EC recommends opening negotiations with Albania

The European Commission established a major barrier on Turkey's road to membership talks, as it said that official Ankara has taken serious steps to get it off the European Union.

Meanwhile, the Commission will recommend opening membership negotiations for the two Balkan countries -- Albania and Macedonia.

German media that have published parts of the report write that the document highlights prospects for membership for the six Western Balkan countries, reports TopChannel.

Negotia is currently developing with Serbia and Montenegro, while the Commission requires that it expand and, within the achieved progress, has recommended opening them with Macedonia and Albania as well.

Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn and European Diplomat Chief Federica Moghrini will go to Tirana to deliver the progress report and then travel to Skopje as well.

But the Commission requires that the governments of these countries leave no room for doubts about their orientation and strategic commitment and show irreversible determination and progress. The commission had earlier cited 2025 as the date for the membership of Balkan countries, but this time it does not give time references.

The report for all candidates from the Western Balkans and Turkey recognises corruption and organised crime as very serious problems. The region remains an important gateway to drug trafficking, arms and people in the EU.