On Wednesday 18 April, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama said his country should continue to work hard in order to obtain the opening of European Union accession negotiations from the EU Council.
While the European Commission made a recommendation to this end on Tuesday 17 March (see EUROPE 12003), some member states are indeed reluctant
"This is not the time to celebrate (the EU's recommendation) but we must work to receive" the agreement of the member states, Rama told press, recognising that the EU27 were not all "enthusiastic" about the idea of a new enlargement of the EU via the accession of the Western Balkans countries. "A new stage is beginning, which is still more difficult", he said.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini nevertheless described the Commission's recommendation as a "rather historic moment", saying that it was "unconditional" from the time Tirana maintained and strengthened its reform process.
In a press release the previous day, Rama hailed this "strong signal of encouragement" from the Commission confirming that his country is "on the right track". "Much has been achieved thus far, but much remains to be done", he acknowledged. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)