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Prime Minister Edi Rama did not appear very optimistic about the possibility that, within the framework of the integration process, the European Union will open talks on the first group of chapters with Albania, in the month of December.
The European Commission has asked the member countries for this process to start at the end of this year, but during a conversation with the Atlantic Council on integration in the EU and the Balkans, Mr. Rama described the deadlines as technicalities.
“I’m not too obsessed with these technicalities. We have started negotiations for membership, negotiations are continuing. We did a very good job, as was underlined on every page of this year’s progress report. This is the most important. What will be its technicalities, I will not make much effort and I will not spend much energy to understand it. It is a complicated and complex process.
The most important thing for us is to take the right steps. As it is known, 27 member countries are between the fulfillment of the obligations and the approval. They are together on big principles, but they are not always together when it comes to making decisions. Let’s discuss this issue”, said Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The hesitation of Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to be related to Greece’s warnings that the case of the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, will affect Albania’s progress towards the European Union.
The arrest of Mr. Beleri, two days before the May 14 elections and the trial against him on charges of vote-buying, is considered by Athens, among others, as a violation of minority rights and political rights. On the other hand, the Albanian authorities have considered this as a matter that belongs only to justice.
The European Commission’s proposal for starting talks on the first group of chapters is expected to be discussed at the December meeting of the European Council, where every decision must be taken with the approval of all member countries./VOA
