On Tuesday, Albania took a significant step in its journey toward European Union membership by opening its first group chapters for negotiations. The occasion was marked by a joint press conference featuring Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, and EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi. During the event, Rama made waves by highlighting the absurdity of the EU’s handling of integration processes, particularly in relation to its neighbor, North Macedonia.
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| Prime Minister Rama with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi |
In a move reminiscent of a comedic stand-up routine, Rama criticized Bulgaria for blocking North Macedonia’s EU integration, citing bilateral disputes as the root of the issue. He sarcastically suggested that Albania could just as easily claim that historical figures like Albert Einstein or Napoleon Bonaparte were actually Albanian. After all, if we’re going to play the identity game, why not throw in some of history’s heavyweights?
"Preventing North Macedonia—and hopefully not creating South Macedonia—is a severe disservice to a nation, its people, and the entire region," Rama declared, throwing shade at the bureaucratic hurdles that the EU seems to relish in erecting. "I love Alexander the Great; we all do, but I don’t want to know where he was born. I’m not claiming my share of his genes. We have many Albanians who claim that Napoleon was Albanian. Do we want to stir up a bilateral issue with France over that? Because next, we might end up with a bilateral agreement about Corsica."
Rama’s remarks are a witty commentary on the absurdity of using historical grievances to block progress in regional integration. The irony isn’t lost: while countries in the Balkans are striving to align with EU standards and norms, the EU’s gatekeeping feels almost comical—like watching a game of musical chairs where the music just won’t stop, leaving everyone standing awkwardly.
One can’t help but compare the EU’s approach to that of a stern schoolmaster, constantly enforcing rules and regulations while the students (Albania and its neighbors) are left scrambling to prove their worth. It’s as if the EU is waiting for Albania to pull off a miraculous feat akin to Einstein’s theory of relativity or Napoleon’s military genius before granting full access to the club.
The question arises: will the EU ever recognize the potential of the Balkans without convoluted negotiations and bureaucratic hurdles? The region is rich in culture, history, and potential, yet it seems the EU prefers to keep a tight leash on its hopeful members, blocking paths rather than paving them.
Rama aptly concluded with a plea for the EU to allow countries to grow and develop their institutions without constantly throwing obstacles in their way. After all, if Einstein can be claimed by both Germany and Albania, then surely the EU can find it in its heart to allow the Balkans a little leeway in their pursuit of membership.
In a world where national identities are often used as tools for division, perhaps it’s time for the EU to adopt a more inclusive approach. After all, if claiming historic figures becomes the new norm for negotiations, one can only wonder who will be next in line for Albanian ancestry—perhaps Shakespeare or Cleopatra? The possibilities are endless, and the absurdity only highlights the need for genuine progress in the region.