TIRANA, September 5 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama participated today in the “Intelligence on the World, Europe and Italy” forum, in the “Agenda for Europe” panel, dedicated to the role of the Mediterranean and new European and global challenges, which was held in Cernobbio, Italy.
During his speech, the head of government emphasized that Albania and other countries in the region feel encouraged by the new European climate, but still remain outside some of the important initiatives and mechanisms of the European Union.
According to Rama, Europe faces a paradox, while aiming to strengthen competitiveness, technology, scientific research and strategic autonomy, the Western Balkans still remain outside many of these processes.
He brought raw materials as an example, emphasizing that the region has significant reserves, while Albania has considerable potential in the copper sector.
The prime minister added that Europe cannot have autonomy on its own in critical raw materials without including the Western Balkans.
And when it comes to one of the most important objectives of Europe today, with strategic autonomy on critical raw materials within its borders, it is very clear to me that while in our part of Europe, in the Western Balkans, we have a very important amount of raw materials, we are practically outside the common approach in this regard”, stated Rama.
He added that, “Europe cannot achieve its autonomy on critical raw materials within its borders and within the timeframe that it has foreseen, if the Western Balkans are not included and if some European instruments that exist are not used to bring us in. If this is done, then the situation may change. Albania has a very large copper reserve and in the meantime we are practically repelling the Chinese and other potential investors waiting for Europe to come”.
The prime minister also emphasized Albania’s orientation towards Europe and the West, underlining that the country has kept its distance from Russia and China.
Rama said that Albania, “is the only country in Europe of course, but also in the world that since 1960 we have not had a single Russian authority come to visit us and no plane has departed from Tirana to Moscow. And we do not miss it; we do not wait impatiently for it to happen. We are the only country in Europe where there is no real Chinese investment. We do not miss it, surprisingly”.
Rama also focused on the growth of nationalist tendencies in several European countries, describing this situation as one of the biggest problems for the unity and future of the EU. /m.q/r.e/ /a.g/p.s./
