The EU on February 4 tried to renew Albanian efforts to gain candidate status for the 27-member bloc, with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule telling its leaders it was "within reach" if they can show some consensus and press on with reforms, newswires reported.
"Candidate status for Albania is within reach. It is up to Albanian politicians to make this a reality," Fule said in a statement.
Albania's bid to be given candidate status has been denied twice; last October, the Commission recommended Albania be granted candidate status on the condition it approves parliamentary reform and improves the law governing its supreme court and the status of civil servants.
The Balkan country has yet to approve a series of laws and make progress in several areas before the Commission can grant it the coveted candidate status. The government and the opposition remain at odds over the approval of three laws because the opposition says it wants to see that the laws are first respected in reality.
Fule also warned Albanian politicians against contesting the June 23 election result, as has happened in the past, leading to political paralysis.
"I came to Tirana to address the most crucial question of Albanian modern state - what needs to be done for elections not to be contested," Fule commented on his Twitter account a few minutes before starting the official meetings with seniors officials of Albanian politics.
Source: bne