Croatian official helps Albania’s integration efforts

TIRANA, March 31 – Croatian chief negotiator for the European Union membership process, Vladimir Drobnjak, made a visit to Albania to meet with his Albanian counterpart, Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu to share his country’s experience in the membership steps.
Croatia is expecting to soon become a full EU member, despite the negative effects of the global financial crisis on the enlargement steps of the bloc.
Albania starts the application of the Stabilization and Association Agreement April 1st and is likely to make the formal application for the start of negotiations for their candidate status.
Drobnjak met with a number of officials discussing the coordination of efforts of integration. Drobnjak said the administration should get ready for an increase in work needed for the process.
“Croatian experience is of value because it is to help Albania shorten the time and not repeat mistakes other countries have done in the integration process,” said Bregu.
Both Albania and Croatia also are to become NATO members this week.
Different EU member countries like Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and the European Commission have offered their assistance in training Albanian administration in the integration process.