European Union and Integration

This article will deal with the progress of Albania´s accession to the European Union. Secondly, the Copenhagen principles to be complied with by candidate countries will be addressed, as far as several requirements regarding the state of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights are demanded by the EU institutions in order to be accepted as a new member in the EU.

This article focuses on the visa policy of the Schengen area and more specifically on the EC Regulation 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas and those whose nationals are exempt from this requirement while crossing the external borders. This Regulation has faced many amendments, whether adding and removing countries from the lists or the amendment of mechanisms and other tools.