TIRANA, July 23 /ATA/ – Albania is nearing the completion of opening all negotiating chapters with the European Union, marking a key milestone in its EU accession process.
The EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) on Wednesday authorized the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU to invite Albania to present its Negotiating Position for Cluster 5, which covers “Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion.
This crucial step clears the way for the next Intergovernmental Conference to be held in the coming months, which would finalize the opening of all EU negotiation chapters for Albania.
The decision reflects the EU’s acknowledgment of Albania’s technical, institutional, and economic preparedness, as well as its ongoing commitment to the European integration path.
Cluster 5 is considered critical to Albania’s economy, covering key sectors for sustainable economic and social development, including support for farmers and fishers, as well as food safety.
Cluster 5 “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion” is one of the major negotiation clusters encompassing 4 chapters: Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development, Chapter 12 – Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, Chapter 13 – Fisheries and Aquaculture, Chapter 22 – Regional policy and coordination of structural instruments and Chapter 33-Financial and budgetary provisions.
Negotiations under this Cluster are expected to drive reforms aimed at modernizing agriculture, enhancing food production standards, and strengthening cohesion policies.
Albania aims to open all negotiation chapters by the end of 2025 and wrap up accession talks by 2027, with the goal of joining the European Union by 2030.
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