Albania on the rocky road to EU membership

Albania is now an EU candidate country despite the fact that there are still many problems. Corruption, nepotism and organized crime are a burden on the democratization process.

 

Albanians are cheering the news. Albania is now officially an EU accession country. The wish to “belong to Europe” has been strong for a while now in Albania after decades of communist isolationand the ensuing chaotic years of democratization. Now the moment has arrived: The country of 3 million people received official candidate status from the EU heads of states on Friday (27.06.2014)

 

Most people in Albania know that the hardest part still lies ahead, despite the euphoria in the country. “To be a candidate country means that we have to work even harder and that we can’t lean back confidently,” said Klajda Gjosha, EU integration minister, in an interview with DW. It doesn’t mean that the accession negotiations will start soon. The EU stipulates that Albania first has to initiate several reforms. The main issues are tackling corruption in the justice system and civil services as well as the fight against organized crime.

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