Rama: We deserve to open negotiations. Juncker: I don't have a specific date

In his address, Rama thanked the EC president for his visit to Tirana and stressed that Albania deserves the first vote for opening negotiations with the European Union.

Allow me to warmly thank the president of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, for this visit, coming shortly before the moment of decision-making for the recommendation of the European Commission, the opening of negotiations with Albania and shortly after the publication of the European Union's enlargement plan, which forms a basis for all countries in our region.
I had the opportunity and privilege to inform the president closely, of the reform performance and development of Albania, on the road to everyday rapprochement with the European Union, but also of being a promoter of good neighbourly relations and regional co-operation.

The key to membership negotiations has been recommended since November, underlining the progress of reform in justice and concrete implementation of the Vetting process. At the moment of that recommendation, we had not passed the law, which we have now done and we have not started concrete work for Vetting, which is happening. Today we count 17 prosecutors and judges, who have withdrawn from the Vetting process -- that is, they will no longer be part of the judicial system -- a clear indication that Vetting has begun to function as a powerful drive towards realising a new and independent justice system.

We also expect in the coming weeks the opening of concrete issues and concrete results on the part of the Vetting Commissions. Other important things have also happened. International anti-crime and traffic operation, Law Force has been under way. A radical transformation has been under way in the relations of justice with citizens, through the change of attorney general and the opening of a long-standing series of files at the Prosecutor's Office. Our determination remains steadfast, since we know that reforms and Vetting are necessary and mandatory because they ask Albania and we owe it to the next generation, so not just for European integration.

Integration into the European Union is an attempt to build European Albania here in our country. I want to repeat that I firmly believe that we deserve full and clean recommendation and I believe member states will respond positively to the vote to open negotiations, as we have done our homework carefully. Sorry we couldn't wait for you with a typical Albanian and Mediterranean weather, but we made you feel like in Brussels, with rain, gray and frustrated”, Rama said in his address.

On the other hand, President Juncker praised reforms undertaken by the government as impressive, but stressed that it has not come to Albania with a concrete date.

The Western Balkans and Albania, especially, are friendly countries, allies and partners. We've been separated by history for a long time and now it shouldn't be wasted that long. Now it's about rewriteing history. Albania has undertaken many reforms in many areas, which are impressive. If these reforms are continued, it will allow the EC to recommend negotiations. I have not come to Tirana for a date, but to encourage Albania to continue with reforms. We will be side by side with Albania to help prepare membership”, Juncker said.

Juncker was asked by reporters why there is not yet a date for Albania, which has started reform in justice, while the opposite happens with Serbia and Montenegro. Juncker said that not necessarily these two countries will be EU members in 2025, this is a test based on merit, he said.

“We have not said that Serbia and Montenegro will necessarily be member states in 2025, this could be either now or later. It is not the moment that Albania will be treated unfriendlyly. This is a process based on the merits of each country. All countries meeting the criteria will become members”, Juncker said.