Yet another meeting took place between Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule and the Albanian leadership which appears to be moving full steam ahead to become a candidate for EU membership.
Fule this time met with Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta in Brussels today to to review Albania's progress on EU-related reforms.
The Commissioner welcomed the unanimous adoption of the Resolution on EU integration in the parliament last week which was a clear signal of improved cooperation between government and opposition.
"I keep stressing the need for inclusiveness and making the opposition a part of advancing the EU agenda. It is important to build on the momentum created by the adoption of the Resolution to enhance the involvement of the opposition in the EU-reform process," Fule said.
He also welcomed the intensification of measures in the fight against corruption and organised crime and stressed: "The Commission stands clearly by its recommendation to grant candidate status to Albania. Albania has shown clear determination to fight corruption and organised crime and therefore reinforced the credibility of the Commission's proposal to grant the country candidate status."
While stressing that the actions taken by Albania provide more arguments in favour of granting candidate status, the Commissioner nevertheless made the point that it is up to EU Member States to decide.