Brussels, 08/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 July, the Parliament adopted two resolutions, one on Albania (report by Nikolaos Chountis, GUE, of Greece) and the other on Kosovo (report by Ulrike Lunacek, member of Austrian Greens). With regard to Albania, which submitted its application for EU membership in April 2009 and which currently awaits the Commission's opinion, MEPs note progress made in the reform process but call for a greater effort to be made for consolidating democracy, reforming the legal system and combating corruption, which remains a “major political challenge”. The resolution also calls for a solution to be found to the deadlock within the Albanian parliament caused by the dispute between government and opposition, which challenges the result of legislative elections in June 2009. The EP underlines the fact that the fully operational institutions, especially the Parliament, are the backbone of the consolidated democratic system and an “important political criterion for European integration”. With regard to Kosovo, the EP said it advocated recognition by all member states of the country's independence (as things stand, five member states have not yet recognised Kosovo's independence). Whatever the differences between member states over the status of Kosovo, it is important for the EU to connect with Kosovo. Commitment is essential in order to safeguard the stability and security of the European Union's immediate neighbours, MEPs say. The possibility of partition in Kosovo was rejected. The EP suggests that Kosovo may possibly also benefit from the prospect of visa liberalisation, once all conditions have been met. To this end, the Commission is expected to inform the Kosovar authorities without delay of measures to be taken in order to prepare the roadmap regarding visa liberalisation, MEPs add. The country is also called upon to make headway in combating corruption and organised crime, decentralisation and reform of the public administration. The EP states its extreme concern about the all-pervading corruption which, with organised crime, remains one of the major problems in Kosovo. (H.B./transl.jl)