EU ministers clear Albania to apply for membership

EU European affairs ministers cleared the way Tuesday for Albania to apply for membership to the 28-nation bloc, a process requiring major reforms by Tirana and likely to take many years.

Luxembourg: EU European affairs ministers cleared the way Tuesday for Albania to apply for membership to the 28-nation bloc, a process requiring major reforms by Tirana and likely to take many years.

The small, poor Balkan state which emerged after the break-up of Yugoslavia, will have to make "continued progress" on key reforms of its judiciary and public administration while cracking down on organised crime.

It will also have to improve respect for human rights and the treatment of minorities, as well as help to ease migration pressures on the European Union, a statement said.

Ministers said the government must also continue to promote dialogue with the opposition on its plans for EU membership.

Diplomatic sources said granting Albania candidate status was meant to encourage further reforms but the process will take "some time" and membership is not assured.

The decision now has to go to EU leaders for approval.

Croatia was the last country to join the EU, in July last year, and Serbia began membership talks in January.

The bloc expanded rapidly from 15 to 28 member states in the past 10 years, with the former Communist countries of eastern Europe joining en masse.

Since then the pace of enlargement has slowed, with the prospects for Albania`s Balkan neighbours such as Montenegro and Bosnia-Hercegovina uncertain.

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.