After years stuck in the EU's waiting room, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama described the initiation of formal EU accession talks as 'historic' and 'emotional,' stating, 'there is no turning back.' He emphasized the significance of full EU membership for the country's future, equating alternatives to it with relinquishing a hard-won way of life. Rama highlighted the urgency of this transition as 'a matter of life or death,' with aspirations for individual freedom, rule of law, and functioning democracy.
Rama's target for Albania's EU accession by 2030 underscores both ambition and uncertainty. He admitted that while it is an 'ambitious' goal, there are no specific timelines in the EU accession process, which can extend for years. Echoing concerns regarding the EU's history of reluctance towards enlargement, Michael Emerson remarked that the process has often been more about 'pretending the enlargement process is alive' rather than making tangible progress, as steps offered have frequently been superficial.
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