Albania sees itself in EU by 2014

Albania expects to qualify as signatory to a Stabilisation and
Association Agreement with the EU in 2005, and sees itself as a
full EU member in 2014.

According to Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, Tirana will be
ready to conclude a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)
with the EU in 2005. Furthermore, since “in 2014 we will celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which seems a
perfect date for a new enlargement”, Nano told French news
agency AFP that Albania expects to be part of that projected
enlargement round.

“The SAA negotiations with Albania are continuing”, Enlargement
Commissioner Olli Rehn told the European Parliament’s Foreign
Affairs Committee on 18 January. “Progress will depend on the
parliamentary elections [due before July 2005] and the pace of
reforms,” said Rehn. However, he added that “I am concerned about
the political climate in Albania, which is currently not conducive
to reform and could affect preparations for the forthcoming
elections”.

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