The Road to Brussels: Does Albania have what it takes to become an EU Member?
Albania is seeking to join the EU after beginning accession talks in July 2022. But does Tirana meet all of the European Union's criteria?
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00:00 Albania is one of nine countries that want to join the EU, the world's biggest single
00:10 market. To be accepted, they have to protect the EU's democratic values. That means stable
00:16 political institutions, upholding the rule of law and respecting human and minority rights.
00:23 Candidate countries also need a functioning market economy. This requires macroeconomic
00:28 stability, high quality economic governance, a proper labour market and sufficient infrastructure.
00:35 Countries must be ready for the market forces and competitive pressures of being inside
00:39 the bloc. In the case of the Western Balkans, the EU has a special process designed to promote
00:45 political stability and regional cooperation. Even if a country has aligned with Europe,
00:51 accession is not automatic. To join the EU can take years and depends on the approval
00:56 of all member states and the European Parliament.
00:59 (upbeat music)