Southeastern+Europe

=Demographics of the Balkans=

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Romania -- 54%
=Report Boosts Albania's European Prospects= Brussels, Tirana. 15 September 2009

On Sept. 14, 2009 The OSCE-ODHIR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights-Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) finalized its report on Albania's June 28th Parliamentary Elections and concluded that Albania is now in a more favorable position to move ahead with its European integration process. Albania submitted its application for EU candidacy in April and a more in depth analysis will likely be held in October to determine whether it fulfills all the requirements for an EU state. But the successful elections are a step in the right direction and “//Albania is in a better position [...] [after] the OSCE-ODHIR report on elections//,” says the Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt. Full Article

Despite the optimistic tones of this article, it is by no means guaranteed that Albania will ever achieve full membership because of its cultural differences from the rest of the EU. Although there seems to be full confidence in the "European integration process," some things are apparently just too large to integrate- just ask Turkey. It applied for full membership in 1987 and, though it is now an official candidate, it is still waiting for full membership. It seems, as the former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who drafted the EU constitution feels, //"Turkey has developed its own history and its own culture, which deserve respect. However, the foundations of Europe's identity, so vital to the cohesion of the EU today, are different. Turkey's accession would change the nature of the European project."*// In consideration of Turkey's long wait for accession, it is clear that attitudes have not changed. Because of Turkish influence in Albania, it will most likely have the same challenge. Unfortunately, the two countries may just have to wait it out together and hope that they do not have to trade their unique cultures to become part of the local elites.

* http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/cdtr/pdf/HKosebalabanPaper.pdf