Rama heads to Brussels in first official visit as prime minister

TIRANA, Sep 16 – New Prime Minister Edi Rama started his first day in the post with a trip to Brussels, Belgium where he met all the top European officials.
EU Ambassador to Albania Ettore Sequi said after the government’s confidence vote in Parliament that Rama would “have the possibility to present his program to all the European institutions.” He hailed the pledges “for the challenges ahead of them, challenges of transformation in order to make Albania a better place for people to live. And obviously by doing this the road to Brussels will be closer and shorter.”
During the two-day visit to Brussels, Rama first took part at a meeting of the European Parliament’s foreign commission on Albania. He also responded to questions from European parliamentarians.
“Albania should enter this (EU) family with full rights and as full members, not in another century, but in a time of reason,” Rama told the European Parliament.
He also met all top EU officials including, Martin Schulz, Manuel Barroso, Herman van Rompuy, Catherine Ashton and Stefan Fule.
Their unified call on Rama and his new cabinet, that is on Albania, was that the new government must quickly deliver progress on tackling corruption and organized crime if it wants the country to become a European Union candidate by the end of the year.
“Albania can reach candidate country status in principle this year. So it is within reach this year, but that requires still some efforts,”said Barroso, adding that “the next weeks are critical.”
Europe said clearly that there is an area that requires particular attention – respect for the rule of law, including the fight against corruption and organized crime and these reforms must accelerate.
The Commission will issue a new report in October on the progress achieved by Albania and other EU aspirants. The bloc’s leaders are then expected to decide on the way forward at their December summit.
EU membership aspirations in the Balkans have been given a boost recently by Croatia joining the 28-member bloc and Serbia being promised the launch of accession negotiations. Montenegro and Macedonia also hold candidate status.
Rama tried to reassure European leaders that his government is “totally committed” to reaching candidate status and eventually the launch of negotiations.
“For us it’s crucial. But we know that Albania has to deserve it and we are absolutely committed to make you decide in our favor, based on results,” he said.
In an interview with Euronews Rama went further saying that he hoped the country would become a full EU member in a decade.
Albania applied for EU membership and joined NATO in 2009.