Chapter 20 is part of the third cluster, which relates to competitiveness and inclusive growth.

“It is a chapter dedicated to Albanian enterprises and industrial policy. This achievement marks the progress of the reforms undertaken and opens a new phase for the development of Albanian entrepreneurship,” the minister stated from Luxembourg.

“The challenge now lies in implementing the reforms to foster a more competitive economy and businesses that invest in technology and innovation while integrating into the European single market. With every reform and every step forward, Albania moves closer to the European family,” she said.

As part of this process, the minister highlighted that 13 measures have been added to the business development strategy. These measures focus on five key areas aimed at increasing productivity, developing a greener economy, expanding access to finance and shifting enterprises toward higher value-added activities.

According to her, another objective is to strengthen Albanian exports through stable contracts with European markets and to improve the business environment by developing a skilled workforce.

Ranging from business development to the promotion of investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Chapter 20 includes policies designed to improve the business climate and create more opportunities for Albanian enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized businesses.

Aligning with European rules and standards can help enterprises prepare to operate in the European Single Market, boost the credibility of their products and services and create new opportunities for exports, investment and economic cooperation.

The benefits extend to businesses aiming to grow and modernize their operations; to employees through new employment and professional development opportunities; and to consumers, who benefit from a more productive economy and a wider range of products and services. /p.s./

In a video message posted on social media, Jaupaj stated that Albania is resolutely continuing its path toward European environmental standards.

During the meeting, Jaupaj presented the work accomplished over the past year by the joint team, which includes the various institutions contributing to this chapter.

“Over the past year, Albania made significant progress toward meeting the closing benchmarks for this chapter. A recent meeting highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Environment and the 28 participating institutions over the last 12 months,” said Jaupaj.

Minister Jaupaj stated, “During the meeting with Commissioner Roswall, we agreed upon a specific operational framework for Albania to expedite the legal acts required for meeting benchmarks and concluding Chapter 27 in 2027.”

Minister Jaupaj thanked the entire team at the Ministry of Environment and its affiliated institutions for the extraordinary work, dedication and professionalism they demonstrate daily.

“Every result achieved is the fruit of immense collaborative effort. Our objective is clear: more concrete results, higher environmental standards and an Albania moving ever closer to the European Union,” said Jaupaj.

Albania is advancing its alignment with EU environmental and climate standards to secure sustainable development and protect ecosystems for current and future generations. This framework relies on proactive prevention, holding polluters financially accountable, tackling ecological harm at its root, sharing responsibilities across society, and embedding environmental safeguards into all public and economic policies.

The *acquis* comprises over 200 major legal acts covering horizontal legislation, water and air quality, waste management, nature protection, industrial pollution control and risk management, chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), noise and forestry. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

“There is already being submitted the common stance with the European Union, giving us a clear overview of the requirements and deadlines that we need to address, while this meeting also served as preparation for the three-day meetings with the European Commission. There will be finalized the Action Plan for the Closing Milestones, a key document that includes all the acquis of Chapter 27”, underlined Jaupaj.

Minister Jaupaj stated that, “Chapter 27 is one of the most demanding of the integration process, but with the joint work of the relevant institutions and with the projects that we already have in place, we are taking sustainable steps towards approaching European standards”.

EU environmental policy aims to promote sustainable development and protect the environment for present and future generations. It is based on preventive action; the polluter pays according to principle by combating environmental damage at source, shared responsibility and the integration of environmental protection into other EU policies. The acquis comprises over 200 key legal acts covering horizontal legislation, water and air quality, waste management, nature protection, industrial pollution control and risk management, chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), noise and forestry. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

The work for the preparation of this package has included a coordinated and intensive process, where the Customs Administration prepared and submitted: the legislative calendar and tables of conformity with the EU acquis; the main strategies of the administration in the areas of business, human resources and training; measures to increase the integrity and performance of the customs structure; the multi-annual national plan for IT systems and measures for interoperability with EU systems; information on the ratification of the Protocol to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; the annual report “Green Book-Customs 2024 and Priorities 2025”, published for the fourth consecutive year.

The Albanian Customs Administration emphasized that it remains committed to fulfilling all Chapter 29 obligations, through strengthening administrative capacities, modernizing digital systems, and deepening cooperation with EU structures in the fight against illegal trade.

“This is a historic moment that serves not only Albania’s integration into the EU, but also the building of a modern, reliable administration at the service of citizens and businesses,” the Customs Administration said. /r.e/p.s./

The Council of the European Union opened negotiations with Albania on the so-called cluster 3: competitiveness and inclusive growth, which includes education, digitization, employment, economic policy, taxes and innovation.

Sharing  a picture of the Albanian delegation to the fifth intergovernmental conference in Brussels, the government head stated “the path to Albania continues without a pause.”

“Negotiations on 24 chapters have been opened in just eight months, with only 11 left to go,” PM Rama said, reiterating his government’s goal to wrap up the accession negotiations by 2027 and secure the country’s full-fledged EU membership by 2030.

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The decision is expected to be confirmed by the European affairs ministers from all EU member states as the Council will endorse their conclusions, recognizing the country’s advancements in EU-related reforms.

Based on the conclusions, the European Council will assess Albania’s progress in meeting the criteria on chapters 23 and 24 on judiciary and fundamental rights and the rule of law.

Albania should improve track records on the investigation, prosecution and indictment in high-level corruption cases, adjudication and final conviction of corruption cases, in particular at high level, including the final confiscation of criminal assets.

A day later, on December 18, Albania may open the third Intergovernmental Conference which would mark the opening of negotiations on cluster 6 in the area of External Relations.

The cluster covers a policy area where Albania’s progress has been particularly highlighted by the EU and the negotiations on this chapter may conclude soon as Albania has fully aligned its foreign policy with the EU’s common and foreign security policy, especially by joining EU member states in imposing sanctions on Russia following aggression on Ukraine, demonstrating its strategic choice of EU accession and its role as a reliable international partner.

Albanian government’s ambition is to complete the EU accession negotiation process by end of 2027 so that the country becomes a full-fledged member of the EU by the end of this decade.

/Klan News/ /m.m/ /a.g/u.sh/