TIRANA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Albanian authorities on Monday voiced hope that the country would get a date from the European Commission (EC) to start accession talks with the European Union (EU) following a visit by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker.
"As far as we are concerned, we have done all our homework, and we deserve a positive recommendation from the Commission," Prime Minister Edi Rama said late Sunday at joint press conference with Juncker.
Recalling that the EC had recommended opening of the accession negotiations with Albania since November 2016, Rama underlined it was important to press ahead with justice system reform and implementation of the vetting process -- main condition to progress in its EU drive.
Juncker spoke positively about Albania's consistent progress and reforms towards EU accession and noted that if Albania maintained same pace of reforms, it would allow the Commission to recommend the start of negotiations.
On Monday, Juncker was received by Albania's President Ilir Meta, who told Juncker at the meeting that all political forces in Albania shared the same major objective that was EU integration.
"They are all united in the wish to have a positive recommendation for the opening of accession talks between Albania and EU," Meta said.
Meta also voiced confidence that Albania would be able to open accession talks with EU in the first half of this year, under the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Albania was given EU candidate country status in 2014.