Greece assesses economic prospects and risks with Albania, North Macedonia, Turkey

On 26 May the European Commission released a detailed report on the 2026‑2028 economic reform programmes of candidate and potential‑candidate countries. The analysis focuses on the three non‑EU neighbours that share a land border with Greece: Albania, North Macedonia and Turkey, examining how their economies could affect Greek trade, investment and energy cooperation.

Albania is projected to grow about 4 % annually, driven by private consumption, construction and tourism, but the Commission notes weakening export performance, an over‑valued lek and demographic challenges. North Macedonia is expected to see a 7.4 % yearly rise in investment, with strong Greek involvement in energy, metals, retail and finance, yet it faces a large informal sector and low productivity. Turkey offers a much larger market with opportunities in exports, transport, tourism, shipping and synchronized electricity grids, while also presenting significant economic and political risks.