TIRANA, June 18 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to European Union membership, describing accession as a “strategic and unchanging objective” for the country, while calling for stronger political leadership and decision-making capacity within the bloc.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Rome during a discussion with CNN correspondent Eleni Giokos, Rama addressed geopolitical developments, Albania’s EU integration path and prospects for strategic investment.
Commenting on the situation in the Middle East, Rama said Albania maintained strong relations across the region, with the exception of “Iran’s criminal regime.”
Turning to Europe’s global role, Rama said the EU’s main challenge was political rather than economic or institutional.
“The problem number one that Europe is not managing to address is politics – the ability to share a common vision, to take joint decisions, and to implement what has been decided in time,” he said.
Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz and broader geopolitical tensions, Rama said “it was sad to see Europe, both inside and outside, global developments,” arguing that the bloc often struggled to act cohesively.
He also cited the war in Ukraine, saying Europe’s support for Kyiv was “the right thing to do,” but added that the EU’s lack of engagement with Russia for years highlighted its political and decision-making constraints.
Despite his criticism, Rama said he remained a strong supporter of the European project.
“The European Union is one of the most extraordinary projects ever created by humanity,” he said. “We are in love with Europe.”
Reiterating Albania’s accession ambitions, Rama said the country was determined to join the bloc regardless of challenges.
“We want to ‘marry’ Europe, because it is the right place to be,” he said, adding that accession would happen “sooner rather than later.”
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