Edi Rama: Kosovars losing patience in the isolation the European Union is causing

He emphasises that Albanians have run out of patience with the European Union and that Brussels' position on the issue of opening negotiations is crazy, as according to him, the EU is giving more priority to the process of integration of Serbia and Montenegro, while overstepping our country.

In an interview for the German newspaper, “Frankfurter Rundschau”, Rama says he does not understand the fears of European leaders, who, according to him, link the opening of EU accession negotiations with elections in their countries or the rebellion of public opinion. According to Rama, this is all crazy.

Mr. Rama, in Albania, several property commissions have been established for reviewing the position of those judges and prosecutors who are corrupt or who have abused the task. What do you expect from this process?

This process is crucial to a new architecture of the justice system, which we have changed through deep reforms. We have figuratively a new Palace of Justice. And these checks, they'll make sure the residents of this Justice Palace are scanned, and some of them will no longer be able to enter there. Soon we will see tangible results.

How deep is corruption in the Albanian judicial system?

A considerable portion of people will surely be disfellowshipped. The actual process leaves no room for salvation, or for access to the system.

Reform in the judiciary also relates to starting negotiations with Brussels for EU accession. When can they begin?

This has never been known to us by the EU, as positions and conditions constantly change. We were told that negotiations would begin when the Constitutional Reform was realised under the Justice Chapter in the negotiations. So we changed the Constitution, but the accession talks haven't begun.

Then we were told that the law was important to the property commissions. Then we were told that parliamentary elections were important for us to open negotiations. Now we've done everything, and we'll see what happens. Starting talks could happen next year if the EU Council gives a positive opinion, but it may not happen next year either.

The enlargement process has become increasingly unfair, and less predictable for candidate states. And this is not a problem for Albania, it concerns Europe itself.

The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, spoke in his speech “the situation of the Union” on the prospect of enlargement. However, in his letter to the president of the Council, he mentioned only Serbia and Montenegro for the possibility of membership in 2025, while Albania didn't even mention it...

I don't think you should read it this way. He has not excluded others, but has only mentioned Serbia and Montenegro, because these countries are already negotiating.

There is a second concern, under which the Balkans are no longer treated according to the performance of individual countries, but is approaching the EU as the region...

I don't want the principle related to performance abandoned, and I don't believe the EU will. He's important for countries to really improve. Through EU integration, we can modernise our countries, and build democratic institutions and rule of law. But the EU also needs to reform.

I am convinced that the renewed axis between Berlin and Paris will push this process forward. I also agree with French President Emmanuel Macron, that there must be different speeds. Because if you want to have a more flexible and functional EU, you need to move forward and not build everything on consensus decisions.

Do you expect a change of course in the enlargement strategy?

I don't expect anything like that. The problem is not what Europe says, but what it does. In our case it is completely unfair, because we are a NATO member state. Montenegro has joined the alliance much later. Moreover, we are much ahead of Montenegro in the crucial chapters dealing with the judiciary. Serbia should also continue to carry out these reforms.

We already have. It's a fantastic negotiation thing. But it's just unfair that we're not negotiating. I do not understand this incredible fear of European leaders, when they constantly link the start of accession negotiations in the union with elections in their countries or public opinion rebellion. This is crazy. It would still be understandable that membership itself is somewhat delayed. But this has to do with negotiations. And negotiations, they're something that only helps us on our journey.

Do you think that EU countries want to slow down the enlargement process?

This isn't about what I think. This is tangible, visible, and clear. Sometimes I wonder if these European leaders really thought about what they're doing. Or maybe it's about the fact that it's on their agenda, and that's why they only hear their administrations or advisers.
The issue is politically very clear. They might say we are negotiating with the six states in the Balkans, that the talks will be very difficult, and that there will be membership if the countries are not ready. But it is absurd to say: You're a candidate for joining us, but we don't negotiate with you. That's like saying, "We want to get married, but we can't talk about marriage.

They have said that the smallest <x0unions will be created if there is no unification of the Western Balkans in the EU. This has strengthened fears in Serbia of creating a large Albania, namely a union between Albania and Kosovo. Do you understand these fears?

These fears will grow. It's not that I love it, but that's logical. Kosovars were under a very brutal regime, and still could move to Europe. Now they have their own country, and they can't travel anymore. Not only is there constant fatigue but there is also fatigue from patience.

If you mention the smallest <x0unions”, it is clear that you speak of a union with Kosovo...

We are no longer in Communism, and therefore we can speak freely. Kosovars' grandparents currently young lived in a state that did not recognise their nationality and the status of the republic. Now they have their own country, but they're capsuled into an isolated state. They are the only people in all of Europe who cannot leave their country. For senseless reasons.

They have been subject to conditions for visa liberalisation with Schengen space countries. The EU has indicated that a border agreement with Montenegro should be reached first, but at the same time Brussels is already negotiating with Serbia -- a state that has neither recognised Kosovo, nor much more.

Do you see yourself as a protector of Albanians in the region, seeing you talk often in their name?

I would have said the same thing even if there was the same injustice to Serbs. If Serbia were isolated, I would say again: What is this madness?

But in recent months, Albanian parties from Macedonia came here to Tirana to help you reach an agreement. They are Albanians from a neighbouring country. So I ask you if you consider yourself a protector of Albanians. We are recently in the Balkans, where ethnic thought is central, and it is related to the issues of stability and integrity of state territories.

I don't think there would be any scandal, if the Austrian government worked for Austrians abroad, and Albanians in Macedonia are not a minority, but a member nation. If we help them, we also help consolidate the Macedonian state.