Accession of Albania to the European Union

Accession of Albania to the European Union
Status	Candidate negotiating
Earliest possible entry	2030
Application European perspective 2003 Membership application 24 April 2009 Candidate status 24 June 2014 Screening July 2022 Screened & negotiations commence 15 October 2024
Negotiations Clusters open 1 Chapters open 5 Clusters closed 0 Chapters closed 0 0%complete
Memberships & Treaties Association Agreement 1 April 2009 Economic and monetary policy EU Free Trade Agreement part of the SAA World Trade Organization (WTO) Member since 8 September 2000 Euro & the Eurozone The euro is widely accepted in Albania, although it has no formal approval, and the official currency of the country is the Albanian Lek Travel Schengen visa liberalisation 15 December 2010 Energy Energy Community 24 May 2006 Euratom There are no nuclear power plants or research reactors in Albania. ENTSO-E Operatori i Sistemit te Transmetimit is a member Foreign and military policy North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 1 April 2009 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) 17 September 1991 Human rights and international courts Council of Europe (CoE) Member since 13 July 1995 International Criminal Court (ICC) Member since 1 May 2003 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Entitled to appear since 14 December 1955
Impact(27+1) Population 446,828,803 449,845,596 0.63% Area 4,233,262 km2 1,634,472 mi2 4,264,004 km2 0.68% 1,645,572 mi2 0.68% HDI 0.896 0.891 0.22% GDP (PPP) $25.399 trillion GDP per capita (PPP) $56,928 GDP $17.818 trillion GDP per capita $39,940 Gini 30.0 31.31 0.4% Official Languages 24 Albanian 1

Albania is on the current agenda for future enlargement of the European Union (EU). It applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009, and has since June 2014 been an official candidate for accession. The Council of the European Union decided in March 2020 to open accession negotiations with Albania. ^[1]

However, the country did not start accession negotiations because its candidacy was linked to that of North Macedonia, which was vetoed by Bulgaria. ^[2] On 24 June 2022, Bulgaria's parliament approved lifting the country's veto on opening EU accession talks with North Macedonia. On 16 July 2022, the Assembly of North Macedonia also approved the revised French proposal, allowing accession negotiations to begin. ^[3] The start of negotiations was officially launched on 19 July 2022. ^[4] As of October 2024 ^[update] , Albania aims to be ready for accession by 2030, a timeline acknowledged by Prime Minister Edi Rama as "very ambitious." ^[5]

It is one of nine current EU candidate countries, together with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Chronology of relations with the European Union

Officially recognised by the EU as a "potential candidate country" in 2000, Albania started negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in 2003. This was successfully agreed and signed on 12 June 2006, thus completing the first major step toward Albania's full membership in the EU.

Albania applied for European Union membership on 28 April 2009. After Albania's application for EU membership, the Council of the European Union asked the European Commission on 16 November 2009 to prepare an assessment on the readiness of Albania to start accession negotiations. ^[6] On 16 December 2009, the European Commission submitted the Questionnaire on accession preparation to the Albanian government. Albania returned answers to the Commission on 14 April 2010. ^[7] On 5 December 2013, an MEP meeting recommended to the council to grant Albania candidate status. ^[8] On 23 June 2014, under the Greek EU Presidency, the Council of the European Union agreed to grant Albania candidate status, which was endorsed by the European Council a few days later. Following in the steps of countries joining the EU in 2004, Albania has been extensively engaged with EU institutions, and joined NATO as a full member in 2009.

The European Commission recommended that the EU open membership talks with Albania in its November 2016 assessment. ^[9] In June 2018 the European Council agreed on a pathway to starting accession talks with Albania by the end of 2019. ^{[10] [11]}

Albania's EU accession is bundled with North Macedonia's EU accession. Albania is given certain pre-conditions for starting the accession negotiations, such as passing reforms in the justice system, a new electoral law, opening trials for corrupt judges and respect for the human rights of its Greek minority. ^{[12] [13]}

In May 2019, European Commissioner Johannes Hahn reiterated this recommendation. ^[14] However, in June the EU General Affairs Council decided to postpone their decision on opening negotiations to October, due to objections from a number of countries including the Netherlands and France. ^[15] The decision was vetoed again in October. ^[16] On 25 March 2020, the Council of the European Union decided to open accession negotiations, which was endorsed by the European Council the following day. ^{[17] [18]}

In December 2022, Prime Minister Edi Rama hosted the 2022 EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana. ^[19]

On 13 September 2023, during her State of the European Union address, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen stated that the future of the Western Balkans was "in our Union". ^[20]

On 25 September 2024, the EU announced the decoupling of Albania from North Macedonia on the EU accession path, due to the disputes between North Macedonia and Bulgaria around the Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia, which had delayed further talks. ^[21] Following the decision on decoupling of their processes, the EU opened negotiations on the first chapters with Albania separately on 15 October 2024. ^[21]

On 19 November 2024, Albania and the European Union signed a Security and Defence Partnership. ^[22]

Timeline

Date	Event
1992	A Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Albania was signed, and Albania became eligible for funding under the EU Phare programme.
1997	The EU Council of Ministers established political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations between Albania and the EU.
1999	The EU proposed the new Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) for five countries of Southeastern Europe, including Albania. Starting from 1999 Albania benefited from Autonomous Trade Preferences with the EU.
2000	Duty-free access to EU market was granted for products from Albania. [23]
June 2000	The European Council stated that all the SAP countries are "potential candidates" for EU membership.
November 2000	At the Zagreb Summit, the SAP was officially endorsed by the EU and the Western Balkan countries (including Albania).
2001	The first year of the new CARDS programme specifically designed for the SAP countries.
June 2001	The Commission recommended the undertaking of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Albania. The Göteborg European Council invited the commission to present draft negotiating directives for the negotiation of a SAA.
31 January 2003	The directives for the negotiation of a SAA with Albania were adopted. Commission President Prodi officially launches the negotiations for a SAA between the EU and Albania.
June 2003	At the Thessaloniki Summit, the SAP was confirmed as the EU policy for the Western Balkans and the EU perspective for these countries was confirmed (countries participating in the SAP started to be eligible for EU accession and would join the EU once they would become ready).
December 2005	The council made the decision on the principles of a revised European Partnership for Albania.
12 June 2006	The SAA was signed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg. [23]
9 November 2006	The European Commission decided to start visa facilitation negotiations with Albania.
13 April 2007	The visa facilitation agreement was signed in Zagreb. The signing EU Commissioner Franco Frattini was quoted saying that this is the first step toward a full abolishment of the visa requirements and the free movement of Albanian citizens in the EU.
1 January 2008	The visa facilitation agreement entered into force.
7 March 2008	EU Commissioner Franco Frattini while in Tirana opened the dialogue toward the liberalisation of the visa regime between Albania and EU.
1 April 2009	The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) entered into force.
28 April 2009	Albania formally applied for membership in the European Union. [23]
16 November 2009	The Council of the EU asked the European Commission to prepare an assessment on Albania's readiness to start accession negotiations. The Commission submitted the questionnaire on accession preparation to the Albanian government. [6]
14 April 2010	Albania submitted answers to the European Commission's questionnaire, [7] but candidacy status was not granted by the EU in December 2010 due to a long-lasting political row in the country. [24]
27 May 2010	The European Commission proposed visa free travel for Albania. The adopted proposal enabled citizens of Albania to travel to Schengen countries without needing a short term visa. [25]
8 November 2010	The Council of the European Union approved visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for Albanian citizens. [26]
15 December 2010	Visa-free access for Albanians to the Schengen area entered into force.
10 October 2012	The European Commission recommended that Albania be granted EU candidate status, subject to the completion of key measures in certain areas.
August 2012	The Albanian Parliament rejected a proposal to abolish immunity for parliament members, ministers and people in some other official positions. The EU required this to be abolished along with 11 other main issues, so candidate status was further delayed. [27] However, in September 2012 a constitutional amendment was unanimously passed which limited the immunity of parliamentarians. [28]
October 2012	The European Commission evaluated the progress of Albania to comply with 12 key conditions to achieve official candidate status and start accession negotiations. The report concluded that if Albania managed to hold a fair and democratic parliamentary election in June 2013, and also implemented the remaining changes to comply with the eight key priorities still not fully met, then the Council of the European Union would recommended granting Albania official candidate status. [29] [30]
23 June 2013	Albania held a general election, generally regarded as free and fair. [31]
16 October 2013	The European Commission released its annual reports on prospective member states which concluded that the Albanian election was held in an "orderly manner" and that progress had been made in meeting other conditions; as such it recommended granting Albania candidate status. [32]
5 December 2013	In an MEP meeting it was recommended that "...the Council should acknowledge the progress made by Albania by granting it candidate status without undue delay." [8] However, several states, including Denmark and the Netherlands, remained opposed to granting Albania candidate status until it demonstrated that its recent progress could be sustained. [33] Consequently, the Council of the European Union, at its meeting in December 2013, agreed to postpone the decision on candidate status until June 2014. [34]
24 June 2014	Under the Greek EU Presidency, the Council of the European Union agreed to grant Albania candidate status, [35] [36] which was endorsed by the European Council a few days later. [37] This coincided with the 10th anniversary of the "Agenda 2014", [38] proposed by the Greek Government in 2004, as part of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki, for boosting the integration of all the Western Balkan states into the European Union. [39]
March 2015	At the fifth "High Level Dialogue meeting" between Albania and the EU, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement (Johannes Hahn) notified Albania that the setting of a start date for accession negotiations to begin still required the following two conditions to be met: 1) The government need to reopen political dialogue with the parliamentary opposition, 2) Albania must deliver quality reforms for all 5 earlier identified key areas not yet complied with (public administration, rule of law, corruption, organised crime, fundamental rights [40] ). [41] This official stance, was fully supported by the European Parliament through its pass of a Resolution comment in April 2015, [42] which agreed with all conclusions drawn by the commission's latest 2014 Progress Report on Albania. [43] The Albanian Prime Minister outlined the next step of his government would be to submit a detailed progress report on the implementation of the 5 key reforms to the Commission in Autumn 2015, and then he expected the accession negotiations should start shortly afterwards - before the end of 2015. [41]
22 July 2016	The Albanian parliament approved constitutional amendments on justice reforms.
9 November 2016	The Commission recommended the launch of negotiations. [44]
26 November 2016	Germany announced that it would veto the opening accession talks until 2018. [45]
Early 2017[ when? ]	The European Parliament warned the government leaders that the parliamentary elections in June must be "free and fair" before negotiations could begin to admit the country into the Union. The MEPs also expressed concern about the country's "selective justice, corruption, the overall length of judicial proceedings and political interference in investigations and court cases" but the EU Press Release expressed some optimism: "It is important for Albania to maintain today's reform momentum and we must be ready to support it as much as possible in this process". [46]
December 2018	Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stated that respect of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania is a precondition for Albania's entry into the European Union. [47] [12]
June 2019	The European Commissioner Johannes Hahn recommended that the EU open membership talks with Albania. [14] On 1 June 2019, the Council set out the path to opening accession negotiations, with talks thought to begin shortly thereafter.
September 2019	Germany's Bundestag set as its preconditions for Albania's EU accession negotiations the reforms in the justice system, continue the fight against drug trafficking, a new electoral law, creation of SPAK (Special Anti-Corruption Structure), functioning of the Constitutional Court & the Supreme court, appoint the new Prosecutor General, trials for the corrupt judges, and also drop some ambitions of Greater Albania. [48]
24 March 2020	EU ministers reached a political agreement on opening accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. [49]
19 July 2022	The first Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on accession negotiations was held between the EU and Albania. This marked the formal start of the accession talks. Additionally, the European Commission started the screening process. [50]
25 September 2024	EU decides to decouple Albania from North Macedonia on the EU accession path and announces that accession chapters for Albania will open on 15 October 2024.
15 October 2024	Albania opens negotiations on the "Cluster 1 - Fundamentals" chapters at the intergovernmental conference on 15 October. [51]

Status of SAA ratification

Event North Macedonia [52] Croatia [53] Albania [54] Montenegro [55] [Note 1] Bosnia and Herzegovina [57] Serbia [58] [Note 2] Kosovo [59] [Note 3] SAA negotiations start 2000-04-05 2000-11-24 2003-01-31 2005-10-10 2005-11-25 2005-10-10 2013-10-28 [61] SAA initialled 2000-11-24 2001-05-14 2006-02-28 2007-03-15 2007-12-04 2007-11-07 2014-07-25 [62] SAA/IA signature 2001-04-09 2001-10-29 2006-06-12 2007-10-15 2008-06-16 2008-04-29 2015-10-27 [63] Interim Agreement: EC ratification 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-06-12 2007-10-15 2008-06-16 2009-12-08 N/A [Note 4] SAP state ratification 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-10-09 2007-11-14 2008-06-20 2008-09-22 N/A [Note 4] entry into force 2001-06-01 2002-03-01 2006-12-01 2008-01-01 2008-07-01 2010-02-01 N/A [Note 4] Deposit of the instrument of ratification: SAP state 2001-04-27 2002-01-30 2006-11-09 2007-11-13 2009-02-26 2008-09-22 2016-02-26 Austria 2002-09-06 2002-03-15 2008-05-21 2008-07-04 2009-09-04 2011-01-13 N/A Belgium 2003-12-29 2003-12-17 2008-10-22 2010-03-29 2010-03-29 2012-03-20 N/A Bulgaria joined the EU later 2008-05-30 2009-03-13 2010-08-12 N/A Croatia joined the EU later N/A Cyprus joined the EU later 2008-05-30 2008-11-20 2009-07-02 2010-11-26 N/A Czech Republic joined the EU later 2008-05-07 2009-02-19 2009-07-23 2011-01-28 N/A Denmark 2002-04-10 2002-05-08 2008-04-24 2008-06-25 2009-05-26 2011-03-04 N/A Estonia joined the EU later 2007-10-17 2007-11-22 2008-09-11 2010-08-19 N/A Finland 2004-01-06 2004-01-06 2007-11-29 2009-03-18 2009-04-07 2011-10-21 N/A France 2003-06-04 2003-06-04 2009-02-12 2009-07-30 2011-02-10 2012-01-16 N/A Germany 2002-06-20 2002-10-18 2009-02-19 2009-11-16 2009-08-14 2012-02-24 N/A Greece 2003-08-27 2003-08-27 2009-02-26 2010-03-04 2010-09-20 2011-03-10 N/A Hungary joined the EU later 2007-04-23 2008-05-14 2008-10-22 2010-11-16 N/A Ireland 2002-05-06 2002-05-06 2007-06-11 2009-06-04 2009-06-04 2011-09-29 N/A Italy 2003-10-30 2004-10-06 2008-01-07 2009-10-13 2010-09-08 2011-01-06 N/A Latvia joined the EU later 2006-12-19 2008-10-17 2009-11-12 2011-05-30 N/A Lithuania joined the EU later 2007-05-17 2009-03-04 2009-05-04 2013-06-26 N/A Luxembourg 2003-07-28 2003-08-01 2007-07-04 2009-06-11 2010-12-22 2011-01-21 N/A Malta joined the EU later 2008-04-21 2008-12-11 2010-01-07 2010-07-06 N/A Netherlands 2002-09-09 2004-04-30 2007-12-10 2009-01-29 2009-09-30 2012-02-27 N/A Poland joined the EU later 2007-04-14 2009-02-06 2010-04-07 2012-01-13 N/A Portugal 2003-07-14 2003-07-14 2008-07-11 2008-09-23 2009-06-29 2011-03-04 N/A Romania joined the EU later 2009-01-15 2010-01-08 2012-05-22 N/A Slovakia joined the EU later 2007-07-20 2008-07-29 2009-03-17 2010-11-11 N/A Slovenia joined the EU later 2007-01-18 2008-02-07 2009-03-10 2010-12-07 N/A Spain 2002-10-04 2002-10-04 2007-05-03 2009-03-12 2010-06-15 2010-06-21 N/A Sweden 2002-06-25 2003-03-27 2007-03-21 2009-03-11 2009-09-14 2011-04-15 N/A United Kingdom 2002-12-17 2004-09-03 2007-10-16 2010-01-12 2010-04-20 2011-08-11 N/A European Communities or European Union and Euratom 2004-02-25 2004-12-21 2009-02-26 2010-03-29 2015-04-30 2013-07-22 2016-02-24 [Note 5] SAA entry into force 2004-04-01 2005-02-01 2009-04-01 2010-05-01 2015-06-01 2013-09-01 2016-04-01 [67] EU membership (SAA lapsed) (TBD) 2013-07-01 (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) (TBD) N/A: Not applicable. Montenegro started negotiations in November 2005 while a part of Serbia and Montenegro (SiM). Separate technical negotiations were conducted regarding issues of sub-state organizational competency. A mandate for direct negotiations with Montenegro was established in July 2006. Direct negotiations were initiated on 26 September 2006 and concluded on 1 December 2006. [56] Serbia started negotiations in November 2005 while part of SiM, with a modified mandate from July 2006. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but is still claimed by Serbia as part of its territory. The European Union remains divided, with five EU member states not recognizing its independence. The EU launched a Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism for Kosovo] on 6 November 2002 with the aim of aligning its policy with EU standards. On 10 October 2012 the European Commission found that there were no legal obstacles to Kosovo signing a SAA with the EU, as independence is not required for such an agreement. [60] No Interim Agreement associated with Kosovo's SAA was concluded. [64] Kosovo's SAA was the first signed after the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, which conferred a legal personality to the EU. As a result, unlike previous SAAs Kosovo's is exclusively between it and the EU and Euratom, and the member states are not parties independently. [61] [65] [66]

Visa liberalisation process

On 1 January 2008 the visa facilitation and readmission agreements between Albania and the EU entered into force. ^[68] Albania received a road map from the EU for further visa liberalisation with Schengen countries in June 2008. ^[68]

Albania started issuing biometric passports on 24 May 2009, which were designed to comply with EU guidelines. ^{[69] [70]} On 8 November 2010 the Council of the European Union approved visa-free travel to the EU for citizens of Albania. ^[26] The decision entered into force on 15 December 2010. ^[71]

EU financial aid

In 2011, the EU paid €6 million to construct or refurbish border crossing points and border police stations to help Albania fight organised crime and illegal trafficking. ^[72]

Until 2020, Albania had been receiving €1.2bn of developmental aid from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries.

Negotiation progress

The screening process has been completed and 7 chapters have been opened thus far.

Screening and Chapter Dates

Progression	33 / 33 100%complete	33 / 33 100%complete	7 / 33 21.2%complete	0 / 33 0%complete
Acquis chapter [73]	Screening Started	Screening Completed	Chapter Opened	Chapter Closed
1. Free Movement of Goods	2023-01-30	2023-03-09	–	–
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	2023-01-30	2023-03-09	–	–
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	2023-01-17	2023-03-09	–	–
4. Free Movement of Capital	2022-10-07	2023-03-09	–	–
5. Public Procurement	2022-09-15	2023-01-16	2024-10-15	–
6. Company Law	2023-02-03	2023-03-09	–	–
7. Intellectual Property Law	2023-01-17	2023-03-09	–	–
8. Competition Policy	2023-01-17	2023-03-09	–	–
9. Financial Services	2022-10-07	2023-03-09	–	–
10. Information Society & Media	2023-03-27	2023-06-15	–	–
11. Agriculture & Rural Development	2023-11-13	2023-11-24	-	–
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	2023-11-20	2023-11-24	–	–
13. Fisheries	2023-11-20	2023-11-24	–	–
14. Transport Policy	2023-03-15	2023-09-29	–	–
15. Energy	2023-03-15	2023-09-29	–	–
16. Taxation	2023-03-31	2023-06-15	–	–
17. Economic & Monetary Policy	2023-06-13	2023-06-15	–	–
18. Statistics	2022-09-19	2023-01-16	2024-10-15	–
19. Social Policy & Employment	2023-05-23	2023-06-15	–	–
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	2023-05-26	2023-06-15	–	–
21. Trans-European Networks	2023-03-15	2023-09-29	–	–
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	2023-07-17	2023-10-25	–	–
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	2022-09-27	2023-01-16	2024-10-15	−
24. Justice, Freedom & Security	2022-09-27	2023-01-16	2024-10-15	–
25. Science & Research	2023-04-28	2023-06-15	–	–
26. Education & Culture	2023-04-27	2023-06-15	–	–
27. Environment & Climate Change	2023-03-18	2023-09-29	–	–
28. Consumer & Health Protection	2023-02-17	2023-03-09	–	–
29. Customs Union	2022-10-20	2023-06-15	–	–
30. External Relations	2023-11-16	2023-11-17	2024-12-17	–
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	2023-11-16	2023-11-17	2024-12-17	–
32. Financial Control	2022-12-09	2023-01-16	2024-10-15	–
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	2023-07-17	2023-10-25	–	–
34. Institutions	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
35. Other Issues	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

October 2024 European Commission Report

Acquis chapter	Status as of Oct 2024 [74]	Chapter Status
Overview	1 chapter at an early stage 8 chapters with some level of preparation 17 chapters with moderate preparation 7 chapters with good level of preparation 2 chapters with nothing to adopt	5 chapters open
1. Free Movement of Goods	Moderately prepared†	Chapter not yet opened
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
4. Free Movement of Capital	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
5. Public Procurement	Moderately prepared	Chapter open
6. Company Law	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
7. Intellectual Property Law	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
8. Competition Policy	Moderately prepared†	Chapter not yet opened
9. Financial Services	Good level of preparation††	Chapter not yet opened
10. Information Society & Media	Good level of preparation††	Chapter not yet opened
11. Agriculture & Rural Development	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
13. Fisheries	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
14. Transport Policy	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
15. Energy	Good level of preparation††	Chapter not yet opened
16. Taxation	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
17. Economic & Monetary Policy	Good level of preparation††	Chapter not yet opened
18. Statistics	Moderately prepared	Chapter open
19. Social Policy & Employment	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	Good level of preparation††	Chapter not yet opened
21. Trans-European Networks	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	Moderately prepared	Chapter open
24. Justice, Freedom & Security	Moderately prepared	Chapter open
25. Science & Research	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
26. Education & Culture	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
27. Environment & Climate Change	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
28. Consumer & Health Protection	Early stage	Chapter not yet opened
29. Customs Union	Moderately prepared	Chapter not yet opened
30. External Relations	Good level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	Good level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
32. Financial Control	Moderately prepared	Chapter open
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	Some level of preparation	Chapter not yet opened
34. Institutions	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt
35. Other Issues	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt

^† indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "some level of preparation" AND "moderately prepared".

^†† indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "moderately prepared" AND "good level of preparation".

  totally incompatible  early stage  considerable efforts needed  some level of preparation  further efforts needed  moderately prepared  no major difficulties expected  good level of preparation  well prepared / well advanced

Negotiation History

Acquis chapter	EC Assessment in 2015 [75]	EC Assessment in 2016 [76]	EC Assessment in 2018 [77]	EC Assessment in 2019 [78]	EC Assessment in 2020 [79]	EC Assessment in 2021 [80]	EC Assessment in 2022 [81]	EC Assessment in 2023 [82]	EC Assessment in 2024 [74]
1. Free Movement of Goods	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
4. Free Movement of Capital	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
5. Public Procurement	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
6. Company Law	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
7. Intellectual Property Law	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
8. Competition Policy	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†
9. Financial Services	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation††	Good level of preparation††
10. Information Society & Media	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation††
11. Agriculture & Rural Development	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
13. Fisheries	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
14. Transport Policy	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
15. Energy	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation††	Good level of preparation††
16. Taxation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
17. Economic & Monetary Policy	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation††	Good level of preparation††
18. Statistics	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
19. Social Policy & Employment	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation††
21. Trans-European Networks	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared†	Moderately prepared
24. Justice, Freedom & Security	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
25. Science & Research	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
26. Education & Culture	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
27. Environment & Climate Change	Early stage	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
28. Consumer & Health Protection	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage	Early stage
29. Customs Union	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
30. External Relations	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation	Good level of preparation
32. Financial Control	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared	Moderately prepared
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation	Some level of preparation
34. Institutions	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt
35. Other Issues	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt	Nothing to adopt
Legend: † indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "some level of preparation" AND "moderately prepared". †† indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "moderately prepared" AND "good level of preparation".   totally incompatible  early stage  considerable efforts needed  some level of preparation  further efforts needed  moderately prepared  no major difficulties expected  good level of preparation  well prepared / well advanced

Clusters of negotiating chapters

Clusters	Acquis Chapter	State of Play	Cluster Opened	Cluster Closed
Overview	Overview	7 out of 33	2 out of 6	0 out of 6
Fundamentals	23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights	Opened	Opened	–
	24. Justice, Freedom & Security	Opened
	Economic criteria	–
	Functioning of democratic institutions	–
	Public administration reform	–
	5. Public Procurement	Opened
	18. Statistics	Opened
	32. Financial Control	Opened
Internal Market	1. Free Movement of Goods	–	–	–
	2. Freedom of Movement For Workers	–
	3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services	–
	4. Free Movement of Capital	–
	6. Company Law	–
	7. Intellectual Property Law	–
	8. Competition Policy	–
	9. Financial Services	–
	28. Consumer & Health Protection	–
Competitiveness and inclusive growth	10. Information Society & Media	–	–	–
	16. Taxation	–
	17. Economic & Monetary Policy	–
	19. Social Policy & Employment	–
	20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy	–
	25. Science & Research	–
	26. Education & Culture	–
	29. Customs Union	–
Green agenda and sustainable connectivity	14. Transport Policy	–	–	–
	15. Energy	–
	21. Trans-European Networks	–
	27. Environment	–
Resources, agriculture and cohesion	11. Agriculture & Rural Development	–	–	–
	12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy	–
	13. Fisheries	–
	22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments	–
	33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions	–
External relations	30. External Relations	Opened	Opened	–
	31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy	Opened
	34. Institutions	–	–	–
	35. Other Issues	–	–	–

Public opinion

A 2021 poll found that as many as 97% of Albanians are in favour of EU accession. ^[83]

Impact of joining

Member countries	Population	Area (km2)	GDP (billion US$)	GDP per capita (US$)	Languages
Albania	2,402,113	28,748	23.032	8,057	Albanian
EU27	447,007,596	4,233,262	17,046	38,957	24
EU27+1	449,409,709 (+0.54%)	4,262,010 (+0.68%)	17,069 (+0.13%)	37,947 (–2.59%)	25

Albania's foreign relations with EU member states

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark

Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland

Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland

Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden

See also

• Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union
• Accession of Moldova to the European Union
• Accession of Montenegro to the European Union
• Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
• Accession of Serbia to the European Union
• Accession of Ukraine to the European Union
• Albania–NATO relations
• Delegation of European Union to Albania
• Enlargement of the European Union
• Future enlargement of the European Union
• Albania–Greece relations

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Further reading

• Albania and the European Union: the tumultuous journey towards integration ... By Mirela Bogdani, John Loughlin, 2007
• Delegation of the European Union to Albania
• European Commission - Enlargement: Country Profile.
• Albanian Ministry of European Integration
• Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• European Commission - Western Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective
• European Commission - Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2009-2010