In a press conference in Luxemburg, the head of European diplomacy, Catherine Ashton, asked the Albanian government and opposition to fulfill five conditions for the country’s integration in the European Union.

The new conditions by the EU were a result of the European Diplomacy’s conclusions for Albania after May 8.

“The decisions of the Electoral College and the result of the Central Election Commission (CEC) should be completely transparent, independent and in compliance with the law.

The European Union asks the government and the opposition in Albania to cooperate with the civil society in order to achieve the electoral reform according to the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

The EU asks the government and the opposition to urgently start political dialogue. Politics should ask the Venice Commission an opinion on the elections, so similar problems will be avoided in the next elections.

Copenhagen’s criteria should be fulfilled and the 12 EU recommendations for the integration of Albania. Only by achieving the above mentioned conditions will Albania be able to proceed in its journey toward the European Union,” said Ashton.

At the end of her declaration, Baroness Ashton emphasized that immediately after the result of the municipality of Tirana has been certified, the EU will talk with the Albanian government and opposition about the further steps that should be followed for the country’s integration.