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

During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on 2019-2020 progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia. Closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs.

Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Ana Paula ZACARIAS, Portuguese Secretary of State

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Arrival and roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister: arrival and roundtable

On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Lulzim BASHA, Deputy Chair of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI).

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: meeting with Lulzim BASHA, Deputy Chair of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI)

On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, discuss with University students.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: discussion with University students, welcome and ambiance shots

David SASSOLI, EP President, speaks to the press on the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: statement

On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Roberto Di BERNARDO, UNICEF representative, Erion VELIAJ, Tirana Mayor and tours to the main square.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: meeting with Roberto Di BERNARDO, UNICEF representative, meeting with Erion VELIAJ, Tirana Mayor and tour of the main square

On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Gramoz RUCI, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, addresses in the plenary session and meets with Ilir META, President of Albania.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: meeting with Gramoz RUCI, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, extracts from the address in the plenary session and meeting with Ilir META, President of Albania

On the occasion of his official visit to Tirana, Albania, David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister. They speak to the press following their meeting.

Official visit by David SASSOLI, EP President to Tirana: meeting with Edi RAMA, Albanian Prime Minister, and extracts from the press point

Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as well as the president of Croatia’s Parliament gather to discuss the Western Balkans’ European perspectives, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The summit is organised under the patronage of David SASSOLI, Ep President, in cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the Western Balkans. Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans: arrivals, roundtable and statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

The EP Conference of President meets to discuss on the Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans. Speakers of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as well as the president of Croatia’s Parliament gather to discuss the Western Balkans’ European perspectives, in the European Parliament in Brussels. The summit is organised under the patronage of David SASSOLI, Ep President, in cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the Western Balkans.

Extraordinary Conference of Presidents on the Parliamentary Summit with the Western Balkans: arrivals and roundtable

During the plenary session (25-28 November 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, David SASSOLI, EP President makes a statement on the recent earthquake in Albania. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on the recent earthquake in Albania

During the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Council and Commission on whether to open accession talks with the two Western Balkan countries. Parliament has, in previous resolutions, expressed its strong support to start negotiations with both countries. Statements by Tytti TUPPURAINEN, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Andrey KOVATCHEV (EPP, BG) and Kati PIRI (S&D, NL).

Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania: extracts from the debate

During the plenary session (21-24/10/2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate take stock of the outcome of the 17-18 October meeting of EU heads of state or government in a debate with Donald TUSK, President of the Council, and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC. The summit focussed on Brexit, negotiations for a long-term EU budget, strategic priorities for the next five years, climate change, enlargement and foreign affairs. Statements by Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Iratxe GARCÍA PÉREZ (S&D, ES) and Dacian CIOLOŞ (RE, RO) on Turkey’s unilateral military action in North East Syria, on enlargement negociations with North Macedonia and Albania, on multiannual financial framework and on UE being climate neutral by 2050.

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019: extracts from the debate on other topics

David SASSOLI, EP President welcome Gramoz Ruçi, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Gramoz RUCI, Speaker of the Albanian Parliament: arrival and roundtable

Members of the European Parliament debated with the EU Commissioner for enlargement Johannes Hahn on the progress made by the five Western Balkan towards the EU accession. The debate was followed by the vote where Rapports for all five countries were adopted. Statements by David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur on Serbia, Igor ŠOLTES (Greens/EFA, SI), Rapporteur on Kosovo, Ivo VAJGL (ALDE, SI), Rapporteur on Republic of Macedonia , Knut FLECKENSTEIN (S&D, DE), Rapporteur on Albania, Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Rapporteur on Montenegro, and Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

European integration process of the Western Balkans: extracts from the debates on the 2018 rapports on Serbia, Kosovo, FYROM, Montenegro (28/11) and from the votes

At his arrival to the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press about Mark ZUCKERBERG's coming to the EP and about the relations with the Western Balkan.

EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: arrival of Antonio TAJANI, EP President and statement

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press on the occasion of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria

EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria: extracts from the press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press about the EU-Western Balkan Summit in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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