From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Albanian EU accession bid |
 |
|
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EU |
Albania |
| PPP GDP ($M) |
15,247,000 |
21,160 |
| Area (km²) |
4,324,782 |
28,748 |
| Population |
501,259,840 |
3,195,000[1] |
|
|
|
|
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Albania applied for European Union membership on 28 April 2009. Officially recognized by the EU as a "potential candidate country", Albania started negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement in 2003. This was successfully agreed and signed on 12 June 2006, thus completing the first major step toward Albania's full membership in the EU.
Following the steps of the recently admitted Eastern European countries in 2004, Albania has been extensively engaged with EU institutions, and joined NATO as a full member in 2009. It has also maintained its position as a stability factor and a strong ally of Western Europe in the troubled and divided region of the Balkans.[2]
Following its application for EU membership, the Council of the European Union asked the European Commission on 16 November 2009 to prepare an assessment on the readiness of Albania to start accession negotiations, a step in the accession process that usually takes about a year.[3] On December 16, 2009 the European Commission submitted the Questionnaire on accession preparation to the Albanian government. Albania returned answers to them on April 14 2010.[4] The Commission's opinion will be submitted to the Council in the course of 2010.
[edit] Chronology of the relations with the European Union
- 1992: Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Albania. Albania becomes eligible for funding under the EU Phare programme.
- 1997: Regional Approach. The EU Council of Ministers establishes political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations.
- 1999: The EU proposes the new Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) for five countries of South-Eastern Europe, including Albania.
- 1999: Albania benefits from Autonomous Trade Preferences with the EU.
- 2000: Extension of duty-free access to EU market for products from Albania.
- 2000: Feira European Council (June 2000) states that all the SAP countries are "potential candidates" for EU membership.
- 2000: at Zagreb Summit (November), the SAP is officially endorsed by the EU and the Western Balkan countries (including Albania).
- 2001: First year of the new CARDS programme specifically designed for the SAP countries
- 2001: The Commission recommends the undertaking of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Albania. The Göteborg European Council (June 2001) invites the Commission to present draft negotiating directives for the negotiation of a SAA.
- 2002: Negotiating Directives for the negotiation of a SAA with Albania are adopted in October.
- 2003: On 31 January, Commission President Prodi officially launches the negotiations for a SAA between the EU and Albania.
- 2003: at Thessaloniki Summit (June), the SAP is confirmed as the EU policy for the Western Balkans. The EU perspective for these countries is confirmed (countries participating in the SAP are eligible for EU accession and may join the EU once they are ready).
- 2005 (December): Council decision on the principles of a revised European Partnership for Albania
- 2006 : On 12 June, the SAA was signed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg
- 2006 : On 9 November, the European Commission decided to start visa facilitation negotiations with Albania.
- 2007 : On 13 April, the visa facilitation agreement was signed in Zagreb. The signing EU Commissioner Franco Frattini was quoted saying that this is the first step toward a full abolishment of the visa requirements and the free movement of the Albanian citizens in the EU.
- 2008 : On 1 January, the visa facilitation agreement entered into force.
- 2008 : On 7 March, EU Commissioner Franco Frattini opened in Tirana the dialogue toward the liberalisation of the visa regime between Albania and EU.
- 2009 : On 14 January, the SAA ratification process by all the member states was completed.
- 2009 : On April 1, the SAA entered into force.
- 2009 : On April 28, Albania formally applied for membership in the European Union.
- 2009 : On November 16, the Council of the EU asked the European Commission to prepare an assessment on Albania's readiness to start accession negotiations.[5]
- 2009 : On December 16, the European Commission submitted the Questionnaire on accession preparation to the Albanian government.
- 2010 : On April 14, Albania submitted answers to the European Commission's Questionnaire.[6]
- 2010 : On May 27, the European Commission proposed visa free travel for Albania. The adopted proposal will enable citizens of Albania to travel to Schengen countries without needing a short term visa. [7]
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[edit] Further reading
[edit] See also
