Albania Receives Massive EU Accession Questionnaire

Albanai takes another step forward on the long road to EU accession, with a mammoth questionnaire to be completed. Photo by esiweb.org

Albania moved a step closer to membership of the European Union on Wednesday, when it received a massive EU questionnaire concerning its readiness to join the bloc.

Helmuth Lohan, the head of the EU mission in the Albanian capital, Tirana, handed over to Prime Minister Sali Berisha a document of 384 pages, containing 2 280 questions.

"Today's handing over of the questionnaire marks an important milestone on Albania's European path. Replying to the questionnaire is a demanding task which requires strong commitment from the entire public administration," Lohan stated.

Albanian PM Berisha described receiving the EU document as an "historic day" for his country, and appealed to opposition leader Edi Rama to celebrate, but also work together, with him.

Albania's opposition Socialist Party is currently boycotting parliament, and accuses the Democrats of fraud in the June parliamentary elections.

Lohan too appealed on all sides in Albania to start a dialogue in parliament and reach a "broad consensus" to implement the difficult reforms ahead.

After answering the questionnaire, Albania will be given an 'opinion' by the European Commission. A positive opinion, once endorsed by the EU Council of Ministers, confers the status of 'candidate country'.

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