A Stabilization and Association Agreement between Albania and the European Union (the EU) came into force in 2009. Art. 70 of this Agreement sets out an undertaking for Albanian legislation to be aligned with that of the EU. To date there has been no alignment of legislation in respect of cross-border mergers, and in particular in respect of EC Directive 2005/56/EC. Such alignment will effect a major change, since cross-border mergers are not currently permitted under Albanian law.
