European ministers agree Albania should be EU candidate

(BRUSSELS) - European foreign ministers on Monday agreed that Albania should be considered for official EU candidate status, a key step forward for the small southern nation's membership ambitions.

The decision now moves to the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, for consideration and assessment.

If Albania is accepted as an official candidate it would become the second majority Muslim country to do so, though it would face years of negotiations to join.

The ministers, meeting in Brussels, approved the decision without discussion, the Swedish European Union presidency said, endorsing an agreement made last week by ambassadors of the 27 EU nations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said last week that it was "already high time" the decision was made, after meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta.

Also his country's deputy prime minister, Meta promised Albania would advance on the road to reforms.

Albania formally applied for EU membership in April, weeks after joining the western military alliance NATO.

The Balkan former communist state, once notorious for secrecy, a gangster culture and corruption, now appears on the road to candidacy status.

If it does become an official candidate state it would join Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia, but will face a series of convergence tests over a period of years.

Croatia and Turkey began their membership talks in 2005.

In announcing its decision the EU also stressed in a statement that "the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union."

General Affairs and External Relations Council including defence and development ministers