Albanian Premier Edi Rama welcomed his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Tirana today for the EU-Western Balkans Summit amid irritation in the Greek media over Rama’s interview with EurActiv. Speaking about EU accession, Rama said Greece cheated in its efforts to join the block.

“…the integration process is an individual-based, merit-based process. We have to fulfill homework criteria standards, and it’s not an exam to be cheated. Even, even if the professors are very inclined to give you a way out. It’s in your best interest that you get this exam right”, Rama said in the interview.

He added that it is crucial to have working institutions and not to “cheat a lot as some neighboring countries did in the past”. When asked to name names, Rama said “Greece”.

Greek Premier Kiriakos Mitsotakis said the maritime borders issue with Albania is “in the process of discussions between the two countries, with a lot of legal complications”, adding that steps forward have been made in the last months.