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Rama for POLITICO: Serbia will not join the EU before Albania

Edi Rama; Photo: Prime Minister's Office

BRUSSELS – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told POLITICO that he is sure that Serbia will not join the EU before Albania, despite being designated as one of the front-runners for EU membership.

According to Rama, Serbia has to go through the process of recognizing Kosovo or at least solving the Kosovo problem.

“I strongly believe some magic has to happen — which will not happen — so that they get into the EU before us.” said Rama.

The Albanian Prime Minister also touched upon the anticipated European Commision country report on Albania – due to be published in April – and the prospects of Albania opening enlargement negotiations.

“We strongly believe the Commission report should be positive”, Rama said.

POLITICO reminds that even though Rama is seen as a centre-left pragmatist in the West, many accuse him of badly treating the country’s journalists and media.

According to Rama, Albania is lagging behind other countries in their EU integration path due to undertaking a very important judiciary reform, which is a key requirement for opening accession talks.

“We have done exactly what we were asked to do so this process should be fair and should be predictable and should be merit-based,” said the Albanian Prime Minister.

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