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EU commends Albania on justice reform,asks to keep momentum

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 14 NOV - On the EU side "there are no new conditions", it is "crucial that Albania does not lose momentum in the reforms, 2019 represents a unique opportunity to make clear progress on the European road ", EU High Representative Federica Mogherini said today at the end of the EU-Albania Association Council. Mogherini highlighted that today's meeting "was very positive" and stressed repeatedly Tirana's commitment to the "ambitious and unprecedented" justice reform and to the fight against organised crime and corruption, which has already brought "concrete results", such as yesterday's substantial prison sentences for the members of an important criminal organisation. EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn added that "it is not cast in iron that Montenegro and Serbia are the first to reach the finish line" in the race between the Western Balkans' countries to join the EU. Mogherini recalled that currently, they are the only ones in the region to have already started the negotiations, "but once others will start to run then the race will be open and everybody can be frontrunner". "Expectations can be indeed open and different as of next year", she said.(ANSA).