Speaking at the “Intelligence on the World, Europe and Italy” forum, in the “Agenda for Europe” panel, Rama said that Albania does not need the power of veto to sit around the EU table.

Rama supported the idea of ​​gradual integration, proposing that candidate countries be initially included into concrete parts of European integration.

According to him, this should start with the common market, universities, scientific research and other cooperation mechanisms, without waiting for full membership.

Rama added that the lifting of the veto as an element of membership would make the process easier for both the European Union and the Western Balkan countries.

“Frankly speaking, I don’t believe that there will ever be a place for us in the European Union if something doesn’t change within the European Union. It is unrealistic to assume that our veto power will remain unquestioned by 2027, I don’t believe that. I don’t believe that in some capitals they will have the ability to go and tell the public: ‘People, we are taking Albania in with its veto power’”, said the head of the Albanian government.

Rama added that, “This is why I believe that gradual integration is the only way to get us into the European Union and to start from the real and genuine part, i.e.  the common market, being part of the single university Europe, of science, and all the other very important elements”.

The prime minister emphasized that, “We don’t need the veto power to sit around the table. And as a European I am against it. And this is actually, this is the core of the argument”.

Rama described the veto as one of the psychological obstacles that can be removed in the context of a reform of the European integration process.

“The seven children of Ursula must meet every criterion, must follow the rules for every chapter and must face the entire process of the machinery of 35 thousand people, which is the most bureaucratic machinery that humanity has created. What must change is the order of action: not first 33 chapters and then the political decision. All the 7 children, including Ukraine, must be around the table like Ursula’s children. As children, they must listen to their father and mother, France and Germany, then Aunt Italy and the others. But, they must be there in the EU Council, around that table, while fulfilling the criteria according to the rules, each chapter they conclude makes them members within the framework of that chapter”, the prime minister underlined.

“Full membership and equal rights are granted upon closing the chapters on science, culture, and education. Contribution and reward are balanced: those who give more to the table may take more, but active presence is mandatory for all,” said Rama in his speech during the forum. /m.q/r.e/ /a.g/p.s./

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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In a speech at the German Bundestag ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit, due to be held on Wednesday afternoon in Brussels, Chancellor Scholz called for more support for Western Balkans, saying “the countries that that make progress must be rewarded.”

“For 20 years now, countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia wait to become EU members and it is now time for both the candidate countries and the EU member states to see the overall panorama.”

According to German Chancellor, “the current overall panorama is a historic chance to ultimately connect the region with Europe.”

He demanded that the EU members do not resort to their veto power during certain stages of the enlargement process.

“There is no need for every decision to open or close the negotiation chapters to depend on each member state. If countries like Albania have delivered crucial reforms, this should be rewarded. Otherwise, there is a risk of hurting the entire membership process and we should not allow this,” the Chancellor asserted amidst applause from MPs.

The German Chancellor’s messages are also directed at Greece, a country which has threatened not to allow the opening of the first chapter of accession negotiations with Albania without addressing the Beleri case.

Germany considers it a bilateral issue, which must be resolved by the two sides.

Fredi Beleri, the elected ethnic Greek mayor of Himare, has been detained since May for alleged vote buying, after being elected mayor of the predominantly ethnic-Greek city of Himare in Albania.

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Through social networks, Rama praised the decisive role in this decision of Boyko Borissov, while saying that “his party GERB and others saved the face of Bulgaria and the EU”.

“Just got a call from Boyko Borissov. I couldn’t thank him enough for his kind thought to call me, but could thank him for his defining role in getting rid of the VETO in parliament! Real friend, real leader. His party GERB&Others saved the face of Bulgaria&EU! Now EU should act fast!”, said Rama.

The Bulgarian Parliament mandated the Council of Ministers to approve the proposal of the French Presidency to lift the veto on the negotiations for the Republic of North Macedonia./m.m/j.p/p.s./

“Finally, there came the long-awaited news from friendly Bulgaria, which has always been a staunch supporter of our membership process. Looking forward for the coming news from the European Council meeting, which is still going on”, said Meta.

The Bulgarian Parliament extended today a mandate to the government to approve the proposal of the French Presidency to lift the veto on the negotiations for the Republic of North Macedonia./m.m/j.p/p.s./