Speaking also in his capacity as Co-Chair of the EU–Albania Parliamentary Stabilisation and Association Committee, Balla said Albania’s objective is to conclude the accession negotiations by Christmas 2027, with the aim of joining the European family by 2030.

He stressed that the current phase requires not only the adoption of legislation aligned with European standards, but, above all, its effective implementation in practice and tangible results for citizens.

“The closer we get to the conclusion of the negotiations, the more the focus must shift from adopted legislation to its implementation, from commitments made to the expected results, and from written standards to standards that citizens can actually experience in their daily lives,” Balla said.

In his address, he welcomed the adoption, by a broad political consensus, of the Albanian Parliament’s resolution on the EU accession process, as well as the strong support from the European Parliament, which on June 17 adopted its report on Albania with 483 votes in favour.

Balla stressed that the Albanian Parliament should play a more active role in monitoring reforms and exercising parliamentary oversight over the implementation of European legislation, while involving citizens, civil society, and stakeholders in the process.

He also highlighted the “Pasqyra Albania” initiative, presented by the government as a new transparency platform that will give citizens access to comprehensive and verifiable information on the activities of public institutions and the use of public funds.

During the meeting, participants will discuss the role of Parliament in the integration process, the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, the economy, tourism, sustainable development, fundamental rights, media freedom, and regional cooperation.

In closing, Balla thanked SAPC Co-Chair and MEP Marco Tarquinio, as well as the European Union institutions, for their continued support for Albania on its European path. He expressed his belief that the discussions held in Tirana would help accelerate the country’s EU accession process.

/sm/

Hoxha met Kos on the sidelines of the EU General Affairs Council, which is being held in Dublin.

The two discussed the current dynamics of Albania’s accession process and its prospects, with particular focus on maintaining the pace of negotiations, Hoxha said in a post on social media platform X.

“For Albania, the objective remains clear: to move forward with determination and close as many negotiating chapters as possible this year, while continuing to implement reforms and commitments,” Hoxha said.

“We remain fully focused on the work ahead and determined to maintain the pace of the negotiations,” he added.
Hoxha said Albania would continue to take every opportunity to present its progress at discussions on EU enlargement.

“Enlargement is about merit, momentum and results. Albania is ready for all three,” he said.

/e.xh/r.e/u.sh/

TIRANA, May 25  /ATA/ Albania and the European Union are set to hold the eighth Intergovernmental Conference on the EU accession negotiations process in Brussels tomorrow, a meeting expected to represent a significant step forward in the further advancement of reforms and chapters under Cluster 1, “The Fundamentals.”

The conference will serve to confirm Albania’s fulfilment of the interim benchmarks, as well as to set the closing benchmarks for this cluster, which remains essential for the overall progress of negotiations with the European Union.

According to the agenda published by the EU, the eighth Intergovernmental Conference will take place on the margins of the EU General Affairs Council, under the chairmanship of Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna.

The Albanian delegation will be led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, while the European Union side will be chaired by Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna, with the participation of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.

The conference is expected to begin at around 7:00 p.m. in Brussels, with a press conference scheduled upon its conclusion.

Cluster 1 includes the key chapters of the accession process, including:

Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights

Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security

The functioning of democratic institutions

Public administration reform

Economic criteria for membership

Chapter 5 – Public Procurement

Chapter 18 – Statistics

Chapter 32 – Financial Control

This meeting follows a series of intergovernmental conferences that have led to the opening of all negotiating clusters, including “The Fundamentals”, “The Internal Market”, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth”, “The Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity”, “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion”, and “External Relations”.

The eighth Intergovernmental Conference is considered a significant milestone in the current phase of the negotiations, as it focuses on the completion of interim benchmarks that will determine the subsequent momentum of Albania’s European integration process.

The EU accession negotiations are proceeding in accordance with the new enlargement methodology, under which progress in Cluster 1, “The Fundamentals,” remains pivotal to the overall advancement of Albania’s pathway to European Union membership.

The EU accession talks are being conducted under the new enlargement methodology, with progress in Cluster 1, “The Fundamentals,” remaining key to the overall momentum of Albania’s journey towards EU membership.

/gj.m/a.f/sm/

Speaking at a meeting with operators in the food business sector, the government head underlined the importance of the EU accession process, which Albania aims to complete within this decade. He said the process is often misunderstood as a set of external obligations, rather than a transformation that benefits Albanian society directly.

Rama described EU integration as a path that brings “an irreplaceable body of knowhow” into the country, enabling the creation of a fully European-standard state. According to him, this knowhow transfer is essential to guarantee safety standards and sustainable development.

He stressed that food safety is a very concrete issue with direct implications for citizens’ health and family welfare.

“Without the EU, without this entire knowledge base that comes through the negotiation process and the steps it requires, it would be impossible for us to reach these levels of safety and guarantees for development and prosperity,” he said.

The Premier said European standards should not be seen as restrictions but as a framework that strengthens institutions and society.

Rama added that EU integration should be understood as a comprehensive transformation of the country and as a process of state-building based on European norms.

He underlined that Albania is required to align its legal framework with that of the EU, but said legal alignment alone is not enough. He pointed to the need for deep reforms, including the modernisation of the veterinary system and the strengthening of laboratory networks to ensure effective food safety control.

He concluded that meeting EU food safety standards is a difficult but necessary challenge, describing them as “summits that are hard to reach” but ultimately essential for Albania’s future within the European Union.

/j.p/u.sh/

Addressing a Socialist Party meeting in Lushnja, Rama rejected claims that the EU accession process had been delayed or stalled.

Rama said the process is advancing in line with a schedule set by the European Commission.

“It is a calendar set by the European Commission. During the campaign they said I was lying, and now they say the calendar has been broken. Negotiations continue, and each phase will be completed as planned,” he said.

The government head urged focus on the accession process, warning against political distractions.

“We must not lose sight of the historical responsibility we have to make EU membership a reality,” he said, adding that for the first time Albania had the backing of major international partners in its bid.

He said Albania was among the frontrunners in the Western Balkans enlargement process alongside Montenegro.

Rama also pointed to political tensions in other candidate countries, arguing these had not prevented progress towards EU membership.

He accused the opposition of undermining Albania abroad.

“The opposition believes it can defeat us by going to Brussels and speaking against Albania,” he said. “The more they do this, the more they will sink.”

/a.f/u.sh/

Speaking at a meeting with farmers in Krutje, Lushnja Municipality, Rama dismissed the opposition’s suggestions of a standstill in accession talks as unfounded.

“Nothing has been blocked. There has been no blockage because there is nothing to block,” he said, criticising opposition figures for what he described as misleading statements.

Rama stressed that EU accession is a continuous negotiating process rather than one that can be halted in the way critics suggest.

He also took aim at what he characterised as dismissive rhetoric towards the public, saying Albanians are “far ahead” of politicians and commentators making such claims.

/m.m/a.f/u.sh/

Speaking at an event on public sector job vacancies, the government head said talks with the European Union were progressing successfully, supported by a favourable geopolitical context and strong backing from the European Commission.

“The negotiation process is moving forward successfully and at a unique pace, not only due to our own efforts but also the geopolitical context in which it is taking place,” Rama said.

He highlighted the role of the public administration in driving the process, saying institutional capacity continues to improve despite ongoing challenges.

Rama said Albania is currently engaged with the European Commission on key interim benchmarks, describing the Commission’s assessment of the country’s progress as “extremely positive”.

“We have the European Commission on our side, which is very important, while we are facing member states on the intermediate milestones, which are a key moment in the negotiations,” he said.

The prime minister dismissed claims that the talks have been blocked.

“There is talk, for no reason, that negotiations have been halted or obstructed. This is not true, and those who say so do not understand what they are talking about,” Rama said.

He stressed that the accession process is rigorous and ongoing, involving continuous assessment rather than a straightforward path.

Rama said April would be marked by intensive discussions following the submission of questions by EU member states at the end of March, with decisions expected after the review process.

/u.sh/

Chief Negotiator Dhuka stressed that “this is a highly complex but also very positive process for Albania’s European transformation, impacting areas like governance, the economy, public services, and the removal of barriers between Albania and the EU. One example of this progress is in 2025, when Albania joined the SEPA euro payment zone, allowing us to make banking transactions from Albania to EU countries with significantly lower fees and much faster processing times.”

Dhuka further explained that between the opening and closing of negotiations, Albania must demonstrate its ability in two key areas: political commitment to European reforms and the capacity of its institutions to implement European standards in services and citizens’ daily lives.

“To achieve this, Albania needs to carry out a series of reforms and improvements that align with European standards, derived from both EU law, known as the EU acquis, and the best practices of member states, as well as guidelines from European courts. This ability test, in negotiation terms, is referred to as fulfilling the benchmarks, representing the progress between the opening and closure of negotiations,” Dhuka stated.

Dhuka stated that “the key area where Albania must demonstrate its capacity, which hinges on both the competence of its institutions and the political will of all political forces, is the rule of law and the rule of law.”
/k.s/r.e/sm/

Following the 7th Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the EU, Prime Minister Rama held a joint press conference with Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, and Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, whose country currently holds the EU Council Presidency.

“Today, Albania emerges from this initial phase with pride and a strong sense of responsibility. We are not here representing a political party or a single political perspective. We stand for a nation that supports the EU and its membership more than any other,” Rama said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that more than 90% of Albanians are in favour of joining the EU.

“I am certain that those few who fall within the small remaining percentage simply weren’t having a good day when the survey was conducted, because it is difficult to imagine any Albanian believing that EU membership is not the best path or the future we should strive for, for the sake of our children,” Rama added.

Reflecting on Albania’s experience in this process, Rama stated, “We have learned a very important lesson: never take anything for granted in Brussels.”

Rama stated, “When things go well, enjoy it, but never take it for granted. It can disappear in the blink of an eye. Therefore, continue to work diligently and meet every challenge with humility and tangible results. These are the qualities we value most. With our ‘mentor’, the European Commission, and the ‘wise ones’ on the other side, the member states, we are in good hands. Yet we must always remember that it is the work of our own hands that truly counts—not for them, but for us, not for the Commission or the member states, but for the Albanian people and future generations.”/j.p/sm/

Gledis Gjipali, executive director of the European Movement in Albania (EMA), told the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that the country opened negotiations in five of six negotiating clusters this year, making up for earlier delays in the process.

“Albania is catching up with Montenegro and Serbia, which have been negotiating for more than a decade,” Gjipali said. “But reforms must accelerate if we want to close talks by the end of 2027. The main obstacles remain deep political polarization, limited parliamentary dialogue and weak administrative capacity.”

Gjipali said justice reform had delivered “concrete results,” particularly with the completion of the vetting process for judges and prosecutors and the strengthening of SPAK, the special anti-corruption and organized crime unit.

However, he warned that political interference, delays in appointments and inefficient judicial institutions continued to hamper progress.

Gjipali noted that Albania’s economy maintained macroeconomic stability and about 4% GDP growth in 2024, driven by strong domestic demand, tourism and construction, but added that weak planning and execution of public investments could affect performance in the long term.

On environmental issues, Gjipali said Albania had made only limited progress in its green transition due to a lack of large-scale investment and partial alignment with EU legislation.

“Albania is on the right track toward EU membership,” he said, “but must maintain the reform momentum, strengthen institutions and foster political cooperation beyond party interests to meet the 2027 target.”

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