Albania in a long EU integation process

TIRANA, Feb. 3 – Czech Stefen Fuele, who is expected to start work as the 27-country bloc’s enlargement chief next week, says the EU can grow during the five-year term and the executive European Commission says expansion is on track.
But still for Albania that is a long road to cover.
After signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement last year, it applied for candidate status. The questionnaire was handed over in December and now the government is preparing thousands of answers. Following that the EU is to consider and if pleased will give that status. Following that for many years to come Albania and its authroities should comnply with all the required standards to become an EU member.
Most countries hoping to join the European Union face a long wait because the bloc has shifted its focus to institutional reforms and economic problems and “enlargement fatigue” has set in across the EU.
Meanwhile Tirana and other EU hopefuls should also take into consideration the fact that enlargement is likely to be held up by internal EU disagreements, bilateral disputes facing some would-be members, and the EU’s decision to focus mainly on the economy and implementing reforms under its new Lisbon treaty.
Countries that want to join the EU include Turkey, Iceland, Albania and all the former Yugoslav republics except Slovenia, which acceded in 2004. Iceland and Croatia hope to join in 2012.
To succeed, they must implement any economic and political reforms that are needed to meet EU standards and bring their laws into line with those of the Union.
The international media also reports that in addition to this process, which can take many years at the best of times, would-be members face other obstacles.
Opinion polls suggest EU citizens are concerned by the cost of inviting in poorer countries from southern Europe when the bloc is still coping with the global financial crisis, according to Reuters news agency.
Some EU leaders also show little interest in enlargement while reforms are being implemented under the Lisbon treaty, which came into force on December 1, even though the treaty is intended to streamline decision-making that has become unwieldy since the accession of 10 countries in 2004 and two in 2007.
Fuele, who will start his new job provided the European Parliament approves the new Commission on February 9, encouraged prospective members by strongly defending enlargement during an approval hearing in the assembly last month.
“Enlargement has transformed my country and my life. It has restored hope and dignity to millions of people,” he said.
He also said there could be no short cuts to membership and accession was “a demanding task for which one must be totally prepared.”