TIRANA, Oct. 13 /ATA/ – Albania is expected to provisionally close negotiations on Chapter 20, covering “Enterprise and Industrial Policy,” at a meeting with the European Union in Luxembourg on Tuesday, marking another step in its EU accession process.
Prime Minister Edi Rama will attend the 10th EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference, where the closure of the chapter is expected to be formalised.
“Albania is taking another step towards the European Union by closing Chapter 20 at the 10th EU accession negotiations conference,” Rama said.
The move would bring to four the number of negotiation chapters Albania has provisionally closed, as the country presses ahead with its EU accession process and aims to conclude negotiations by the end of 2027.
Chapter 20 covers enterprise development, industrial policy, business support, innovation and efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of Albania’s economy.
According to the agenda released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the delegation is scheduled to depart for the European Convention Center at 16:40 local time. A joint photograph featuring Rama, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Irish Minister Thomas Byrne is scheduled for 1650.
The conference is due to open at 17:00, with the adoption of the agenda, and expected to conclude at 17:45. A joint news conference with Rama, Kos and Byrne will follow.
On Monday, Kos said the EU enlargement process was moving forward and that Brussels was responding to countries making progress on reforms.
“Following the decision by the member states, we now have the prospect of holding four intergovernmental conferences with Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine. This is a clear sign that the enlargement process is moving forward. The countries leading this process are meeting their obligations, and we are doing our part,” Kos said.
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