A worsening showdown across the Atlantic could spell trouble for the candidate country.
BRUSSELS — A growing rift between Brussels and Washington threatens to overshadow Albania’s efforts to join the European Union as it faces a critical election.
Public and private messages from allies of U.S. President Donald Trump about the country’s future trajectory, and its plans to implement key economic reforms as part of its EU membership application lodged in 2009, are cause for worry, according to two EU officials, who were granted anonymity to speak to POLITICO outside of usual communications channels.
Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has governed Albania since 2013, has made EU membership by 2030 a key part of his campaign ahead of parliamentary elections on May 11. The flamboyant center-left politician has even unveiled a mocked-up Albanian EU passport and promised that citizens will have the right to travel, study and work across the continent.
Meanwhile, the conservative Democratic Party of Albania, the largest opposition group standing against Rama’s government, has hired former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita in February to lead its political strategy. The party has led protests claiming that the vote would be neither free nor fair because of Rama’s influence on the country’s institutions, while video platform TikTok has been banned by the government ahead of the poll.
LaCivita told POLITICO last month that Europeans were « stupid » and accused Rama of being a « puppet of George Soros, » invoking a popular far-right conspiracy about the billionaire Jewish financier.
According to LaCivita, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha « is a true friend of the United States and who will successfully work with President Trump and the United States, » while Rama’s policies have meant « Albania is losing the best. Young people and professionals are leaving. »
But, asked by POLITICO whether the U.S. administration was seen to be putting undue pressure on Albania to change its pro-European course, Rama wrote in a text message that the suggestion was « FAKE NEWS. »
Transatlantic troubles
As part of the process of joining the EU, the Balkan nation would have to align its economic rules with Brussels’ — just as Washington amps up its trade war with the bloc.
Nancy VanHorn, chargé d’affaires at the American Embassy in Albania, last week hosted a meeting with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce and « discussed how a more favorable investment climate could attract a larger U.S. presence in the local economy, » according to an official readout.
A spokesperson for the European Commission insisted that, as a candidate country, Albania already has access to « thriving » investment opportunities.
« Candidate countries want to join the European Union because they see it as the most important and reliable way to ensure their own peace, stability and long-term prosperity. Ultimately, it is for each country to decide its own future and which path it wants to take, » the official said.
Key reforms as part of the EU accession process « also contribute to creating a stable and predictable economic and legal system that is conducive for attracting foreign investments, » the spokesperson added.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, held talks with Rama earlier this month in the capital, Tirana. « It’s vital to sustain the high pace of reforms. And I also understand that the reforms are always quite difficult, » she said. « Albania’s future is in the European Union. »
According to Ivana Stradner, an expert on foreign interference in the Balkans and research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, it would be unsurprising that some with links to the White House had sought to warn prospective member countries off joining the EU, given President Trump has claimed the bloc exists « to screw the United States » on trade.
However, she added, the administration would be better off « fully supporting Albania’s EU accession as it would contribute to the rule of law in the country and protect U.S. investments and businesses in southeastern Europe. »
However, Kreshnik Çollaku, a Democratic Party MP who serves on the Albanian parliamentary commission for foreign and European affairs insisted the decision to hire the former Trump staffer showed only that « our relationship with the U.S. has been normalized and strengthened. »
He denied that any « relevant figures » from his faction had held talks with Washington about backing away from accession talks.
« You can’t set a price on Albania’s EU integration. Membership has been a firm 34-year aspiration for the country and is intrinsically tied to our identity, » he added.
Gabriel Gavin and Nicholas Vinocur reported from Brussels. Una Hajdari reported from Belgrade.
