Rama: We have met the conditions, EU has broken promises

The head of Albania's government, Edi Rama, in an exclusive interview for the famous German newspaper “Bild” accuses leaders of blocking the country's and northern Macedonia's accession.

“The EU has broken promises and is leading a rift in Balkan peoples with political cycinism. As in the “history awaiting Godo”, Rama says in an exclusive article for BILD. “Only spoken but nothing happens!”

The “was a long-loved ambition by our nations, Albania and Northern Macedonia to join the European Union and thus enable our citizens to benefit from a free market and participate in this great democracy.

Let me make something clear: as Albania's prime minister, I fully know that we are not ready to join the European Union today, nor are North Macedonia or the rest of the Western Balkans.

There are many demands that we must meet in order to become members. But our two nations, Albania and Northern Macedonia, have all met and more the conditions needed to really start the negotiations process with Brussels. Such a start of the negotiations was also decided by the EU Council itself at 2018<50>, Rama has said.