Von der Leyen in Tirana / Bimo: The visit was important! Rama is right on the veto

Roland Bimo, Albania’s former ambassador to the United States, commented on the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Albania during an interview on the “Real Story” programme on ABC News.

Bimo assessed the visit as important, but stressed that the pace of reforms in Albania remains a key issue in the European integration process.

He also dwelt on rule-of-law issues, foreign policy and the debate over the veto in the EU’s decision-making process. According to him, a political compromise in Albania is also needed on these issues.

“Ursula von der Leyen’s visit was very important. But, from a media point of view, it could be described as nothing new from the West. However, when we get into the Commission’s technical report, it means that this pace of reforms, which we were supposed to reach by 2027, will not be reached.

For as long as Kaja Kallas tried to convince us that Albania must take a step forward geopolitically. Albania must make progress on the rule of law. It is not so easy for the veto to be removed. The EU should have carried out a fiscal reform long beforehand. They have agreed on everything, except the foreign affairs part.

Do most Albanians agree that we should be truncated members of the EU?! Rama’s proposal on the veto is right. Does it not strike them that a dimension of the opposition is missing in Albania?! There is no question that this politics needs a compromise,” Bimo said.