Edi Rama

Germany's credibility was always high in the Western Balkans, much of it due to Merkel, whose Germany has been crucial to shaping the debate on EU enlargement to the region.

However, in order to maintain this credibility, the next German government will have to adapt to new challenges and circumstances pertaining to the region.

The Albanian government has come under criticism from the opposition and rights groups after it decided on Saturday to establish a new Agency for Media and Information that will centralise the government's media messaging, sparking allegations that Prime Minister Edi Rama's administration is seeking to evade media scrutiny.

He chose a well-respected professional lawyer and an equally respected scientist, both from civil society, to head his Socialist Party list.

Today, neither of those women is part of parliament. Rama, the so-called "women-promoter" and "gender champion", ditched both of them.

He brought them in and escorted them out. It was all a personal decision done for personal gain.

Moreover, on his priority list is to launch the "Open Balkans" initiative.
Also, his priority is the launch of the "Open Balkans" initiative, i.e. the implementation of the agreement reached on July 29 by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vui, Edi Rama and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev.

Angela Merkel visited the Albanian capital Tirana on Tuesday, the last stop on a brief farewell Balkan tour which saw the German chancellor encourage the countries in the region to push ahead with reforms to improve their chances of joining the European Union.

After leaving Belgrade, she arrived in Tirana, where she was welcomed by the Prime Minister of that country, Edi Rama.
Media in the region remind what Merkel said when she arrived in the Western Balkans in 2015.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will visit Belgrade on Monday, where she will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss political and economic cooperation and the EU integration process.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced his new cabinet following the April 25 elections, creating a new record in the country by giving women 12 of the 16 posts in his team.

As it is stated, that is the strategic interest of both sides.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Vrhelyi pointed out that the issue of enlargement is not only the geographical enlargement of the EU, but it is about ensuring political, economic and even security integration.

He will be the only politician from the region to speak at a panel dedicated to the future of Europe, together with the leaders of the European Union.
However, before participating in the forum, he met with Edi Rama and Zoran Zaev, and he shared that on his Instagram profile.
"Bled Forum in the shadow of the Open Balkans! Welcome dear friends," Vucic wrote.