France will support efforts by Albania to join the European Union, the French president's office said on Friday.

The Czech Republic, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said earlier this year that the crisis meant the bloc was becoming less enthusiastic about letting Balkan countries join.

In a statement issued after President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, the French presidency expressed its support.

"Albania will be a member of the European Union and France fully supports this idea," it said.

Albania, one of Europe's poorest countries, said this month that it would soon apply to join the EU.

A government official said at the time that the last days of April had been mentioned as a possible time for lodging an application, but that no date had yet been fixed.

The EU has held out the prospect of membership to countries across the Balkans, but a mood of caution has been detectable in recent months as the impact of recession has spread.

Reuters