Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania: Instead of vision, EU is guided by inertia of current events

We need the EU as much as they need us. We can lift each other up or pull each other down. As far as we're concerned, we've done all our jobs at this stage, but of course, there is still much to do and no one denies it. The only problem is that for each stage we deliver, EUvhas to deliver its part, and that didn't happen recently, s Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told Novi Magazin

By Julijana Mojsilovic

Edi Rama, Albanian Prime Minister since 2013, previously Mayor of the capital Tirana for 11 years, is the only Albanian PM in history to win three consecutive parliamentary elections, and his Socialist Party of Albania has won all five elections since 2013, including two local votes. He is one of the initiators of the „Open Balkan“, economic zone. In his second interview for Novi magazin, the charismatic Albanian leader, a painter by education and a former member of the national basketball team, talks about the European Union’s attitude towards the Western Balkans, the Bulgarian veto, Kosovo and Serbia, and regardless of openly pointing out what he considers the EU’s mistakes in the region, hopes that „the best is yet to come for the Western Balkans in the next ten to fifteen years“ 

In a very diplomatic, and at the same time very clear way, you warned the EU at the latest summit with the Western Balkans about its shortcomings in the enlargement process. What would you like the Union to do and what do you believe the regional countries aspiring to full membership have to do to comply?

I would like the Union to do the Union and follow the founding fathers vision towards a full fledge implementation of their European project, which includes full integration of the Western Balkans in the Union. The EU needs us as much as we need them. We can lift each other up or drag each other down. As for us we have all done our job for this phase, but of course there is still a lot to do and nobody denies it. The only problem is that for each phase we deliver EU has to deliver and the late has not happened lately. 

The Russian aggression against Ukraine seems to have unite Europe generally and especially in granting Ukraine and Moldavia a candidate status. Georgia was told to wait as was Bosnia and Herzegovina. Do you see it as a right decision or just a goodwill gesture, since the process drags on for years, and even decades as in the case of Turkey?

I don't really understand the rationale behind such a non decision on BiH, while I fully support the move towards Ukraine and Moldova. But, letting Bosnia and Herzegovina without anything again, while all the members of Bosnia's parliament who represent all the communities asked for it unanimously, shows once again that instead of leading firmly all Europe in this turbulent times the EU instead of a vision is lead by the inertia of current events. Hopefully it will not take another war to give Bosnia and Herzegovina the candidate status! 

What was in your opinion the reason for the EU to link Albania and North Macedonia and was it fair for either country?

I do believe this is not another reason to blame the EU. In this case their idea of keeping the two countries together and open for both of them the accession talks was not wild at all. 

Sofia reportedly withdrew its veto to N. Macedonia based on the French proposal, but Skopje seems not to be happy. Do you think the proposal is fair to Macedonians?

Looking for happiness in this process is like looking for water in the desert. Nevertheless the last and final French proposal after tireless back and forths of Emmanuel Macron and his team with the two sides during the NATO Summit, is totally acceptable. At least in my view. I hope this messy deadlock is at its ending days. 

There is yet no visa liberalisation for Kosovars. Do you see that as the result of the five EU countries' refusal to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, or there are other reasons? 

I really don't know, but whatever the reasons might be this is a shameful attack against the human dignity of a whole population. Anyhow I would exclude the non-recognition factor because I have never heard nor your president and either your Prime Minister speak against. On the contrary, they have always stated that Serbia supports the lift of the visa regime for the Kosovo population. 

You strongly defended and praised the Open Balkan as an initiative. The EU basically agrees. However, some regional countries, including Kosovo, still do not join. Why?

You have to ask them. I have my view only and in my view they are wrong. Very wrong. 

 You also seem to be satisfied with the European Political Community, suggested by the French President. Many believe it is a trap, i.e., a substitution for the EU membership which is anyway far away. Why do you think it may be good for the non-EU states.

Substitution of what? Of the non-existing door to membership? No! This is not the problem. The problem is that some people don't want to face the reality of the enlargement, which has become a vehicle of kindapping other countries for the sake of internal politics. Bulgaria was only the most brutal example, not the only one. 

Do you believe that NATO membership is an unwritten condition for EU-aspiring countries?

No I do not. There are EU countries that are not NATO members. 

You also tried to understand and explain to the Summit Serbia's refusal to join EU sanctions against Russia. Do you really think it will be good for Belgrade and its EU prospect at the end of the day?

I don't think it will be good, but I think it should not be bad. Serbia's refusal to align with the EU sanctions is not Serbia's aligning with the agression. On the contrary. Serbia has aligned with the democratic world three times in a row while voting against Russia at the United Nations. Turkey is another country that did not align with the sanctions, but has aligned against Russia at the UN and it is also giving a very unique contribution for all of us by engaging with Ukraine, UN and Russia itself for humanitarian purposes. 

What do you see as more serious problem for Serbia in a long run - its refusal to recognise Kosovo's independence or not joining in the European sanctions against Putin's Russia?

At one point Serbia will have to recognise Kosovo and liberate itself from a burden that should not undermine for too long your country's bright future. I understand the difficulty to deal with such a poignant issue, but Kosovo is gone forever. As for Putin's Russia nor the war and either Putin's rule will not last forever. But history matters. Economy matters. Public opinion matters. And looking at all three in Serbia's case helps understand why asking Serbia to align with sanctions is not simply unwise. It is dangerous and for the whole region. I think anyway that there is more understanding about it now then a month ago. 

Why do you think Pristina – Belgrade negotiations are so slow and difficult?

I would say there is a lot of reluctance on both sides. My Kosovo brothers are seeking lately an ask from forgiveness by Serbia, before even starting to talk seriously about how the final peace sealed by mutual recognition will be achieved. This is a no go for my Serbian friends and I think they are right, because such a huge change from bloody war to final peace cannot happen without a thorough painful and patient process of dialogue. We all cannot forget how these kind of long burning pages have been turned in history. No comparaison is perfect, but I think there is no better example then Germany asking forgiveness to France only in 1970 through Chancellor's Willy Brandt Warsaw genuflection. In the meantime, for 25 long years a lot of trust building steps were made. The Coal&Steel Community was up and running since the Fifties and the Swinging Sixties brought a never seen growth in Europe. 

Finally, where do you see the entire Western Balkans region in 10-15 years from now and why?

This is a very tricky question and I am not as brave as to predict the Balkans, but I can share with you my big hope that the best is yet to come. 

Maybe I’m special because I’m tall

„In general, I feel a bit special because I’m quite tall, which is not very common in the region, although we could put together a basketball team of leaders and beat every EU and Russian team together! About the rest - well, maybe my past, combined with my ideas about politics as a civic passion and not as a profession of cynicism, makes me a bit of a special guy in office“, Rama told Novi magazin in 2016, answering the question of what makes him special in the regional political arena.