EU opens negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania, February 2003

Speaking to the Albanian Parliament in Tirana on 31 January 2003, the European Commission President, Romano Prodi, announced that 'After discussions lasting almost a year, we have officially opened negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Albania.'

This is the latest initiative in a relationship between the EU and Albania which goes back to 1992, when a Trade and Co-operation Agreement was established and Albania became eligible for funding under the Union's Phare programme.

In 1999 a Stabilisation and Association Process for five countries in South-Eastern Europe - including Albania - was proposed. At the Zagreb Summit in November 2000, an EU/Albania High Level Steering Group was established to promote cooperation. In June 2001, the Commission concluded that the EU should proceed with a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania - a position confirmed by the Gothenburg European Council.

Stabilisation and Association Agreements contribute to the EU's objectives by:

• providing formal mechanisms and agreed benchmarks which allow the Union to work with each country to bring it closer to EU standards;

• focusing attention on respect for key democratic principles: human and minority rights, stable democratic institutions, standards of political behaviour and media independence;

• incorporating the essential elements of the Single European Market.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is seen as Albania's first step towards joining the European Union. President Prodi told the Albanian Parliament:

'you have before you a real opportunity to become part of the Union. Europe will react to your efforts intelligently and generously. Last Tuesday the Council held a keynote debate on the development of relations between the European Union and the Balkans. I received a strong and clear signal there from Europe's Ministers: the Balkans are an integral part of Europe and the process of unifying our continent will be complete only when the Balkan countries have become part of the Union.'

He did, however, stress that 'timescales and methods to be adopted for integration are in your hands: ownership and responsibility are the key words.' Albania is one of five countries in the region to be potentially eligible for EU membership. Mr Prodi stressed that each will be assessed individually 'on the basis of the progress it has made, its respect for the political criteria laid down at Copenhagen and its capacity to assimilate and effectively apply Community law.'

The Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation programme (CARDS) is the Union's primary source of financial and technical co-operation with the countries of South-East Europe. Between 2001 and 2004, CARDS will contribute €181.4 million to Albania. The priority areas for assistance under CARDS include justice and home affairs, administrative capacity building, economic and social development, environment and natural resources, and democratic stabilisation. The objective of CARDS is to support the participation of Albania in the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement for Albania will open on 13 February.

Links:

European Commission:
	31.01.03:	Romano Prodi: Albania's European destiny [SPEECH/03/43]
	President Prodi to visit Albania and open negotiations for a Stabilisation & Association Agreement on 31st January
	The EU's relations with Albania
	Albania: Country Strategy Paper - 2002-2006 European Community CARDS Programme
	Albania: Stabilisation and Association Report
BBC News Online:
	23.01.03:	Albania's economy shakes off its shackles
European Sources Online: Topic Guide:
	Information on European countries: Albania [Shqipëria]

Eric Davies
Researcher
Compiled: Tuesday, 4 February 2003

The President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, told the Albanian Parliament on 31 January 2003 negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Albania had officially been opened.