IRMO Brief 06/2020, "Albania: The Longest Post-Communist Transition Story"

Introduction

By the time Albania, alongside the Republic of North Macedonia, received the green light to proceed with accession negotiations, the enthusiasm for the decision was dampened by the growing coronavirus crisis. Albania had spent all its celebration reserves beforehand having expected a positive decision repeatedly in 2018 and then 2019. Having put in place an ambitious, comprehensive and even disruptive justice reform the country believed to have deserved the integration milestone earlier and blamed delays on the skepticism of certain member states. However, this does not tell the full story. Albania’s track record has been blemished by a raging conflict between
political parties deeply rooted in old enmities of transition.
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"Albania’s track record has been blemished by a raging conflict
between political parties deeply rooted in old enmities of transition."

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