EU Begins Formal Membership Negotiations with Albania

The European Union has officially commenced membership negotiations with Albania, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards EU accession. The second session of the EU-Albania Accession Conference took place on Tuesday in Luxembourg at the ministerial level, opening the first substantial phase of negotiations.

According to a statement released by the EU Council, the negotiations commenced with Cluster 1, covering the fundamental chapters of the accession process. This cluster includes key areas essential to EU integration, such as the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and several critical negotiation chapters:

• Chapter 23: Judiciary and fundamental rights
• Chapter 24: Justice, freedom, and security

Economic criteria:

• Chapter 5: Public procurement
• Chapter 18: Statistics
• Chapter 32: Financial control

The EU delegation was led by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, representing the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the participation of Olivér Várhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement. On the Albanian side, the delegation was headed by the country’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama.

Szijjártó highlighted Albania’s progress in the accession process, noting that the opening of the first, fundamental chapter of membership negotiations is another major achievement in the country’s EU enlargement efforts. He reiterated Hungary’s commitment to driving EU enlargement as one of the presidency’s top priorities, stating that the European Union needs fresh momentum, energy, and perspectives that the Western Balkans can offer. He expressed optimism about Albania’s continued progress towards EU membership.

Albania’s Path Separates from North Macedonia

In a noteworthy development, it was confirmed in late September that Albania’s EU accession process would no longer be tied to that of North Macedonia. The two Western Balkan nations had been moving in tandem on their EU membership bids since negotiations formally began in the summer of 2022. However, ongoing disputes between North Macedonia and Bulgaria have caused delays in the opening of negotiation chapters, hindering progress for both nations, particularly affecting Albania’s advancement.

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister expressed frustration with the new obstacles to opening formal membership negotiations, reflecting the complexities faced by the country in overcoming its bilateral disputes with Bulgaria.

This latest move signals a shift in the EU’s approach to enlargement, enabling Albania to proceed independently in its accession bid. It reflects a broader EU strategy to accelerate the integration of the Western Balkans, an increasingly important region for the Union in terms of both geopolitical stability and economic growth.

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