LUXEMBOURG / ALBANIA: Albania makes first move towards EU membership with signing of Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)

Record ID: 564955

  • Title: LUXEMBOURG / ALBANIA: Albania makes first move towards EU membership with signing of Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)
  • Date: 13th June 2006
  • Summary: PEOPLE ON STREET (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVADBP53IHYSCH6YY5UCH21BB854
  • Story Text: Albania signed an agreement on Monday (June 12) taking a first step towards membership of the European Union, but the EU's executive stressed the country faced a long and difficult path of reform before it could join.
    Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement at a ceremony during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
    But the EU stressed during the ceremony the importance it gave to Albania's duty to fight crime and corruption
    The document legally defines the relationship between Albania and the European Union as Tirana works towards membership and is a first step on the ladder to EU membership, which is not expected for Albania before 2015.
    For the European Union presidency, Ursula Plassnik, Austria's Foreign Minister, said the signature carried with it a big challenge for Albania and called on all political forces to unite.
    "These ladies and gentlemen are formidable challenges. To be successful all political forces in Albania should unify their efforts," she said.
    Rehn said the European Union welcomed the progress that the poor, once reclusive Stalinist state of 3.5 million citizens had made in reforms, including fighting organised crime.
    "Albania still faces difficult reform challenges,: Rehn said.
    "The Stabilisation and Association Agreement indeed provides a solid framework for Albania to address these challenges and for us European Union to support Albania in doing so," he added.
    Berisha described the agreement as an historical landmark towards the fulfilment of Albanians' dream to return and reunite with their European family.
    And he said the EU could be reassured that his country was dealing with crime and corruption.
    "Albania's organised crime and corruption are being uprooted and wiped out and soon Albania will be among the safest countries in the region. At the same time our thanks to the commitment of the United States and EU member countries the Balkan have changed from a region of wars and violent conflict just a few years ago into a region of cooperation, friendship and regional and European integration," Berisha said.
    In Tirana, the head of the Albanian parliament, Jozefina Topalli, said Monday was an historic day.
    "I am sure that the 12th of June 2006 will be a long remembered date in Albanian history," she said.
    "And this not only due to the fact that a long dreamed about, a much wished for act will be formalised, but also because it is the beginning of the first phase, which is a very important first step realised in those 15 years. It is the beginning of the first chapter that requires all our efforts and forces us to share with Europe all the geographical, historical and human parameters that rightfully have always belonged to us," she added.
    On the streets of Tirana there seemed to be a lot of support for the move.
    "I think that this activity will bring a lot of good to the people. I am of the opinion that every government when it comes into power does its best for the people and to bring about an increase in living standards. I think this is very good, because our people need a lot of good stuff," said Tirana resident and retired artist, Shaban Miolli.
    But others still had their suspicions that the future did not look bright.
    "I do not trust these people (Albanian politicians) because history has shown that these are people without initiative or courage and this is evident by our leaders. I think the future is dark," said Suzana.
    Albania has received about 1 billion euros (1.26 billion US dollars) in EU aid since it toppled communism in 1990, but has been urged repeatedly to step up its fight against graft and criminality.
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