Edi Rama, affirms his support for the decision by the European Council, taken with regard to Ukraine, "even if it will be a long road".

He also recalls his recent trip to kyiv with the Prime Ministers of Montenegro and North Macedonia, three NATO member countries.

But he does not have strong enough words in the face of Bulgaria's veto which is blocking progress in negotiations for the entry of Albania and North Macedonia into the Union, due to a dispute with this last country.

"I am bitter towards Bulgaria, sad for the European Union. It is a powerlessness that frightens, what Bulgaria is doing. It is a NATO country that is taking two other countries hostage of NATO, at the very moment when there is a war on the border of Europe, in front of 26 countries which cannot do anything.

A “model” justice reform

On the issue of the rule of law in the Balkans, highlighted by the European Court of Auditors, he insists on the progress made.

"Albania is at the forefront of the region, we are implementing a justice reform held by all as a model".

He recalls that this justice reform does not spare anyone, not even certain politicians from his own party who have sometimes been convicted.

"It's a judicial system that is beginning, it is not yet in EU standards but it conducts investigations and trials."

European political community: "a good idea"

Edi Rama supports Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a European political community - different from the European Union - to strengthen ties with countries that do not yet belong to the EU.

"This idea is the right one: a political community with all the countries which are part of this same democratic family or which aspire to become one and live in the same house, but on different floors, making the big debates together. "

The Albanian Prime Minister recalls that the Balkans are surrounded on their border by the European Union and that, for example, during the pandemic, they did not receive vaccines from the Union.

"We had to turn to Turkey, otherwise we would have had countless deaths."

The fear of a war in Ukraine that lasts

On the outcome of the war in Ukraine, he foresees a long war, which of course opposes Russia and Ukraine, but also the imperialist vision of the world and that of the defense of the rights of sovereign States in the face of threats on their territory . 

This war, he said, is testing Russian and Western patience.

Knowing that we have "a large community in the free world which may not have the patience to go all the way in the face of inflation and difficulties, in a world which cultivates selfishness and nationalism. "

The links with Russia are different according to the Balkan countries: Albania has minimal relations with Russia, no trade relations, no delivery of Russian gas, unlike Serbia, which is closer to Moscow.

But according to Edi Rama, this should not taint their ties: "We must not let this war affect the Balkans, it is the most vulnerable channel in Europe."

Program prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats, Sophie Samaille and Georgina Robertson

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