TIRANA, April 3 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday accused political opposition of attempting to cast doubt on Albania’s European Union accession process, while reiterating that 2030 remains a realistic target for membership.
Speaking at a Socialist Party assembly meeting in Tirana, Rama said the 2030 timeline was based on a “simple calculation” reflecting a renewed EU enlargement momentum following the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“The European Union has entered a new phase, having opened its doors again because the war in Ukraine shook it out of a long-standing comfort zone,” Rama said.
He explained that the accession process consists of two stages: negotiations with the European Commission and subsequent ratification by all EU member states.
“The Commission has set out a plan comprising six clusters and 33 chapters, each with numerous obligations. Once negotiations are concluded, approval must be secured from all 27 member states, which typically takes around two years,” he said.
Rama added that if Albania delivers on its obligations by the end of 2027, EU membership could realistically follow within two to three years, making 2030 a reasonable projection.
He also criticised opposition figures, saying their public statements risk damaging Albania’s image abroad and undermining confidence in the accession process.
“It is harmful when individuals who engage with foreign media and international partners do everything they can to cast doubt on Albania and the process,” Rama said.
However, he noted that such claims carry little weight with EU institutions.
“For the European Commission, these allegations have no impact. They monitor developments closely and in detail, and cannot be misled,” he added.
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