The co-chairs of the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, Taulant Balla and Marco Tarquinio, issued a joint statement today. They urged Albanian institutions to implement the recommendations of the European Commission and the European Parliament. They also called for continued momentum as Albania moves towards EU membership.

The statement covered several key areas. These included the role of the Albanian Parliament in the accession process, the rule of law, the fight against organised crime and corruption, the economy, tourism and sustainable development. It also addressed fundamental rights, media freedom, good-neighbourly relations and regional cooperation.

In particular, the committee welcomed Albania’s political commitment to EU membership. It said this commitment remains essential to the country’s progress. It also noted broad and lasting support from citizens and political parties.

Meanwhile, the two delegations welcomed Albania’s rapid progress in the accession talks. Albania has opened negotiations on all six EU acquis clusters. It has also provisionally closed three negotiating chapters.

Furthermore, the committee highlighted Albania’s goal of concluding accession negotiations by the end of 2027.

The discussions also focused on the European Commission’s 2025 Albania Report and its 2026 Rule of Law Report. The participants also reviewed the European Parliament resolution of June 17, 2026. They discussed the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations following the parliamentary elections as well.

The committee urged Albanian institutions to implement the recommendations in these documents. It said this would help maintain momentum towards EU membership.

The participants also stressed the role of the Albanian Parliament in the accession process. MEPs encouraged both the majority and the opposition to respect political differences. At the same time, they called for stronger cooperation and mutual trust on this issue of national interest.

The statement also welcomed Albania’s full alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy. In particular, it noted Albania’s response to global challenges, including sanctions and support for international efforts.

Meanwhile, the meeting addressed the continued implementation of justice reform. The participants said the reform has strengthened judicial independence, transparency and accountability. They also linked it to progress in the rule of law.

“We discussed the need to fill vacant positions in the judiciary and reduce the backlog of cases. We also stressed the need to avoid political interference in judicial appointments and promotions. International standards must guide these processes to ensure an independent and efficient judiciary,” the statement said.

The meeting also covered the work of Albania’s specialised anti-corruption structures, including the Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK). The participants called for continued protection of their independence.

“We agreed on the need to continue efforts to protect freedom of expression and media pluralism. This includes protecting journalists from political and economic pressure, as these are essential to strengthening democracy in Albania,” the statement added.

Furthermore, the delegations discussed their visit to Vlora and Zvërnec. They highlighted the positive development of Albania’s tourism sector. They described tourism as a key driver of economic growth.

At the same time, they stressed Albania’s obligation to align its environmental legislation with the EU acquis under Chapter 27. They particularly referred to protected areas with recognised ecological value.

“Albania’s leadership and positive impact on regional stability, as well as its commitment to promoting good-neighbourly relations in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, were important topics of our discussions,” the statement said.

The participants also reviewed Albania’s engagement in regional cooperation initiatives. These include the Common Regional Market and the Berlin Process. They described these initiatives as important steps towards EU integration.

Finally, the 23rd meeting of the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee will take place at the European Parliament next spring.

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