Editorial: Albania and the EU: After positive recommendation, challenges remain

There was good news for Albania this week as the European Commission published its progress report, recommending that member states approve opening accession negotiations. The recommendation now goes to the European Council for approval at its meeting in June. The Council, which is made up of member state top representatives and which needs a unanimous decision on the matter, makes the final decision to approve it then and there or to delay it until the next meeting in December, pending and additional conditions. Albania is at this point accustomed to snail-paced progress in its bid for EU membership, and expectations…