Prime Minister Edi Rama described May 26 as a historic date, as Albania completed the phase of opening the chapters of its EU accession negotiations and entered the final phase of closing them.
Speaking on his podcast “Flasim” (“Let’s Talk”), Rama said that this achievement represents a certification of the reforms undertaken over the past decade, particularly in the areas of justice reform, the fight against corruption, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
“The week we left behind, on May 26, as if by irony or a smile of fate, exactly 30 years after the May 26 marked by violence, the brutal treatment of the opposition, the theft of votes, and the consolidation of an autocratic rule with dictatorial characteristics in Albania, we arrived at the day when Albania entered the new and final stage of its European journey by completing the phase of opening negotiation chapters and beginning the phase of closing them.
On May 26, Albania reached the highest point it has ever attained in this difficult historical climb. The summit where we will together raise the red-and-black flag of Ismail Qemali and Gjergj Kastrioti, giving full meaning to a long-standing dream of joining the European Union—what once seemed like a distant horizon—is now closer than ever before.
This is an extraordinarily meaningful moment on the road to membership and, at the same time, an absolute certification of many years of tireless work. It is a moment that certainly brings great satisfaction, but also great responsibility. This is not simply a success in the negotiation process, nor merely another date on the integration calendar. It is the result of the profound transformations our country has undergone over the last decade, of extremely difficult and challenging reforms, of the recognition that institutions have now been established, and of the ongoing necessity to consolidate the rule of law, strengthen the space for individual freedoms, and reinforce the fundamental principle of equality before the law.
It is significant that the European Union has confirmed the successful fulfillment of all obligations to date, particularly in the areas related to justice, the fight against corruption, and the functioning of democratic institutions. This is both a reason to be proud and a reason to fully appreciate the weight of responsibility in this final stage, which is not the easiest but the most challenging one.
We have agreed on a timetable with the European Commission to successfully conclude the negotiations by the end of 2027. We have an intermediate period during 2028, and our major objective is Albania’s membership in the European Union by 2030,” Rama stated.
The post “Albania in the Final Stage of European Integration,” Rama: May 26 Is a Historic Date appeared first on Euronews Albania.
