TIRANA, July 7 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday called for stronger support from the European Union for the Western Balkan countries and “demonstrate that good conduct is rewarded, the readiness to build peace is rewarded and the readiness to leave the past behind and embrace the future together is rewarded.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, in Sarajevo said that the purpose of his visit was to inform Bosnian government head about the next Berlin Process Summit in Tirana and the concerted efforts to gain a fresh financial and economic support from the European Union.
“I m here to brief the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers on what we should do at the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana in October and how we are seeking to work on a joint position of the Western Balkans six to make use of the Tirana Summit as a gathering that would materialize the new EU funding and economic support plan for these 6 countries,” PM Rama said.
“We have embarked on this effort since the day when the accession talks with the EU were opened and we are pleased to see a level of sensitiveness on the EU side and a process already announced by the European Commission President von der Leyen is underway to provide new support as part of the effort to further strengthen regional cooperation in the Western Balkans,” PM Rama said.
“We certainly understand and fully back the EU support for Ukraine and no comparison lines can be drawn, yet it is also important that a new approach is pursued towards the Western Balkans six,” the Premier stated.
He said that the EU should enhance its support for the region and demonstrate that good conduct is rewarded, the readiness to build peace is rewarded and the readiness to leave the past behind and embrace the future together is rewarded.
PM Rama also said that he informed the government head of Bosnia and Herzegovina that an informal meeting with the leaders from the region and European Commission officials will take place by mid-July in Tirana to discuss the new EU support package and build a shared position regarding the Berlin Process in order to strengthen cooperation with German Chancellery and turn Berlin Process into a more productive machine.
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