Albania PM welcomes Giorgia Meloni by kneeling on red carpet

Torrential rain couldn’t dampen the charisma of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama as he welcomed more than 40 European leaders on Friday for a high-profile meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), with giving a warm reception to Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni to Tirana by kneeling red carpet. 

Fresh off a landslide electoral victory that secured him a fourth term, Rama used the gathering to showcase both Albania’s European ambitions and his signature theatrical flair. 

He has vowed to lead Albania into the European Union by 2030 and took the summit as an opportunity to reinforce that commitment.

For the occasion Rama greeted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by kneeling on the red carpet, a gesture he’s known to reserve for his Italian sister.

Rama twirled a navy-blue umbrella as he greeted each arriving guest with charm and personalised quips. He made a point of escorting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the venue, the Tirana Opera House, where leaders held closed-door discussions on regional cooperation, security, and the future of Europe.

Posting on Instagram ahead of the event, Rama wrote, “with thanks to the good friends of Europe, I wish you a nice day.”

Despite days of sunshine prior to the summit, the skies opened up just in time for the arrivals, a twist Rama used to take a lighthearted jab at one particular delegation.

The European Political Community meeting marked a symbolic moment for Albania, as it continues to position itself as a rising voice in the region with strong aspirations toward full EU membership. Under Rama's leadership, Albania is increasingly playing host not only to diplomatic gatherings but to the broader European conversation.