Albania expects concrete proposals from European Commission for its EU bid: FM

TIRANA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The continuity of justice overhaul will allow Albania to catch up with neighboring countries that have started the European Union negotiations, Albanian foreign minister Ditmir Bushati said at a conference Wednesday.

Bushati said Albania expected concrete proposals from the European Commission in its enlargement strategy that will be outlined by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker next month.

"We expect concrete proposals in terms of the next steps ahead in the process of adherence to EU," Bushati noted.

Bushati said that EU enlargement policy was crucial to Albania and the region as a whole.

He considered the enlargement strategy as another positive step for Western Balkan region because in his view, it brings enlargement policy into the political focus and puts it into perspective in the face of skepticism about further EU enlargement.

"It is clear that the quality and momentum of key reforms, particularly those pertaining to reinforcement of rule of law, are directly linked with the concrete perspective and positive pressure that EU can put on our countries," Bushati said. Enditem