Albania

The priority of Albanian Foreign Policy is euro-atlantic integration into NATO and the EU. On 1 April 2009 Albania – together with Croatia – became a member of NATO. The Stabilization- and Association Agreement with the European Union was signed on 16 June 2006 and entered into force 1 April 2009. On 28 April 2009 Albania applied for EU-membership. In October 2009 this application was forwarded to the European Commission, which is currently examining it and will prepare the so-called “avis”. Since December 15th 2010 Albanian Nationals, in possession of biometric passports, no longer require a Visa to enter the Schengen- Area.