The Council of European Union decided yesterday to take into consideration Albania's application for EU membership and invited the European Commission to submit an opinion on the application.

The Conclusion adopted by the EU Council recalled the renewed consensus on enlargement as expressed in the 2006 European Council conclusions. It reiterates that each country's progress towards the EU depends on its individual efforts to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Albania submitted an application for EU membership on 28 April 2009.

The European Commission welcomes the decision of the EU Council and will start preparing the opinion procedures immediately. This process will be made on the basis of the answers of the Albanian Government to a questionnaire of more than 2000 questions on the ability of the applicant to fulfil the Copenhagen accession criteria.

In the light of the Commission's recommendation, the Council unanimously decides whether or not to grant candidate country status to the applicant.

In its latest progress report, the European Commission noted that Albania has continued to make progress in addressing the political criteria in line with the European Partnership and noted the smooth implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The country needs to make progress, in particular regarding the rule of law and the fight against corruption, as well as the proper functioning of state institutions, especially the independence of the judiciary. Administrative and enforcement capacity require further strengthening.

The next step involves the EU's executive, the European Commission, deciding whether the country is ready to start membership talks.

"The (European) Council (of foreign ministers) reaffirms that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union," ministers said in a statement.

"It is noted that a country's satisfactory track-record in implementing its obligations under a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), including trade related provisions, is an essential element for the EU to consider any membership application," ministers said.

In its latest enlargement report, the European Commission noted that Albania has made encouraging progress over the last year.