Albania to Close Three EU Accession Chapters on July 14

The EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) approved the provisional closure of three negotiation chapters for Albania – Chapter 25 (Science and Research), Chapter 26 (Education and Culture) and Chapter 30 (External Relations) – paving the way for an inter‑governmental conference on 14 July 2026 in Brussels. Prime Minister Edi Rama will lead the Albanian delegation at the event, marking a key milestone toward full EU membership, which Albania aims to achieve within the decade.

The decision was taken under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU and follows a series of reforms that satisfied the European acquis criteria. At the same time, the EU announced progress on other enlargement fronts: the opening of Chapter 6 for Ukraine and Moldova, and the advancement of negotiations for Montenegro, which will close two chapters in a forthcoming summit. These moves collectively signal a broader push to expand the Union in the Western Balkans and beyond.