4 June 2022 Remarks of President of the Republic, H.E. Ilir Meta at the Maltepe Economic Forum Conference “Türkiye and EU in the New Era”
Turkey
“Honorable Maltepe Mayor, Mr. Kılıç,
Honorable Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu,
Dear participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is always a great pleasure to be in beautiful Istanbul, a city with a powerful history, uniquely spread over two continents. This is where Europe and Asia meet and melt with one identity.
Today the concept of identity has become of fundamental importance in its political sense.
Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, has apparently triggered the necessity to redefine the European political community based on shared democratic values and practice.
It has triggered the need to strengthen our Collective Defense Alliance, protecting the inviolability of this security perimeter from any unjustifiable and unprovoked threats.
When the French President Emmanuel Macron introduced the idea of a European Political Community on 9 May 2022, he was responding to the accelerated membership applications tabled by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
Popular solidarity expressed by the European Peoples needed to pair with high-level political commitment.
I must admit that the countries in the Western Balkans, including Albania, were quite perplexed by this initiative, although President Macron would also affirm that for us “the path is already mapped out”, as referred to by the EU Council decision in 2003.
To put it simply, the dilemma surrounded the June European Council meeting, which will have to determine what will the future be for the three new candidate countries, and what will happen with Albania’s and North Macedonia’s opening of accession negotiations.
We understand that European membership is a lengthy process which requires decisive and irreversible reforms. So, yes, homework must be done.
But it is extremely important to note, that although yet far from desired progress, the Western Balkans should not translate in a failed business.
It is my strong conviction that the EU membership promise is key to preserving stability and security in the Western Balkans.
European leaders need to make farsighted big decisions to save the enlargement process and preserve peace, similar to their founding fathers who dared to build it long time ago.
If Europe wants to be big it must think Big. The vision and strategic decisions can only come from within.
We are in an asymmetrical position to impose ourselves to the European decision-makers or force ourselves into the European Union.
Instead, while EU leaders address their credibility towards enlargement policy, we in the region must address our own credibility matching with concrete results.
What we can and must do is focus at home:
1. Prioritize the Fundamentals: Strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Democracy starts with free and fair elections, with accountable institutions, with free media. The rule of law requires implementation of the law, fight against corruption and organized crime, independent and non-captured judiciary. No one will do it for us, we have to do this ourselves.
2. Contribute to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic alliance and the relationship with strategic partners. Fully align our foreign policy with the European Union. Foster inclusive regional cooperation using established forums and mechanisms which can deliver concrete results.
3. Resolutely refuse and discourage support for every project that seeks to alter the European perspective of the region. Beware of attempts to fuel tensions through toxic rhetoric, and provocative actions, as we have already seen during past months.
Last but not least, let me reiterate that we expect to move forward as soon as possible with opening of accession negotiations, with Albania and with North Macedonia, as well as with visa liberalization for Kosova.
These are only legitimate expectations shared by almost all EU members, encouraging a prudent but optimistic outlook for the European future of my country and of the region.