Albania risks to miss EU train if it does not speed up reforms

MEPs from the joint EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Committee warned Tirana on Friday to speed up reforms or risk missing out on the integration process.

“Albania could miss the train heading toward the EU,” Slovak MEP Eduard Kukan said in a meeting in Tirana with Albania opposition and government MPs.

“Today’s meeting is an attempt by the European Parliament to help your country,” Kukan added.

Albania first applied for EU candidacy status in April 2009, but its bid was turned down for the second time in October owing to a crippling political crisis, which has brought reforms to a standstill.

The European Commission said not enough progress had been made in political
dialogue or in the fight against organized crime and corruption.