tirana. I can hardly wait to meet these young people who are studying European law and European integration right here in Tirana.

These young individuals are the future leaders of Europe, which means that the future of Europe is being shaped right here in Tirana, with this college and with these students. The last thing I want to mention is another very important aspect of our cooperation, and indeed, different from others, because this summer, Albania, along with several other European countries, had to face wildfires. These natural disasters are occurring more frequently on our continent.

We know that, unfortunately, this is the harsh reality of climate change, but we are combating this reality with our greatest asset: European solidarity. For this reason, we have extended the same solidarity measures to our Western Balkan partners that we use within the European Union. This means that four times during the summer, we activated the civil protection mechanism, mobilizing aircraft to fight the fires from Greece, Romania, and Italy, because in the end, that’s what it means to be our neighbor, our partner, and a future EU member state for Albania, and this should be felt.

Therefore, dear Edi, Albania is on the right path to becoming a member state of the European Union. Thank you very much for your great work, your commitment, and your friendship.

Thank you!

Question: The first question for the President: here in Albania, and I believe throughout the Western Balkans, we recognize your contribution to Albania’s path to EU membership, and now we have also opened the first cluster. However, as I have followed you, you are one of the few EU officials who does not provide a specific deadline for membership, for Albania and other countries. You also mentioned that in your second mandate, enlargement will be a focus. Prime Minister Rama, as well as President Charles Michel, have stated that 2030 is a possible deadline for membership. For you, is this a feasible deadline? Additionally, if you had a chance, I believe you are aware of the recent developments in Tirana; two days ago, the former president was arrested. Do you have a comment on that?

Mr. Prime Minister, I know you have set a standard and do not speak in foreign languages about political developments in the country, but could you comment on the arrest of former president Ilir Meta and the debate that has arisen regarding the methods used by the police to implement the court order? Thank you!

Ursula von der Leyen: Regarding the second part of your question, as you know, I will not make comments on judicial proceedings. We cooperate with Albania and are working on judicial reform, but this does not pertain to individual cases. The process depends on the merits of each country, and it is very important for member states to see the results of the work. Here with Albania, we have a truly excellent example; things have progressed quickly, and if things continue to go well, we might open all chapter groups by the end of next year. This is an ambitious plan. It will require a lot of work, which is why it is reasonable not to have a specific date. However, all the work must be done to become a member state, and this process depends on the merits of each country.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: You know my answer, and in this case, not just because I never make comments on domestic politics in a foreign language or in the presence of foreign friends, but also because since we started the judicial reform which has begun to be implemented, neither I nor the political force I lead make comments on matters that pertain to the judiciary. When issues are resolved, perhaps in some cases it is worth making a comment, especially when justice is restored concerning catastrophic phenomena for society, such as defamation. The specific case is typically one that belongs only to the judiciary.

 I have a question for each of you. First, for you, Madam President: Regarding the decision to open negotiations, was the decision to open negotiations with Albania more of a political move, considering the contribution Albania has made by opening the migrant camp in Gjadër? Specifically, what benefits will Albanian citizens gain from this process?

And for you, Mr. Prime Minister, how do you respond to criticisms that political reforms in Albania have often been perceived as slow and influenced by internal political movements and interests?

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen: So, the short answer to your question is clearly no. We know that the process of becoming a member state, or more precisely, opening membership negotiations with the European Union, is very clear, very detailed, and transparent. As I mentioned in my first response, it is based on the merits of each country. For example, next week, the Commission will release its report on the enlargement situation. There will be an explanation for each candidate country regarding their situation, and you will see that the results for Albania are excellent. This is a process where all member states play their role in observing how things are progressing with full transparency. That’s how things work.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: To be honest, I have often heard that our reforms are rushed, but I have not heard anyone say they are slow. On the other hand, those that say our reforms are tied to domestic political interests are likely to have their own interests in domestic politics. But the good news for Albania and for Albanians, not just today but for a long time, is that Albania is not an island detached from the world, nor is it a country on this continent that has made any choices that allow it to turn its back on Europe.

Albania is a country that wakes up every morning hand in hand with the European Union and the United States, and moves forward every day alongside its strategic allies. At the end of the day, it listens to their evaluations, receives their recommendations, and wakes up the next day to continue progressing. This is because the Albanian people have unanimously decided to belong to the European Union; there is no other path. If those interested in domestic politics have certain opinions, that is part of living in a free country. However, if specific opinions call into question the reforms and their results—results for which we have sat down at the table with the European Union—then the problem is not mine, nor the Albanians’, nor the European Union’s, or any other partner.

Thus, Albania certainly still has many mountains to climb before reaching the highest peak, which is the membership. We want to reach that peak within this decade, meaning we aim to be ready, just as we were when the European Commission recommended starting negotiations and when the European Council said no. If we are ready by 2030 to be full members of the European Union, it means that in Albania and for Albanians, there will finally be a state that functions as a state within the European Union, and that is the most important thing for me and for all of us.

– Madame Ursula von der Leyen, you have indeed praised the agreement between Albania and Italy regarding migrants, even suggesting that it could serve as a model for other countries. Now that the European Court has issued a ruling, which is also reflected in the ruling of the court in Rome that effectively hinders the use or operation of the camps set up in Albania, in Shëngjin and Gjadër, do you have a stance or comment on this? Additionally, the Italian Prime Minister and the Italian government have taken a strong stance regarding this decision.

A question for Prime Minister Rama regarding the issue of integration: one of the ongoing challenges for Albania is the political collaboration between the majority and the opposition. However, today, while the President of the European Commission is here, some members of the opposition are protesting in the European Parliament, another important institution of the EU. Does this affect Albania’s image in its journey toward EU membership, especially considering that just a week ago, negotiations officially opened for Chapter One?

 President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen: From the very beginning, we have been very clear that we are monitoring developments regarding this agreement. However, this is a bilateral agreement, so we do not make comments on it, but we monitor the developments of this agreement.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you for the question. It is very true, but as the saying goes, it takes two to tango. If there is no pair for a tango, then there is only one tune playing, which is the music of the EU. The EU’s music is composed of thousands of scores, filled with concrete tasks, specific deadlines, and very detailed monitoring of these tasks, all leading to concrete results.

So, it would indeed be ideal—there’s no doubt about that—that the aspect you mentioned would unfold as desired. However, we cannot stand still and lament this situation. We must continue to move forward, fulfill our obligations, and, just as we have brought Albania to the negotiation table, we will succeed in bringing Albania to the European Council table as a full member state with all the rights and obligations, just like any other member state.

I am confident that sooner rather than later, while we continue on this journey, the matter you raised—which the EU rightly expects from any aspiring member country—will be resolved. This is the beginning of the end of a very long story, and soon enough, a new story will begin. I am convinced of this, but we will need some patience.

Thank you!