The Chairman of the Democratic Union for Integration in North Macedonia, Ali Ahmeti, after the meeting with the Prime Minister Edi Rama and the heads of the political parties in North Macedonia in Tirana, stated that the integration of the two countries in the EU was the key word of the meeting. In a statement to the media, Ahmeti said that the emphasis was also placed on the co-ordination of the experiences of the two countries to shorten the path to full membership to the EU, as one of the ways to stop immigration.

“All attention was focused on common developments, the common journey that Albania and North Macedonia have made towards the opening of negotiations for EU membership. There was a lecture by the Prime Minister of Albania about the challenges, the joint efforts that have been made together with our country, as well as the efforts that must be made together after the end of the screening towards the opening of the first chapter for membership in the European Union. The tiring work that has been left behind, the predictions were that the road will be much more difficult, the difficulties that await us ahead. So the two countries should coordinate in exchange for experiences to shorten the path to full membership to the EU, as one of the almost only ways to stop immigration from our two countries, as a moment that should serve us to engage in strengthening the standards that bring us closer to the EU and to prevent the departure of citizens. The example of Spain and Portugal was also mentioned, since the moment they became members of the EU, the vast majority of Spaniards and Portuguese returned to their countries. That was the gist of the conversation. Leaving the country can only be stopped by aligning the standards with the standards of Western Europe. The whole essence of the conversation was this. Rama’s advice was to co-communicate, cooperate on various issues that concern Albanians”, said Ahmeti.

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