Basha says Albania may take next step in EU bid

TIRANA, Nov 25 – Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha said while in Brussels that time has come for the country to take the next step in its bid to become a European Union member that is the candidate status.
“The time has come to take next step, which will be a reflection of Albania’s track record over the past years,” said Basha after meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
There have been contradictory words on Albania’s candidate status. The Albanian opposition says Tirana should undertake that step but Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu has hinted that the country should first fulfill a series of duties before applying.
Basha also said the government was careful in that direction.
Rehn, for his part, said that “the overall picture of EU-Albania relations is encouraging.”
Albania signed a pre-membership deal called the Stabilization and Association Agreement in 2006, and is implementing an interim agreement.
The SAA has to be ratified by all EU member states, a move that may likely be completed before the end of this year.