TIRANA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union and Albania held Wednesday the 9th Stabilization and Association Council (SA Council) meeting, which concluded that Albania has made steady progress in five key priorities for the opening of EU accession negotiations.
High Representative of European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said in a joint press conference with Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati Wednesday that the EU would continue to support Albania in the implementation of the judicial reform, which could be transformative for other reforms.
Meanwhile, Albanian foreign ministry informed in a press release that Albania's progress in several fields was praised by the European Commission.
It cited Mogherini as saying that 2018 would provide a unique opportunity to Albania's advancement to EU integration process.
"2018 will be a unique window of opportunity to Albania to advance concretely on the EU integration path and make this process completely irreversible," said Mogherini at the joint press conference with the Albanian minister.
Mogherini also highlighted the vital and cooperative role Albania is playing in the Western Balkans.
In this context, the EU welcomed the appointment of the vetting institutions in June 2017 and highlighted that this important success represents a step forward in the implementation of the justice reform in Albania.
The EU also welcomed the further steps in the fight against corruption and organized crime, particularly the positive results achieved in the fight against cannabis cultivation.
