Edi Rama claims EU membership promises to Ukraine are lies

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that promises made to Ukraine regarding European Union membership are “lies,” arguing that Kyiv will likely never be admitted through the standard, lengthy accession process. In an interview with Die Welt, Rama suggested that instead of requiring Ukraine to fulfill every traditional criterion and negotiate all individual chapters, the EU should involve them in negotiations immediately and grant full membership based on achieved progress.

Rama compared the situation to the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall, noting that East Germany was not required to complete 33 negotiation chapters to join the European space. He also characterized the Western Balkans as an “open abdominal cavity” in the center of Europe, warning that leaving the region outside the bloc creates a vacuum that invites “viruses” such as Russia, radical Islam, and organized crime.

To remain competitive against powers like China, the United States, and India, Rama advocated for EU enlargement and the abolition of the single-country veto power to prevent individual governments from stalling critical strategic developments.