EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has praised Albania’s progress towards European Union membership. She ranked Albania among the four most advanced candidate countries, alongside Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine.

Speaking at the presentation of the European Commission’s 2026 Enlargement Report, Kallas highlighted Albania’s rapid progress. She noted that the country had opened all negotiating clusters in just over a year.

“Albania has opened all negotiating clusters in just over a year. The task now is to maintain this pace and accelerate reforms,” Kallas said.

For the first time, the European Commission has also presented dedicated roadmaps for the four leading candidates: Albania, Montenegro, Ukraine and Moldova. These roadmaps set out the main objectives and steps each country should take over the coming year.

Albania aims to complete EU negotiations by 2027

According to the European Commission, Albania has met the interim benchmarks in the rule of law chapters. This progress creates the conditions for the provisional closure of four negotiating chapters.

Meanwhile, the Albanian government aims to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2027.

The European Commission considers this an ambitious but achievable target. However, Albania must maintain the pace of reforms and strengthen domestic political dialogue to meet its goal.

EU enlargement is also a matter of European security

Kallas also stressed that EU enlargement goes beyond expanding the Union’s borders. In her view, it represents a direct investment in Europe’s security and geopolitical strength.

She pointed out that Albania and other Western Balkan countries already contribute to European security. They take part in EU missions and operations, help protect borders and work to counter foreign information manipulation.

“When countries that make progress are left waiting, instability takes root. Enlargement is a direct investment in Europe’s security,” Kallas said.

Furthermore, she stressed that reforms and respect for the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights will remain the main factors determining the pace of accession for every candidate country.

Albania’s progress at a glance

Albania ranks among the four most advanced EU candidate countries. It has opened all negotiating clusters in just over a year and met the interim benchmarks on the rule of law. Four negotiating chapters could now move towards provisional closure.

Overall, the European Commission considers Albania’s goal of completing negotiations by 2027 ambitious but achievable, provided the country continues its reforms and maintains the current momentum.

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