Converging Slowly

While Albania signed its Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU in June, the results of the Union's Special Eurobarometer 255 opinion poll show how far Albania still has to go in turning around Europe-wide sentiment about its application. Albania registered just 41% support, which was well below Macedonia's 49% and Croatia's 56%. Particularly hostile were Austria (21% support) and Germany (29%). The risk is that if the EU continues to send out negative signals to prospective members, the incentive to push through political unpopular reforms will diminish, and there could even be some backsliding on progress already made.

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