” “The European Parliament, gathered in Strasbourg for the plenary session (until September 7th), today gave the go-ahead to entering a partnership agreement with Albania. This is commented the EU commissioner for extension, Olli Rehn "a very important step to bring Albania closer to the EU". The stabilisation and partnership agreement signed with Albania, in replacement of the current trade and commercial cooperation agreement signed in 1992, is focussed on political dialogue, sets out provisions for increasing regional cooperation and puts in perspective the creation of a tree-trade zone between the Community and Albania within ten years of the enforcement of such agreement. It also includes provisions for regulating labour flows, freedom of settlement, service supply, current payments and capital flows and also provides for Albania committing itself to adapt its legislation to that of the Community, especially in some key areas of domestic trade. The agreement can be enforced when all the member states ratify it. After passing a favourable opinion on the entering of the agreement, the Parliament passed a resolution under which it states that such agreement will open new perspectives for "close and considerable" contract relations "between the EU and Albania". (to be continued)” “
