Despite the skepticism showed by MEP Kati Piri and Dutch Labor Party leader Ludvik Asher that Balkan countries are not ready to join the European family, Prime Minister Edi Rama says the opening of negotiations should not be confused with EU membership.

In an interview for the Dutch newspaper De Folfskrant, Rama sees the beginning of negotiations as an encouragement to further the reforms.

“The European Commission’s last recommendation to launch membership negotiations with Albania does not mean EU membership but a new  reform therapy and a work focused on the results. With accession negotiations, Albania will have the means to direct the reform process properly, and the Netherlands and Europe will have stronger control over this process, both legally and politically”.

Further, Rama says he accepts the critical position of the Netherlands, but calls on Dutch politicians to be more objective and far-sighted.

“Do not be only strict, but also right. We are already implementing reforms on an unprecedented scale for pre-accession negotiations. This comes from the facts and evidence of big work”.

The Netherlands is on the list of skeptical countries for opening negotiations. The next step is  in June, when it will be learned if the European Council will give the approval to grant the candidate country for Albania and Macedonia./tvklan.al