The political clash over European integration has this time shifted to statements made by Prime Minister Edi Rama in Italy. Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha accuses Rama of trying to blame Europe for the stalled process, while tying responsibility directly to governance in Albania.
Sharp reaction after the forum in Italy
Berisha reacted after Rama’s speech at an international forum in Italy, where the prime minister spoke about Albania’s integration process into the European Union and the EU’s enlargement policy.
At the core of the opposition’s reaction is the claim that the government is portraying the delay in integration as the result of external factors, while overshadowing internal governance problems.
Clash over responsibility for the delays
According to Berisha, the attempt to shift the blame onto Europe does not hold up. He rejects the prime minister’s version and says the obstacles to the country’s progress toward the EU are linked to the way Albania has been governed.
In his reaction, Berisha ties the situation to strong political accusations against the ruling majority, describing the model built by Rama as responsible for damaging the standards of the rule of law and the country’s credibility in the eyes of European partners.
EU enlargement also enters the debate
Part of the reaction was also a comment on Rama’s statement about the European Union’s enlargement policy. Berisha disputes this reading as well, arguing that bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU is not an accidental development of recent years, but a line long enshrined in European documents.
This shifts the debate from political rhetoric to the essential question: is integration being used as a public argument to avoid the government’s responsibility for reforms, standards, and the domestic political climate?
Political call for Rama’s departure
At the end of his reaction, Berisha turns the message into a direct political demand, presenting Rama’s departure as a condition for restoring the rule of law and for a more secure advancement of Albania.
The statements raise the temperature of the clash between the ruling majority and the opposition on an issue where the government seeks to maintain a narrative of progress, while the opposition insists that integration cannot be separated from accountability for governance.
The debate over the EU thus remains not only a matter of foreign policy, but also an internal battle over political responsibility.
In this confrontation, each side seeks to impose its own framework, but the real weight remains with the facts, reforms, and the credibility of institutions.