Albania more reforms for European membership efforts, says Rehn

TIRANA, Oct 22 – European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that 2009 will be the year of the Balkans, even if the Lisbon Treaty blockage impedes further EU enlargement.
On Albania he again repeated the now so much used saying of doing more and deeper reforms to comply with and fulfill the requirements based on the Stabilization and Association Agreement which the country has signed two years ago.
On Serbia he said that if Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz gives a positive report on Serbia’s cooperation with the Tribunal, the SAA may come into force and it would be realistic to work towards Serbia obtaining candidate status before the end of 2009.
Next year will be the year of the Balkans, especially because by then accession negotiations with Croatia will be over, the commissioner said.
A number of European officials, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have ruled out further EU enlargement without the promulgation of the Lisbon Treaty.
But Rehn sees no contradiction in postponement of the implementation of the agreement.
He said that Brussels expected good results from Albania in fulfilling the SAA requirements.