Addressing European leaders in the House of Europe, Rama said the Balkans have learned through conflict that peace has no rival. He called for a shift in focus from defense to shared progress, rooted in knowledge, cooperation, and hope.
“The greatest euro-optimists live not in Paris or Berlin, but in Tirana and Podgorica,” Rama said, reflecting on the region’s deep belief in the European ideal despite enduring war, migration, and economic collapse.
He proposed a new initiative: a European Political Community of education, science, and artificial intelligence. “Why not imagine an alliance beyond weaponry?” he asked. “A space for innovation and research without bureaucracy or fiscal barriers—even for non-EU countries.”
Rama argued that Europe must be more than a fortress—it must be a shared spirit, a common destiny, and a future built together. “Let’s invest not only in defense, but in minds and hearts that carry Europe’s soul forward.”
He urged a revival of post-Cold War momentum, comparing today’s opportunity to the flood of investment that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. “That wave lifted the East—let’s do it again for Europe’s new frontiers.”
