TIRANA, March 7 – German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz has announced in the meeting with the visiting Prime Minister, Edi Rama that the Berlin Process Summit will be held in Tirana on October 16.
“Preparations for it have progressed. The summit will take place on October 16. The Summit of the Berlin Process will take place in the capital of a Western Balkan country for the first time in the nearly 10-year history of the Process. The Berlin process has shown since 2014 what potential there is in the comprehensive cooperation of the 6 Western Balkan states. At the last meeting in November, the participants signed three important agreements for the creation of the common regional market. Albania led by example and in January was the first country in the region to ratify all three agreements. This is a good model for the region and important progress because the 4 basic freedoms are guaranteed in a common market in the region,” said Scholz.
The German Chancellor also spoke about the integration of Albania in the EU and according to him there is progress in Albania regarding that.
The German chancellor has also set three tasks to the Albanian government for EU integration. He said that it is important to respect the rule of law, free and independent media, strengthening security and good bilateral relations on the road to the EU.
“Rapid integration is of strategic importance. We would like to welcome you as members as soon as possible because Albania’s progress is a very good signal. The essence of the negotiations remains the rule of law against members of criminal networks who are indicted and convicted,” he said.
Further the Chancellor said that an economic environment with legal certainty and transparency is needed.
As far as the war in Ukraine is concerned Scholtz said “we must be committed, so I want to thank Albania for its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, supporting EU policy decisions. The government should remain a reliable partner towards the EU,” said the Chancellor.
Rama’s visit to Berlin took place within the framework of Albania’s hosting role of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans, a role which Prime Minister Rama assumed at the Berlin Process Summit on November 3, 2022.
It is reported that Rama met, among others, with high representatives of German business. He also visited the International Tourism Fair, which annually welcomes about 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries and regions, among which the Albanian stand is. /Argumentum.al
