Albania’s goal is ambitious: to join the European Union by 2030. “It is a mountain to climb,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who attended the second intergovernmental conference with EU partners in Luxembourg on October 15. Rama added that Albania is “already walking with very clear ideas, a very strong will and without any doubts” about achieving the goal.
The conference coincides with the official launch of Tirana’s accession negotiations to the EU and the discussion on the first cluster, comprising five key chapters on public procurement, statistics, rule of law (judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security) and financial control.
The negotiations also cover the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and the economic criteria for EU membership.
Another group of chapters covers the internal market, competitiveness and inclusive growth, the green agenda and sustainable connectivity, resources, agriculture, cohesion and external relations.
The positive results achieved in the reform process by the Balkan country were underlined by the Hungarian Presidency of the Union, in particular by the outgoing Commissioner for Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi and by Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó. “Accelerating the EU’s enlargement” in the Western Balkans is “one of the most important priorities of the Hungarian Presidency”, Szijjártó said.
Albania’s accession process to the EU started with the first intergovernmental conference held in July 2022, but without the opening of negotiating chapters. Albania’s path, coupled with that of North Macedonia, had to face both the difficulties related to Greece’s refusal to accept the existence of an independent Macedonian state on its border and the new frictions with Bulgaria, due to the issue of the Bulgarian minority present on Macedonian territory. Only in September this year the Council of the EU broke the deadlock by dissociating Albania from North Macedonia in the accession process.
Tirana’s path to joining the Union is complex and does not have a predetermined duration, given that much will depend on the pace of the reforms required to align with the other member states. One of the critical points is represented by the measures adopted by the Albanian government to combat corruption, which persists in all sectors of public life, and organised crime. “Despite some progress and continued efforts in fighting corruption, it remains an area of serious concern,” according the European Commission’s annual report about the progress of EU candidate countries.
Albania will also have to make further efforts to protect fundamental rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
According to Brussels’ forecasts, the new growth plan for the Western Balkans should accelerate the long accession process in the next three years, thanks to European investments worth six billion euros. These funds will be provided on condition that reform programmes are implemented to align the legislation, economy and society of the candidate countries with European Union standards.
Once the European Commission has positively assessed Albania’s results, the 27 EU countries will take the final decision on its accession to the Union.
