Albania’s invitation to join NATO is not quite a done deal just yet.

NATO formerly extended an invitation to Albania earlier this month to join the military club. However they are not quite there just yet and there is a whole load of work still to do before Albania is accepted as a fully paid up member.

Clearly joining NATO is a priority for the Albanian Government as it is a pre-requisite to becoming a fully fledged member of that other club the ‘European Union’. Membership of the EU promises to inject serious funds into the Albanian economy to help with its development and to bridge the gap caused by years of decay under the previous communist rulers.

Just before the decision was made at the Bucharest Summit earlier this month, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said:

“NATO membership is Albania’s destiny and will give it a huge boost in its ultimate goal to join the EU. The decision to admit Albania at the NATO summit will offer credentials for fast integration into the European Union and encourage investors to come to Albania. Joining NATO means for my country the most important development since independence.”

The invitations extended to Albania and Croatia brings NATO membership up to 28 countries and is the organisation’s first expansion in six years.

Albania has come a long way in the last 10 years but it still has far to go

The last 10 years have seen significant growth in the Albanian economy and ‘Gross Domestic Product’ (GDP) has nearly doubled within that time. Building of new housing and apartment blocks has started to gain considerable pace and coastal towns have seen a significant number of new holiday homes that echoe the new found wealth of a section of the population.

But Albania is not in NATO just yet and has still to negotiate a successful course through its succession plan. The Albania Government must reform its armed forces, establish the rule of law, and set up functioning democratic institutions before it is granted full membership.

President Bamir Topi recently said:

“The government is committed to executing all reforms needed to join NATO. The process of Albanian integration in the Euro-Atlantic structures will be intensified.”

He also promising to carry out

“electoral reform and an uncompromising fight against corruption and organised crime”.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated that reforms were still required in defence, the economy, public order, diplomacy, education, culture and the environment before NATO membership would be granted.

“As for changes still needed to secure membership our responsibilities are great, and everyone must accelerate the pace of reforms. By continuing with reforms, Albania will join the Alliance sooner than expected. There should not even be a single issue from our side that will postpone this historic process.”

NATO membership negotiators appointed by Albanian Government

The Albanian government has just this week established a delegation that will lead the effort to make NATO membership a reality and the team will probably be heading out to Brussels soon.

They have their work cut out for them as there is still a lot of work to do before membership becomes a reality. There is however a significant amount of political and national will behind the team to ensure success and set out the Albanian stall for future entry into the European Union which is the true grand prize on offer.