Prime Minister Edi Rama met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during an official visit to Berlin on Monday. After the bilateral meeting, they held a joint press conference, in which Merkel expressed her heartiest congratulations to the Prime Minister and to all the citizens of Albania, and wished Albania a good development.

“We can note today that Albania has changed fundamentally in recent years, and that important steps have been taken and will continue to be undertaken. The European Commission is continually monitoring progress in Albania and has also recognized this progress in its latest country report. I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Edi Rama on this progress,” said Merkel.

She added that the Federal Republic of Germany has tried to support Albania repeatedly in the past, for example by sending representatives to the European legal mission EURALIUS.

“This has made a decisive contribution to the fact that the reform of the judiciary has now also been put into practice and has become right. Now, of course, it is a matter of continuing along this path. The European Commission has identified five priorities. This includes, among other things, the sustainable implementation of this judicial reform. This includes, of course, the fight against organized crime and corruption. In this context, permanent action is on the agenda, and the European Commission has said so. Of course, with a view to the elections, Albania will certainly be closely coordinated with the OSCE,” said Merkel.

According to her, anyone who is looking at the domestic political clashes knows that it takes a lot of strength and courage to carry this route.

“We will then discuss in detail how Germany can help to ensure that this path is successfully mastered,” Chancellor Merkel stated.

On his part, PM Rama thanked her for the invitation to come to Berlin on November 28, on Albania’s national holiday, 104 years after the Declaration of Independence and at a very important moment for Albania on the way to full integration into the European Union. He also thanked Merkel for finding time to meet with him again, despite her extremely tight agenda, officially for the third time within three years.

“The Albanians in Albania, but also in Kosovo and throughout our region, are deeply indebted to you for the energetic support that Germany and you personally have given for the creation of conditions to bring peace to the Balkans and a new quality of regional cooperation. The Berlin process has developed into a broad field of cooperation, communication and exchange between states and citizens of our region,” said Rama.

He underlined that this very positive situation in the Balkan region is not taken for granted by these countries. However, he added that third parties are also active as actors who will exploit any uncertainty, ambiguity and vacuum to disrupt relations with the European Union.

“The process of European integration for our region should be an honest and also foreseeable process. Albania and Albanians do not demand anything they have not earned on their way to the European Union. We have never seen our homework as a burden which foreigners have imposed on us, but as a confession to our children,” declared the Albanian PM.

He added that in this sense, Albania has been making profound reforms over the last three years. “I am very proud today that you have told me that we have your support to become a member of the European Union. At the same time, we are proud that we have anchored this wish in our constitution. Albania understands and supports the conditions of the European Commission that the so-called vetting law should be implemented before we proceed (on the way to the EU),” declared Rama.

He expressed his belief that Albania deserves the same loyalty that Albania has shown to the European Union.

“Thanks to your policy, which is inspired by the European spirit, Albania also gets something back. I would once again like to express my conviction that not only Albania needs the European Union, but that the European Union also needs Albania. I would like to express my guarantee that we will continue to work hard, just as we have not yet abused your confidence, so that one day we are ready to become a member of the European Union,” stated the Albanian PM.

Moreover, Edi Rama also met with the President of the Bundestag, Norbert Lammert. He said in a status on Facebook that he received full understanding and clear expression of Germany’s support for Albania.