Albania advances EU accession and territorial reform

Albania has reached a significant milestone in its European Union accession process by closing Chapter 20, which concerns ‘Enterprise and Industrial Policy’. During an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, Prime Minister Edi Rama described the move as a recognition of the country's ongoing reforms. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expressed support for Albania's ambitious goal to close all negotiating chapters by the end of 2027, emphasizing that the process must remain a national project involving the government, opposition, and civil society.

Domestically, the Socialist Party has requested the establishment of a Special Parliamentary Commission to manage the second phase of the Administrative-Territorial Reform. Following the recent approval to reduce the number of municipalities from 61 to 46, this new phase will focus on local government functions, services, financing, and regional development to ensure alignment with EU standards before the 2027 local elections.

The political landscape remains tense as the ruling Socialist Party faces internal friction regarding the territorial reform. Some deputies have expressed dissatisfaction with the draft, leading Prime Minister Rama to call for an expanded meeting of the Parliamentary Group to address party discipline and dissent.