As a mature member of the Partnership for Peace, Albania was the first of the Officially Recognised Potential Candidate Countries to start the negotiations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in 2003. This was successfully agreed and signed on June 12, 2006, completing the first major step toward Albania's full membership in the EU. // Ismail Qemali Bej (28 November - 29 November 1912) Ismail Qemali Bej (29 November 1912 - 22 January 1914) Esat Pashe Toptani (12 October 1913 - 12 February 1914) (Chairman Council of Elders of Central Albania, in opposition in Durres) Fejzi Bej Alizoti (22 January - 7 March 1914) Wilhelm zu Wied (7 March... Alfred Spiro Moisiu (born December 1, 1929) has been President of Albania since July 24, 2002. ... List of Prime Ministers of Albania Ismail Qemali (1912-1913) Myfit Libohova (1913-1914) Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1914) Esat Pashë Toptani (1914) Abdullah Rushdi (1914-1918) Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1918-1920) Sulejman Bej Delvina (1920) Ilias Bej Vrioni (1920-1921) Pandeli Evangjeli (1921) Hasan Bej Prishtina (1921) Omer...   (born October 15, 1944) is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. ... The Assembly of Albania (Kuvendi i Shqipërisë), also known as the Peoples Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor) is the parliament of Albania. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... Elections in Albania gives information on election and election results in Albania. ... Indirect presidential elections will be held in Albania in July 2007. ... Albania is divided into 12 counties (Albanian: official qark/qarku, but often prefekturë/prefektura), sometimes translated as prefecture) each of which contains several districts (sometimes translated as subprefectures). ... Albania is divided into 36 districts, or rrethe. ... Albanian foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its Balkan neighbors, gaining access to European-Atlantic security institutions, and securing close ties with the United States. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 112 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Albania Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Countries Maps of Albania ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_European_Union. ... Partnership for Peace is a NATO project aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union. ... A European Union Association Agreement (Association Agreement) is a treaty between the European Union (EU) and a non-EU country that creates a framework for co-operation between them. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

However, Albania's admission to the EU depends mainly on the country's economic and political stability. Following the steps of the recently admitted Eastern European countries, Albania has been extensively engaged with EU institutions and NATO, and has maintained its position as a stability factor and a strong ally of Western Europe in the troubled and divided region of the Balkans. The admission of Albania and the rest of the Western Balkans into the European Union has been set as a priority by the European Union officials.


Eastern Europe is, by convention, a region defined geographically as that part of Europe covering the eastern part of the continent. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... The borders of Western Europe were largely defined by the Cold War. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of south-eastern Europe. ...

Chronology of the relations with the European Union

- 1992: Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Albania. Albania becomes eligible for funding under the EU Phare programme.
- 1997: Regional Approach. The EU Council of Ministers establishes political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations.
- 1999: The EU proposes the new Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) for five countries of South-Eastern Europe, including Albania.
- 1999: Albania benefits from Autonomous Trade Preferences with the EU.
- 2000: Extension of duty-free access to EU market for products from Albania.
- 2000: Feira European Council (June 2000) states that all the SAP countries are "potential candidates" for EU membership.
- 2000: at Zagreb Summit (November), the SAP is officially endorsed by the EU and the Western Balkan countries (including Albania).
- 2001: First year of the new CARDS programme specifically designed for the SAP countries
- 2001: The Commission recommends the undertaking of negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Albania. The Göteborg European Council (June 2001) invites the Commission to present draft negotiating directives for the negotiation of a SAA.
- 2002: Negotiating Directives for the negotiation of a SAA with Albania are adopted in October.
- 2003: On 31 January, Commission President Prodi officially launches the negotiations for a SAA between the EU and Albania.
- 2003: at Thessaloniki Summit (June), the SAP is confirmed as the EU policy for the Western Balkans. The EU perspective for these countries is confirmed (countries participating in the SAP are eligible for EU accession and may join the EU once they are ready).
- 2005 (December): Council decision on the principles of a revised European Partnership for Albania
- 2006 : On 12 June, the SAA was signed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg
- 2006 : On 9 November, the European Commission decided to start visa facilitation negotiations with Albania.
- 2007 : On 13 April, the visa facilitation agreement was signed in Zagreb. The signing EU Commissioner Franco Frattini was quoted saying that this is the first step toward a full abolishment of the visa requirements and the free movement of the Albanian citizens in the EU.
Commissioner is a designation that may be used for a variety of official positions, especially referring to a high-ranking public (administrative or police) official, or an analogous official in the private sector (e. ... Franco Frattini. ...

[Bold]: Major step towards full EU membership

References