Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Denmark, where he is taking part in the European Political Community Summit, an important platform for dialogue and cooperation among the countries of the continent. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, after which he delivered a statement to the media.
The Prime Minister’s participation in this summit underscores Albania’s commitment to strengthening European cooperation in the areas of security, energy, and integration.
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-What do you say about the criticism to your new AI minister?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Which criticism?
-That it may not be that good against corruption.
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Why?
-Because it is directly to your control.
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Which control? I have to understand your question. Which control do you mean?
-To your control.
Prime Minister Edi Rama: So, I am smarter than the algorithm. I don’t think so. Listen, this is something new, and as every new thing it must face also criticism, which is a good thing, but we have proof so far that it works, and it works greatly.
It has started as virtual assistance for the public services for the citizens, and has interacted with closely 1 million people, or 1 million interactions and services, and it has issued 36,000 documents so far with digital seal that nobody has ever had a problem to contest it.
Secondly, it’s working for the transfer of the European Union legislation to our legislation to follow the accession talks from Albania for Europe and thirdly, now it’s scaling up for the public vendors that is still work progress, so criticism is good, but she is better.
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Prime Minister Edi Rama: We are not waiting, we are running, we are running very fast, and we will be ready very soon and it’s up to the big guys in the room not to wait anymore but to embrace us and to bring us in because we will be great value to the European Union.
Albania has been a target for cyberattacks in the past. What’s there discussed in the EU?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: We have been a target, yes, but we have today one of the strongest cyber defenses in Europe and as a matter of fact, although we are still a target of an enemy named Iran, we are pushing back all the time, and they are not succeeding to breach our security.
–Are there any lessons EU can learn from Albania?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Many, very many lessons to act like one and to converge everything that has to do with safety and security, which is not the case.
There is still a lot of back and forth when it comes to information and data, and the most important to not only scale up in military, but to have a European peace plan.
-Do you think there is still value in the EPC format
This is the best that has happened so far after the European Union itself. It’s the future of Europe and more. We push in this direction better, because in the meantime, others are emerging very strong, and although Europe, as a whole, has big mass in terms of people, in terms of economy, it looks very weak, exactly because it’s not all together.
– How will cooperation with Albania be, especially in the field of energy?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: Azerbaijan and Albania already have a peace deal— since we were at war, now we are in a fantastic peace.
-What do you think about the peace process between Azerbaijan and Albania?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: I think it’s fantastic because we have been waiting for it for some time. It happened thanks to the leadership of both heads of state and the last push from the U.S. President, because we must give him the credit for this — and it’s a great thing.
-Prime Minister, what are our challenges for security in Europe, and in the Western Balkans?
Prime Minister Edi Rama: I believe one of the biggest security challenges in Europe and the Western Balkans is the fact that Europe does not have its own peace plan and relies on others. So, as soon as Europe has its own peace plan, it will be safer and more secure. That’s my understanding.
