The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

Albania applied for the EU membership in April 2009 and received the candidate status in June 2014. In April 2018, the Commission issued an unconditional recommendation to open accession negotiations. The Council set out the path towards opening accession negotiations in June 2019, depending on progress made in key areas such as the judiciary, fight against corruption and organised crime, intelligence services and public administration. In March 2020 the members of the European Council endorsed the General Affairs Council’s decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and in July 2020 the draft negotiating framework were presented to the Member States.

EU - Albania (2019 - 2020)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Elisa SPIROPALI, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament

Delegation to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

17th SAPC EU-Albania meeting

EP Plenary session - Report on Albania

15th  EU-Albania SAPC Meeting

EP Plenary session - 2021 Report on Albania

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Lindita NIKOLLA, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament

EP Plenary session - Instrument for pre-accession assistance

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June - Group photo

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit 28 June

2nd Western Balkans speakers' Summit - AFET Committee in association with the EP Standing delegations for the Western Balkans, with the Speakers of the Western Balkans parliaments

Press confrence - Reports on the 2019-2020 Commission Reports on Albania and North Macedonia

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Edi RAMA, Albanese Prime Minister

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana - Meeting with Lulzim BASHA, President of the Democratic Party of Albania

The Audiovisual Service of the European Commission has produced a series of new video stockshots with illustrative images of the capitals and countryside of the Western Balkans: This infoclip illustrates Albania

Infoclip: Albania

EPP leaders meet ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia. Arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Johannes HAHN, Donald TUSK, Viktor ORBÁN, Silvio BERLUSCONI, Leo VARADKAR, and statement by Antonio TAJANI.

EPP Western Balkans Summit: arrivals and statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Family photo with Boyko BORISSOV, Bulgarian Prime Minister, and Antonio TAJANI, EP President, on the occasion of the EPP Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Burlgaria

EPP Western Balkans Summit: family photo

On the occasion of the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: Antonio TAJANI, EP President meets with Sebastian KURZ, Chancellor of Austria and with Boyko BORISSOV, Prime Minister of Bulgaria

During the EP Plenary session (13-16/02) in Strasbourg, Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&amp;D, DE), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations and Eleni THEOCHAROUS (ECR, CY) debate&nbsp;on 2016 Report on Albania.&nbsp;The results from the votes on the Fleckenstein report are&nbsp;:&nbsp; 546 in favour, 85 against, 62 abstention. the resolution is adopted.

2016 Report on Albania: extracts from the vote and extracts from the debate (14/02)

Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs&nbsp;in the EP in Brussels. Vote on the Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Albania and statement by Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&amp;D,DE), Rapporteur. 62 votes: 52 in favor, 6 against, 4 abstentions. The report is adopted.

Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Albania: extracts from the vote and statement by Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Visit of Bujar NISHANI, President of Albania to the EP in Brussels. Arrival, welcome by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, roundtable and extracts from the press point

Martin SCHULZ, EP President meets with Bujar NISHANI, President of Albania: arrival, roundtable and extracts from the press point

On July 14th, 2015, Martin SCHULZ, EP President, is in Tirana for an official visit in Albania. He gives an address during a special session at the Parliament in Albania.

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, to Albania: extracts from the address by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, to the special session of the Parliament of Albania

On July 13th , 2015, Martin SCHULZ, EP President, is in&nbsp;Albania for an official visit. He meets&nbsp;Ilir META, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania. Extracts&nbsp; from the press point and meeting with the president of the Albanian republic Bujar NISHANI

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, to Albania: meeting with Ilir META, Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, extracts from the press point and meeting with the President of the Albanian republic

On July 13th, &nbsp;2015, Martin SCHULZ, EP President, is in official visit&nbsp;in Albania. He meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister. Extracts from the press point.

Official visit by Martin SCHULZ, EP President, to Albania: meeting with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister, and extracts from the joint press point

During the plenary session, Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI), rapporteur, speaks about the exemption from EU visa requirements for citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU visa-free regime for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina: extracts from the statements by Tanja FAJON (S&D, SI), rapporteur

During the plenary session, MEPs vote on the exemption from EU visa requirements for citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

EU visa-free regime for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina: extracts from the vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on the progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership.

Progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership: extracts from the vote

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Stefan FULE, EU Commissioner for Enlargement on the progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership.

Progress made by Albania and Kosovo towards EU membership: extracts from the debate

The European Union-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee meets for the second time in the European Parliament in Brussels, and exchange views with Stefan FÜLE, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood, and Majlinda BREGU, Albanian Minister for Integration.

EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee: extracts from the second meeting

The European Union-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee meets for the first time in the European Parliament in Brussels, in the presence of Eduard KUKAN (EPP, SK) and Fatos BEJA (Democratic Party, Albania), chairmen.

EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee: extracts from the first meeting

Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL, EL) presents his Draft report on the European integration process of Albania and disussed the content and possible amendments with the members of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs. Statements by Eduard Kukan (EPP, SK), Doris Pack (EPP, DE) and Libor Rouček (S&D, CZ).

EU integration process of Albania: extract from the meeting - AFET Committee

Exchange of views at the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs with Ilir META, Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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