Prime Minister Edi Rama is on a visit to Spain on Thursday to attend the third meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), an event taking place in the city of Granada and bringing together around 50 heads of state and government from European countries across the continent.

The European Political Community aims to foster political dialogue and cooperation to address issues of common interest strengthen the security, stability and prosperity of the European continent.

So far, the European Political Community has met twice. At the first meeting in October 2022, leaders mainly discussed peace and security issues, especially Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis. At the following meeting in June 2023, they discussed joint efforts for peace and security, energy resilience and connectivity and mobility in Europe.

Ahead of the EPC meeting, PM Rama told reporters the following:

PM Rama: This is a platform to also hold discussions on concrete issues, but it is not a platform from which, at the end of the day, you can expect a solution to be found to a concrete issue or crisis. It is a very important interaction platform.

– Are you concerned about the situation in Kosovo north?

Prime Minister Rama: I am deeply concerned. I am very concerned and everyone should be, because it is a very, very dangerous situation that has now come to a point where the potential danger has increased year by year.

The criminal activities in that Serbian minority-dominated part are fully aligned with a political agenda and with a lot of nationalism, and as such it is very, very dangerous.

-The EU has imposed a set of punitive measures against Kosovo. Do you think it is time now for the EU to impose measures against Serbia?

Prime Minister Rama: Not only do I think that way, but it is precisely because of this that for the first time in at least the last 10 years Albania is not aligned with the EU’s foreign policy statement.

Together with the EU and the United States of America we have always fully agreed on the need for the Kosovo authorities to move forward and be proactive and constructive in dialogue and, from our point of view, to benefit maximally from the Franco-German plan, which is absolutely a step forward important forward and a very good deal for Kosovo and for the region. But, in the meantime, it would suffice just the fact that the Republic of Serbia declared a national day of mourning for the members of the paramilitary criminal gang that killed the policeman for the European Union to state “this is not European. This is not acceptable. This is not justice and this is punishable.”

-Are you afraid that a war could erupt?

Prime Minister Rama: War is a big word to be used. However, measures should be taken before it becomes too late and we are following the situation pretty closely. It is very important that there is a very strong will and there are moves within NATO to strengthen the KFOR mission in the north, because the border there has become completely porous, transparent, with all types of weapons, all kinds of other illicit traffic and crimes happening. At the same time, we strongly hope that the dialogue will resume.

–Tomorrow’s topic is scheduled to be the proposal by certain EU member states for a second-class membership.

Prime Minister Rama: There is no second -class membership, but given the current situation we are in, yes there is a first-class and a second-class Europe separating the EU and the rest of Europe, dividing among the Europeans with a “U” attached and the Europeans with only “E” attached and still lacking the “U”. At the same time, we should be realistic and not look the at finger while pointing to the moon and believe that an EU with 27 members which is having a lot of trouble to have a compact decision-making, to have strategic thinking and planning can be enlarged with 33 or 35 or 37 soon.

So instead of the nothing or all, for us the non-EU members, a new approach should be found and new alternatives should be found and considered and of course this internal division must become more interactive. For instance, the spirit of the EPC can and should be transposed to the EU without necessarily giving full membership soon – because that is not going to happen.

Thank you!