Murders in Albania/ Rama: Even Brussels has crime

2025-11-19 21:15:00, Politikë CNA

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has given an interview to foreign media. During the interview with Euronews, Rama spoke about negotiations and criminal events or corruption in the country.

According to Rama, crime and corruption are serious problems but not exclusive to Tirana. "Brussels also has crime," the Prime Minister declared.

Rama further stated that Albania deserves a place at the EU table, citing reforms and public support.

Rama said that Albania has undergone a transformation and is committed to European integration. He argued that the country has a history of belonging to great empires and the EU is a good empire to guarantee freedom and the rule of law.

The European Commission has recognized the reform process under Rama's leadership, indicating that the country may be able to join the bloc by the end of the decade, provided that the pace of reforms remains the same.

The country of 2.3 million people, roughly the size of the city of Prague, could easily be absorbed by the bloc in terms of both population and economic impact.

However, the Commission indicated in its enlargement report published last month that Albania needs to strengthen efforts to fight organised crime, improve systems to prevent money laundering and combat human trafficking, as essential to align with EU standards.

Rama told Euronews that crime and corruption are serious issues and his government treats them as such, but he also added that criminality and organized crime are not exclusive to Tirana.

"People used to think that Albania was this miserable hole in the middle of Europe, now they see it as part of the European mosaic," he said on Euronews' flagship program, The Europe Conversation.

"Do we have problems with organized crime? Yes, but who doesn't? Look at this city (Brussels). This is another example. But there are also great things."

Close ties with Italy

Rama, who was in Brussels this week to attend a European Commission forum on enlargement, said his European counterparts have shown support for Albania's accession to the bloc and noted his close relationship with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

For a country to join the EU, beyond the completion of technical negotiations with the Commission, it must receive the unanimous political approval of all member states.

Albania and Italy signed an agreement in 2023, in which the Rama administration agreed to host migration centers, built, paid for and monitored by Italian authorities. The agreement has drawn international attention, but also criticism for handing over Europe's borders to a third country and violating fundamental principles of asylum law.

Rama defended the deal, saying it was a bilateral agreement between Meloni and his administration at a time when Italy needed help with migrants. He said his government does not regret the decision and does not consider it a loss of sovereignty.

"Italy asked us. And when Italy asks, we always say yes," he added. "Italians are Albanians wearing Versace."

Rama has ruled out expanding the "Albanian model" to more countries beyond Italy, even if the system has been proposed by other member states in Europe as an option, as Europe pursues a tougher stance on migration./ CNA