Albania has officially started negotiations to join the European Union, marking a significant milestone in the country's journey toward EU membership. The first negotiation "cluster" was opened at an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg on Tuesday, with the initial focus on judiciary reform, fundamental rights, security, procurement, and financial control.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the historic nature of the moment, stating that Albania is determined to join the EU by the end of this decade. “The EU needs the Western Balkans as much as the Western Balkans needs the EU,” Rama emphasized during the talks. He expressed Albania’s clear determination and strong will to reach its goal of full EU membership by 2030.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, representing the current EU presidency, reaffirmed the importance of Albania’s progress, stating that the accession talks are aimed at bringing Albania into the European Union as quickly as possible.
Albania's negotiations come after years of preparation, with the screening process beginning in 2018. The talks are structured around 35 key chapters, grouped into clusters, that the country must successfully address as part of its accession roadmap.
Albania began its EU accession journey alongside North Macedonia in 2022, but the two countries' paths have since diverged. North Macedonia's bid has been delayed due to ongoing disputes with Bulgaria, primarily centered around issues of identity and constitutional amendments. However, Albania has been allowed to continue its process independently, moving forward despite the regional challenges that have stalled North Macedonia’s progress.
The Albanian government remains optimistic about its EU future, with this week's developments further solidifying the country’s commitment to securing membership by 2030.
