European Union Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa said Albania has entered a new phase of its EU membership process. She noted that the country has opened all six negotiating clusters and provisionally closed three.

Moreira de Sousa spoke at a conference with representatives of Albanian institutions and the European Parliament. She said enlargement represents a political project and a broad process of institutional and social transformation. She also highlighted Albania’s justice reforms, including changes to the judicial system, the vetting process and the creation and strengthening of independent justice institutions.

Meanwhile, the ambassador highlighted Albania’s legal framework on human rights, protection against gender-based violence, non-discrimination and data protection. She also pointed to economic and structural reforms supported through the EU Growth Plan. She said the plan supports investment, businesses, innovation and connectivity.

Moreira de Sousa said EU integration should allow Albanian citizens to experience the benefits of European standards before membership. However, she stressed that the process becomes more demanding as Albania moves closer to membership. She said adopting legislation represents only part of the process, while effective implementation remains essential.

The ambassador said Albania needs independent institutions and sustained results from its reforms, particularly in the rule of law and democratic institutions. She warned that without effective implementation, EU membership would remain a distant objective and the country could not guarantee lasting institutional and social transformation.

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