TIRANA, June 19 – An Albanian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha, and the European Union represented by EU foreign commissioner Javier Solana, met in Luxembourg to review the country’s continuing legislative and economic reforms required for EU membership.
Solana made it clear to Albania that the EU considered election of a president by consensus as a basic condition so that Albania shows continuing political maturity. Of course, said Solana, the EU did not expect Albania to violate its own constitution.
Solana also said that Albania did not want snap elections at this time, but political stability.
Albania signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with EU in June 2006. That has been ratified by a dozen countries and more have pledged to do that this year.
After the full ratification, then Albania must fulfill the other provisions before reaching the stage of becoming a candidate for full EU membership. There is no time fixed for the vote on membership by the EU.
The EU has set aside 270 million Euros in assistance for Albania for the 2007-2009 period.
Albania, EU meet to review progress towards EU membership
Change font size:
Latest from News
Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite
Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia
Change font size: - + Reset by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies
How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation
Change font size: - + Reset By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had
Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight
Change font size: - + Reset Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s
Albania Joins the Peace Board
Change font size: - + Reset Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing