Albania aims to open all chapters of its European Union accession talks by the end of this year, with the goal of concluding negotiations by 2027, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Tirana with European Council President António Costa, Rama said the integration process was progressing well and described the 2027 target, agreed with the European Commission, as “highly ambitious.”
“Today, Albania officially sits at the negotiation table with 16 chapters opened, and eight more to be opened in the coming days,” Rama said. “Our goal is to open all chapters within the year, and to conclude negotiations over the next three years.”
Rama praised Costa’s visit to Tirana, which follows the EU leader’s regional tour ahead of Thursday’s European Political Community summit in the Albanian capital.
“This is a unique opportunity for us,” Rama said. “The stars have aligned, and for the first time, the EU is clearly eager to accept new members — naturally, based on merit and results.”
He urged leaders across the Western Balkans not to miss the current geopolitical momentum for enlargement.
“I invite all my colleagues in the region not to waste this moment that history has brought to our doorstep,” he said. “We must take full advantage of the EU’s readiness, knowing that enlargement can accelerate quickly — but can also slow down for years.”
The European Union formally launched accession negotiations with Albania in 2022.