EU officially kicks off accession talks with Albania

The European Union officially opened the first set of chapters in Albania’s accession negotiations on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone for the country.

This development followed the second accession conference between the EU and Albania, held in Luxembourg. After the conference, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, who currently holds the EU presidency, EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama held a joint press conference.

‘We are aware EU lost competitive power’

“The fact that we have opened the first set of chapters with Albania is absolutely historic, considering that accession negotiations have been initiated to ensure Albania’s accession to the European Union as soon as possible,” Szijjártó stated.

He underscored Hungary’s strong support for EU enlargement, noting the need for new members to revitalize the bloc.

“We are aware that the EU has lost its competitive power and weight in global politics and the broader economy. Therefore, we understand that the EU needs freshness, new energy, and a direct neighbor in the Western Balkans region,” Szijjártó added.

He also criticized certain member states for “looking for excuses” to delay enlargement, emphasizing that Western Balkan countries, including Albania, have waited over 15 years for EU membership.

Historic day for EU and Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed satisfaction with the decision, calling it a historic day for the Albanian people and for the EU. “Today is undoubtedly an important day of historical significance for the Albanian people as well as the EU,” Rama said, reflecting on the impact of the war in Ukraine.

He noted that the conflict served as a “wake-up call” for Europe, highlighting the necessity of the Western Balkans for the EU.

Albania officially applied for EU membership in 2009, and following a positive opinion from the European Commission in October 2012, the Council granted the country “candidate status” in June 2014. Albania’s EU accession negotiations began officially in July 2022.

The cluster of chapters opened with Albania includes those on judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom, and security, alongside public procurement, statistics, and financial control. Negotiations will continue until the completion of the accession process, with progress on Brussels’ demands determining the overall pace.