TIRANA, May 26 /ATA/ – Albania is expected to hold its eighth intergovernmental conference with the European Union in Brussels on Tuesday, marking another step in the country’s accession negotiations, with the focus on Cluster 1, “Fundamentals”, and the fulfilment of interim benchmarks related to the rule of law, justice and democratic institutions.
Tuesday’s conference follows a series of intergovernmental meetings that have marked Albania’s gradual progress in opening EU negotiating chapters in what officials describe as a record period of 13 months.
The process officially began on July 19, 2022, with the first EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, where the European Union formally opened accession negotiations with Albania.
At that conference, the EU praised Albania’s commitment to reforms and its full alignment with the bloc’s foreign and security policy, while paving the way for the screening process of the acquis communautaire.
A decisive stage was reached on Oct. 15, 2024, during the second Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, when Cluster 1, “Fundamentals”, was opened. The cluster covers the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, economic criteria and the following chapters:
Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights
Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security
Chapter 5 – Public Procurement
Chapter 18 – Statistics
Chapter 32 – Financial Control
At the conference, the EU set interim benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24, considering them key to the overall pace of negotiations.
On Dec. 17, 2024, the third Intergovernmental Conference was held in Brussels, where Albania opened negotiations on Cluster 6, “External Relations”, covering:
Chapter 30 – External Relations
Chapter 31 – Foreign, Security and Defence Policy
Another important development came on April 14, 2025, during the fourth Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, when Cluster 2, “Internal Market”, was opened.
The cluster includes nine chapters:
Chapter 1 – Free Movement of Goods
Chapter 2 – Freedom of Movement for Workers
Chapter 3 – Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services
Chapter 4 – Free Movement of Capital
Chapter 6 – Company Law
Chapter 7 – Intellectual Property Law
Chapter 8 – Competition Policy
Chapter 9 – Financial Services
Chapter 28 – Consumer and Health Protection
Later, at the fifth Intergovernmental Conference on May 22, 2025, the EU opened negotiations on Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth”, including:
Chapter 10 – Digital Transformation and Media
Chapter 16 – Taxation
Chapter 17 – Economic and Monetary Policy
Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment
Chapter 20 – Enterprise and Industrial Policy
Chapter 25 – Science and Research
Chapter 26 – Education and Culture
Chapter 29 – Customs Union
On Sept. 16, 2025, the sixth Intergovernmental Conference opened Cluster 4, “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity”, which includes:
Chapter 14 – Transport Policy
Chapter 15 – Energy
Chapter 21 – Trans-European Networks
Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change
Meanwhile, on Nov. 17, 2025, the seventh Intergovernmental Conference opened the final negotiating cluster, Cluster 5, “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion”, covering:
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
Chapter 33 – Financial and Budgetary Provisions
With all six negotiating clusters now opened, Albania has entered the phase of deepening negotiations and meeting benchmarks for the closure of chapters.
The eighth Intergovernmental Conference taking place on Tuesday is expected to confirm the fulfilment of interim benchmarks for Cluster 1, “Fundamentals”, and define final benchmarks for chapters related to the rule of law, justice, public administration and economic criteria.
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