Rama in Berlin to convince Merkel for the negotiations

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama has started an official visit yesterday in Germany in an attempt to convince the country to provide its support for the opening of negotiations with the European Union. This visit comes a week after the European Commission gave its recommendation for the launch of this process. PM Rama had a meeting with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel to discuss about the reforms being undertaken in Albania and the expectations from these reforms. Afterwards, in a joint press conference that the pair delivered, Merkel has demanded Albanian authorities to strengthen the rule of law and prevent corruption, in order to convince the EU member countries about the progress that Albania has made with the reforms.

“As you know, on April 17^th, the European Commission has recommended for Albania to start accession talks with the European Union. We will discuss this at the EU Council at the end of June”, Merkel said. Meanwhile, Merkel praised Albania’s efforts to deliver the necessary conditions which would enable Albania to start accession talks. According to Merkel, Germany will continue to back the reforms and their implementation with the aim of strengthening the rule of law, fight against corruption and organized crime in Albania. On the other hand, Rama has also had a meeting in the Bundestag with the President of the German parliament, Volfgang Schauble. At the meantime, the German media took a special interest on the visit that the head of the Albanian government carried out in Berlin. “Albania will become part of the European Union, albeit the numerous problems”, writes Die Welt about it.