TIRANA, July 11 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday that Albania would not use its veto power against North Macedonia if the country joins the European Union, arguing that vetoes undermine the bloc’s enlargement process.
Speaking at the Socialist Party’s “RinCamp 2026” youth event in the coastal area of Jalë, Rama was asked by a student from Skopje whether Albania would block North Macedonia’s EU path to secure the rights of ethnic Albanians there.
Rama said Albania had no intention of using a veto and wanted North Macedonia to advance successfully toward EU membership.
“I have always believed that vetoes in the enlargement process serve no one. They amount to taking the process hostage and are fundamentally unconstructive. Blocking negotiations through vetoes is not European,” he said.
Rama also called for a new EU approach towards candidate countries, arguing they should be involved in the bloc’s political decision-making before becoming full members.
He said Albanians across the region were in a stronger position than at any other point in their history and urged them to preserve those gains by avoiding nationalist rhetoric.
“Albanians are better off today than they have ever been in their history. These achievements must be protected,” Rama said.
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