“This idea is the right one: a political community with all the countries which are part of this same democratic family or which aspire to become one and live in the same house, but on different floors, making the big debates together,” PM Rama told Ici l’Europe talk show on France 24 TV on Friday.

The government head recalled that the Balkans are surrounded on their border by the European Union.

“It is the only geographical reality – as I know it – in the world history having an external border and an internal border, but even during the pandemic we are not part of the vaccine distribution scheme and therefore we have to run to China, in Russia, in Turkey and, for example, if Turkey had not helped Albania at that time, we would have had countless deaths,” PM Rama added.

As far as the rule of law in the Balkans is concerned, the Premier noted that Albania has made significant progress and has delivered on “a model” justice reform.

“Albania is at the forefront of the region, we are implementing a justice reform held by all as a model,” Rama said.

He recalled that this justice reform does not spare anyone, not even certain politicians from his own party, who have sometimes been convicted.

“It’s a judicial system that is beginning and although it has yet to meet the EU standards it is conducting major investigations and trials,” he added.

Rama affirmed his support for the European Council decision to grant Ukraine the candidate status, “even though it will be a long road to go for the country.”

He also recalled his recent trip to Kyiv together with the Prime Ministers of Montenegro and North Macedonia, three NATO member countries. But he is angry at Bulgaria’s veto that is blocking progress of Albania and North Macedonia in their bid to formally open the accession negotiations with the EU due to a dispute with Skopje.

“I was really bitter towards Bulgaria, sad for the European Union. It is a frightening powerlessness what Bulgaria is doing. It is a NATO country that is taking two other NATO members hostage right now when a war is going on right on the backyard of Europe in the eyes of 26 countries which cannot do anything,” PM Rama stated.

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