Albania-EU negotiations, fifth Intergovernmental Conference held in Brussels today

The Fifth Intergovernmental Conference with Albania will be held this afternoon in Brussels, to open negotiations on eight new chapters of the third group, which is related to competitiveness and inclusive growth.

These chapters include economic policy, employment, taxation, education and culture, customs union, as well as media and digital transformation.

Progress in these areas is essential to guarantee Albania's fiscal stability, tax policies, industrial modernization, increased innovation, improved working conditions, and participation in European initiatives in scientific research, education, and digitalization, as well as growth for Albanian businesses.

So far, negotiations have been opened in a total of 27 areas (chapters and criteria) in just eight months, following the successful opening of Chapter Group 1 (Fundamentals) on 15 October 2024, Chapter Group 6 (External Relations) on 17 December 2024, and Chapter Group 2 (Internal Market) on 14 April 2025.

Albania aims to open the remaining chapters within this year, while completing the negotiations within 2027, with 2030 as the year of full membership in the European family.

CHAPTERS OF THE THIRD GROUP

Chapter 10 (Digital Transformation and Media)

Chapter 16 (Taxes)

Chapter 17 (Economic and Monetary Policy)

Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment)

Chapter 20 (Enterprises and Industrial Policy)

Chapter 25 (Science and Research)

Chapter 26 (Education and Culture)

Chapter 29 (Customs Union)