Albania’s SAA ratified by 22 EU member countries

TIRANA, Nov 3 – The Stabilization and Association Agreement Albania signed with the European Union two years ago has been ratified by 22 EU members.
Tirana hopes to conclude this process by the end of the year, according to its Integration Ministry.
France, Germany and Greece are among those countries that have not yet ratified the agreement.
Some local media have said that could be a warning from these countries toward the Tirana executive.
Minister Majlinda Bregu said that the country had fulfilled three-fourth of the commitments of the SAA application plan.
The Stabilization and Association Agreement was signed in June 2006 and is considered to be a first step in Albania’s EU integration.
After the SAA is ratified, the country may start negotiations on the candidate status that will, in turn, take many other years before the country is accepted as a full member.
The Lisbon Treaty and the recent global crisis has made it difficult for Brussels and its member countries to accept the idea of being joined by poorer eastern countries that may seek financial assistance.
Brussels has denied, however, that it does not accept more members but has insisted the door is open to new members who must first fulfill all required standards.