THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ALBANIA ON MONDAY SIGNED A STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT, THE FIRST STEP ON THE WESTERN BALKAN STATE'S PATH TO EU MEMBERSHIP, DPA REPORTED. EU FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG ALSO GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR A TRADE DEAL WITH TIRANA. THE 25-NATION BLOC HAS URGED ALBANIA TO IMPROVE ITS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, CREATE AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND CONTINUE REFORMS TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN INVESTMENT. ALBANIA MUST ALSO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND ORGANIZED CRIME AND ENSURE MEDIA FREEDOM, THE EU DEMANDED. IN MARCH, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION SAID IT WANTED THE 25 EU MEMBERS TO GIVE THE GO-AHEAD TO THE NEW AGREEMENT, WHICH AIMS TO BRING ALBANIA CLOSER TO THE EU AND PROVIDES FOR HELP WITH REFORM.
