“War, third chance for EU

Meanwhile, in an interview for Dutch media éVolkskranta, Prime Minister Rama has talked about the European Union, Albania's performance in the process, as well as its relationship with the Netherlands.

INT PLOSE ERVIST for Volkskrant

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, visiting Prime Minister Rutte, said he has long felt blocked by the Netherlands as a candidate for membership in the European Union. Now he sees great opportunities for co-operation.

“The Dutch know of you in a mild way”- says Edi Rama (58, who, like Mark Rutte, is a European policy veteran, as he has been competing at the highest level of policy doing nearly ten years. He has also experienced and witnessed the time when NATO faced enormous difficulties during the time of President Trump. But here the similarity between the two ends -- for seven consecutive years Rama fought for recognising his country as a candidate for EU membership, and in some cases met in the Dutch blockade. And yet resentment is the last thing that can burden Rama's heart; Rutte and Rama have won maximum respect for each other and will launch a joint plan in the coming months to promote President Emmanuel Macron's idea of a political community. (Uniting EU countries). with non-member states.

It was Mark who suggested it. For the first time, an EU member and a non-EU member will work together for Europe's future. This brings together two extremes. We had to go through all the hellfire rings to reach the heart of this country and Mark Rutte”, Rama says during a conversation at Hotel DesIndes. “But now he's taking steps forward and that's fantastic. The result of very intense love. )

In 2020, the light finally became green for membership negotiations that Northern Macedonia (aplication for candidate status: 2004) and Albania (aplication for candidate status: 2006) must carry out before membership in the European Union. But for the past two years, the actual start of these negotiations -- a process that also takes years -- has been blocked by Bulgaria. Now there seems to be some progress on the horizon.

“For EU enlargement can write wonderful literary novels

“Samuel Beckett has already done this: he wrote “Waiting for Godot) The case of northern Macedonia and Albania is a case of art that imitates real life. We're like Vladimir and Estragon, waiting for Godot. At the right moment, Vladimir tells Estragon: “Are we going?” Answer: “Let's go“And then no one moves. (Laughter) This is the European Union”, Rama says.

A certain number of politicians from The Hague who have explained to you that your country should still take some steps forward.

That attitude has helped us to retaliate by running even faster. So we proved that we were much better than they believed. This is my comfort. But EU policy is increasingly defined by national selfishness. Increasingly, it matters what you do, and more and more how others feel when making a decision. And there's always a place that disputes. The Bulgarian opposition to Northern Macedonia is the most open example. The Dutch know the dead gently, but with Bulgarians it is not a soft death. ” (laugh)

How does this mild - tempered Dutch version work?

Then they tell us you're not ready because they're not ready, and that story goes on forever. Then you must be patient and force yourself to a resurrection every time. Of course, when the European Commission twice gave positive suggestions, after which those councils ended up in the mill of national interests on the Council, it was very disappointing. Now our relationship with the Netherlands is excellent. The respect we now receive was unthinkable for us a few years ago. At that time we felt really squeezed and unwanted. ”

Can fear of an EU that is too big even play a role?

You sure do! If the EU is 27 in number, how will it function with 33 countries? With six Balkan countries, the most insane in Europe? As well as everyone have a veto. I understand this point, and when you see a place that works well like Holland, you understand. What family would work if grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren all had the same power and grandchildren as a veto? That's impossible. )

You support Macro's idea of a political community outside the EU.

I'm a huge supporter. Because even though we are not members of the EU yet, we are Europeans. They cannot decide on this in Berlin or The Hague. The EU is the only political entity in history with external borders and internal borders. The entire Western Balkans extends within these internal borders. Just like your stomach can't communicate with the rest. Each country must find its way to the EU, but collectively we must be more connected”.

What should the EU do with Serbia, a candidate member who has just signed an oil contract with Russia?

Be careful and do not blindly ask what Serbia cannot give. Serbia cannot quickly get rid of its dependence mainly on Russian gas, but voted against Russia's invasion of the United Nations three times. This is unique and new, no one expected this. But the Balkans remain a vulnerable chain. The war in Ukraine could easily undermine stability and even lead to open conflict. ”

Is the defeat of Ukraine from Russia a turning point?

The fight forces the EU to join, but it is also a major stress test. The question is whether the unit will be preserved. Putin uses food shortages as a deadly weapon. He wants to feed hunger in Africa and send a new stream of refugees to Europe. I see no hesitation in political leaders, but public opinion allegations. I'm worried about people in rich countries and their ability to remain involved in this war. They keep saying: I don't care about inflation and expensive gasoline, don't I want Russia to win? In addition to military confrontation, Putin is also focusing on differences in stability. The threshold of pain for Russia is much higher and war is decided on. ”

What is the most important aspect of your country's massive transformation?

“Freedom to choose for yourself. For centuries we have lived under a roof that we have not chosen. Forced by imperial regimes, foreign regimes. The first time Albanians could choose for themselves was when they decided to leave communism behind and join Europe. In that sense, Europe is for us a religion and a source of knowledge of transition to a democratic state of”.

You're an artist, and so is your father. He built monuments in the time of communism. What monument would you like to leave behind?

My father was an official sculptor of the regime. He believed in Communism, first of all, I think. But my destiny is that when he began to lose faith, he gave me room to have my faith. So we ended up under a roof - a quiet Communist and a loud anti - Communist; a realistic artist and a very antirealyst artist. It has left several monuments for eternity, such as the monument to Albania's independence. I would like to leave what my father said: After all, it is the good memory that matters. When people say he tried, he did it or so right that's enough for me. ”

/Express