Prime Minister Edi Rama recently gave an interview to the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo", during which he spoke, among other things, about common European policies on immigration, the elections of the new president in the United States, but also about Albania's plans to shut down TikTok.
Meanwhile, regarding Meloni's plan for illegal refugees, the head of government responds that "the Italians should be asked."
Excerpt from the interview
"This artist and former basketball player has been in office since 2013. Regarding Meloni's migration plan, he responds that "the Italians should be asked. We respond when they ask us for help..."
Edi Rama, prime minister of Albania since 2013 and mayor of Tirana for more than a decade, devoted himself to professional basketball, painting, university teaching and journalism before entering politics. The former can be guessed from his impressive two-meter height. The latter is due to the enthusiastic way in which he promotes his country, a tourist destination that has been on the rise in recent years and which he jokes about as “as beautiful as Spain, but cheaper”.
Rama was in Madrid on Friday to present the 30th edition of the World Congress of Justice, organized by the World Association of Jurists, chaired by lawyer Javier Cremades, which will be held in the Albanian capital in 2027. He was previously received by King Felipe VI at the “La Zarzuela” palace. The prime minister responds to President Trump’s first moves and refers to the controversial plan to deport immigrants to Albania by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, whom he calls “my Italian sister.”
He calls on Europe to implement a common migration policy, to protect border control, but also to open up to legal immigration.
International politics seems to be accelerating every day. How do you interpret Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip?
Edi Rama: "I have no comment on this. I think the plan needs to be clarified, understood and harmonized with all other actors. It's still early."
Other decisions of the new US president affect his country, such as the virtual disappearance of the agency responsible for international aid (USAID) and the suspension of the resettlement of Afghan refugees. How will Albania handle it?
Edi Rama: "There will be no problem with Afghan refugees living in Albania. If they want to stay in our country, they can do so, they cannot return to their country and stop the violence. These are not big numbers for us, they are only a few hundred people."
The Italian judiciary has almost paralyzed the migration agreement between the country and Italy, and the European Court of Justice will soon rule on safe countries. Do you have confidence in the future of this plan?
Edi Rama: "You should ask the Italians, it's not up to me to say what will happen. We signed the agreement and it is Italy that implements it, because we are not part of it. We simply respond when our neighbor asks us for help. Europe must implement a common migration policy, which avoids political use, and defends border control, but also opens up to legal immigration."
Albania has brotherly relations with Kosovo, which is holding parliamentary elections tomorrow. What do you think the future of the country will be?
Edi Rama: "Kosovo is a democratic, vibrant and diverse country. And, like all Balkan countries, it fights with a lot of passion and a lot of noise, but that's okay. I wish it well, but I have no preference for the election results. I am a friend and I respect everyone. I wish Kosovars all the best for whatever decision they make."
In Serbia, President Vučić has been facing student protests for three months and the prime minister resigned last week. What is your opinion on what is happening?
Edi Rama: "The problem I have with the Serbian opposition is, without going into the dynamics of domestic politics, that it does not seem more pro-European or pro-Western than the president. As for Kosovo, they do not seem to be more progressive. For the rest, it is not my place to comment, because it is an internal matter of Serbia. But, I believe and hope that in the end dialogue will have to prevail. Because taking over a government by force should never happen on European soil."
How are the negotiations for Albania's EU membership progressing?
Edi Rama: "Negotiations with the EU are going very well, we are working hard to achieve this. We have a very ambitious plan together with the European Commission until 2027 to move forward on the political side and, if everything goes according to plan, which is not easy to say in these times when something happens every day, Albania could be a member of the EU in 2030."
Do you see integration closer than a year ago?
Edi Rama: "It's closer than when Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, because, unfortunately, our friends in Brussels and in European capitals were forced to wake up in this way. I hope that Trump will be another wake-up call for Europe to change and be more realistic about the challenges and the passage of time: not to postpone its change, because otherwise it could mean the end of Europe."
Do you think that the future membership of the Balkans in the EU is harmful to you if it is seen as a bloc?
Edi Rama: "It doesn't work like that, because negotiations are based on merits and these are inseparable. Each country must meet the criteria and each has its own speed, its own capabilities and its own agenda."
A month ago, you decided to suspend the Chinese social network TikTok for a year. What was the reason for this measure? Are you already seeing the first results you were expecting?
Edi Rama: "TikTok is very toxic, especially for children and 95% of parents in Albania are terrified. The suspension has not yet been carried out, we estimate that it will be done within a few days. We are also engaging in constructive dialogue with them. I was surprised by your willingness to address our concerns. It will be closed and reopened as long as TikTok meets all our demands." (A2 Televizion)
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