Europe to consider Albania’s request this year

TIRANA, Oct 21 – Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu said Tuesday that Albania’s request for the candidate status will be considered by the European Commission within the year.
Bregu said at a workshop on the EC questionnaire that Albania is expecting to have it immediately after Brussels considers its request for the candidate status during the Swedish presidency (until the end of the year), which Tirana had made last April.
A Croatian official, Dubravka Vlasic Plese, head of the negotiating team for Croatia’s membership, was present at the workshop to give their experience on the further steps needed from Tirana.
Croatia is expecting to become a new EU member in the next two years.
“I am convinced that our administrative capacities will be able to comply in time with the questionnaire,” said Bregu.
The government has planned to proceed with training of the administration on such a process.