Albania is knocking at the EU’s door as the pan-European organisation begins talks on the country’s accession to EU membership.
Prime Minister Cameron had previously opposed Albania’s candidacy, but has reversed his position.
Last December, he promised to block Albania’s entry unless the EU changed travel restrictions for new members to more than the current seven years, or even indefinitely.
Now the UK will support the country’s application in the hope that the entry process will help the new government there to increase reforms and wipe out corruption.
Downing Street pointed out that the change was not a decision on accession but on new transitional controls, or long-term restrictions, the prime minister wants to prevent, what he has described, as another “vast migration” of people from Eastern Europe into Britain.
“Transitional controls must be reformed. If not, we won’t agree to any new member state joining the EU,” said a British diplomat.
Negotiations for EU membership are lengthy, and this could mean decades for Albania. A final decision taken at the end of the process requires unanimity.
Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Albania have begun or are currently lined up to begin negotiations to join the EU.
