EU Enlargement: EU Council Conclusions on Albania's application for membership

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"On 28 April 2009, President Mr. Bamir TOPI and Prime Minister Mr. Sali BERISHA presented the application of the Republic of Albania for membership of the European Union. The Council decided to implement the procedure laid down in Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union.

Accordingly, the Commission is invited to submit its opinion.

Recalling the renewed consensus on enlargement as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council of 14/15 December 2006, the Council reaffirms that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. It reiterates that each country's progress towards the European Union depends on its individual efforts to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and Association Process. Recalling Council conclusions of 8/9 December 2008, it is noted that a country's satisfactory track-record in implementing its obligations under a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), including trade related provisions, is an essential element for the EU to consider any membership application."

| Top |

• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions on EU Enlargement and Economic recovery plan (7/12/2009)
• EU Parliament outlines its criteria for EU membership (23/11/2009)
• Key findings of the progress reports on Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo (14/10/2009)
• EU Enlargement: Albania's application for EU Membership (28/4/2009)