Speaking at the opening of the 10th edition of the European Integration School in Tirana, Gonzato said the public administration plays a central role in implementing reforms and aligning national legislation with EU standards.

“Now is the time when Albania truly needs this contribution,” he said, referring to the European Commission’s progress report that describes EU integration as a society-wide project requiring the engagement of the government, opposition, citizens, civil society and local communities.

He emphasized that Albania is entering a decisive and more demanding stage of the accession process following the opening of all negotiating clusters. “Closing the chapters will clearly be more difficult than opening them,” Gonzato said.

The Ambassador added that Albania’s determination and capacity to adopt and enforce deep, sustainable reforms will be tested in the coming years.

“That is why the report stresses that Albania must maintain – and even accelerate – the pace of reforms if it is to achieve its ambitious objective of completing negotiations by the end of 2027,” he said.

Gonzato cautioned, however, that the urgency to advance reforms should not come at the expense of quality.

“EU integration is not a box-ticking exercise. Member states expect consistent, timely implementation of reforms that deliver tangible benefits for citizens,” he said.

He also underlined that Albania is entering a technically and politically complex phase of the process and will need expertise and capacity within its public administration, particularly the civil service, to design and implement EU-related policies.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/