EU urges Albania to deliver concrete results in meeting key priorities

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule on Monday underlined the need for Albania to deliver concrete results in meeting the five key priorities in order to receive the EU candidate country status.

At a joint news conference held here with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Fule said, "Apart from its positive recommendation regarding the candidate status, the European Commission has also highlighted five key priorities still to be met for the opening of accession negotiations."

"Albania will need to continue to show its resolve to tackle challenges in these five areas, notably in the fight against corruption and organized crime," he said.

Fule visited Tirana to launch a high-level political dialogue, which he and Rama believed would serve as a platform to address the required priorities and advance the integration process.

"Among a number of things, I have stressed the need for a constructive political dialogue between government and opposition which I believe is essential to re-invigorate the reform process," said Fule.

"I am looking forward to continuing our debate tonight with students and tomorrow launching the High Level Dialogue which hopefully will bring Albania closer to the EU and also help the opposition and other stakeholders to stand behind the EU agenda," he said.