“The alignment with the EU acquis is part of the accession process that all candidate countries must ensure,” the Commission said in a statement to local media. “This is not about personal or political agendas but a fundamental step toward EU membership.”

The law, passed by parliament on Thursday evening with 77 votes in favour and 36 against, brings Albanian legislation closer to EU standards on gender equality and non-discrimination.

“As Enlargement Commissioner Kos underlined in her post yesterday, gender equality and non-discrimination are integral parts of EU law. These are core EU values and fundamental rights. We welcome the approval of the Gender Equality Law by the Albanian Parliament,” the statement said.

The Commission added that the legislation demonstrates Albania’s commitment to implementing key reforms required for EU accession.

The measure follows a recommendation in the European Commission’s 2025 Annual Report on Albania, which urged the country to maintain a high level of ambition and align with EU acquis and European standards in the area of gender equality.

The Commission’s reaction also came in response to remarks by opposition leader Sali Berisha, who accused the EU ambassador in Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, of trying to “impose standards of multiple gender identities.”

Later on Thursday, Berisha said he apologized to the ambassador if his comments had caused offence, adding that this had not been his intention.

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The legislation is part of Albania’s obligations under its European Union accession process and updates the country’s 2008 legal framework on gender equality.

The EU has noted the lack of effectiveness of the current law in its annual reports and has recommended that Albania adopt the new legislation by the end of 2025.

The bill aims to align national legislation with EU standards on Cluster 1 on Fundamentals in the accession talks.

According to the government, the draft law ensures equal rights for women and men in all areas of public life, reflecting one of the core principles of democracy and sustainable social development, as well as a key EU value.

The legislation is harmonized with international standards on gender equality and seeks to strengthen protection against discrimination while respecting biological distinctions and remaining consistent with Albania’s Constitution.

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At a ceremony marking 35 years of religious freedom, the city’s mufti, Muhamed Sytari, and Catholic Archbishop of Shkodër, Giovanni Peragine, urged Parliament to consider the country’s social foundations before approving a new gender-equality law.

In a joint statement, they opposed the bill, calling for clarification of terms such as “gender” and stressing the importance of maintaining the male/female binary.

“We emphasise the importance of the traditional family based on two biological sexes. Political class must reflect accordingly,” Sytari said, adding that religious communities would not allow the majority base to be taken for cynical interests.

Peragine said that while Albania pursues European integration, this must not mean losing “our traditions of the value of the family and respect for man and woman equally”.

The draft law “On Gender Equality” aims to align Albanian legislation with European Union human-rights standards and ensure equal treatment of women and men. But it has encountered push-back not only from political parties and civil-society activists, but now strongly from key religious groups.

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