Agreement with Italy, Rama: Reception center with EU standards, we are giving a little help to a country with which we are deeply connected

Prime Minister Edi Rama declared yesterday in an interview for the French public television "France24" that the agreement with Italy for immigrants foresees the construction of a reception center with the same standard as in all the countries of the European Union. The Prime Minister emphasized that the fact that this agreement is made with a non-member country causes not only news, but also conspiracy theories and suspicions that are not serious. "A very simple reason must be emphasized. It is true that Albania is not yet a member of the EU, but it is a fully European country, neighboring Italy, and if the same agreement had been made with an EU country, it would not be news of the day at all. But the fact that this agreement is made with a non-member country causes, not only news, but also conspiracy theories and suspicions that are not serious, for me. If we raise questions about the method, we must raise questions about the entire European Union, we must raise questions about the method in all EU countries, because these reception centers are not new," said Rama. According to him, it is about a reception center that is standard in all EU countries. "Why should we be scandalized if it is externalized from a European Union country to a fully European country that is a neighbor of this European country? We should not be scandalized by this, we should think about how we should all react to this phenomenon that is getting bigger and bigger and that no one has given an answer to. Maybe the reception centers are not the real solution, but it is not up to us to remind Europe", he said. Rama emphasized that we are giving a little help to a neighboring country. "On the other hand, I must say that it is not about 36,000 people, but about a reception center with 3,000 places available. This means that there will be 3000 people in Albania and no more, if there is rotation this is something normal, there may be more people who are expected and whose request is examined in Albania. We are simply giving a little help to a country that is not only a neighbor, but with which we have been deeply connected for a long time," said Rama.