TIRANA, March 30 – Albania has entered the next stage of its European Union accession negotiations, focusing on closing the chapters required for membership. The process now involves 157 institutions across both national and EU levels.

State Minister and EU membership Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka said the country is steadily advancing toward the European family, aiming to meet all accession criteria by the end of 2027. She noted that Albania has received support from the European Commission and member states, but significant work remains in areas such as security, justice, human rights, and organized crime prevention.

Over the past year, Albania systematically opened negotiations for all chapter groups, advancing one group every two to three months. This approach ensures steady progress while meeting interim requirements. Dhuka confirmed that the country has completed 24 interim conditions, addressing 92 critical gaps, and has now received 101 conditions to close in the chapter-closing phase.

She stressed that the work is complex but manageable, requiring coordination across numerous institutions. The process involves technical preparation, political commitment, and engagement of interest groups and the public. Albania continues to act proactively on reforms to meet EU standards, ensuring each chapter is thoroughly addressed before closure.

The next steps include completing technical and institutional requirements for the remaining chapters, including justice and internal order, while maintaining momentum across all sectors to secure timely accession.

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