It opened membership talks with the Union on 3 October 2005; the first stage of the negotiations process, known as the screening, began 17 days later.
Ajo hapi bisedimet e anëtarësimit me Bashkimin në 3 tetor 2005; stadi i parë i procesit të negociatave, i njohur si shqyrtim, filloi 17 ditë më pas.