Albania and the European Union will hold their fourth intergovernmental conference on April 14 in Luxembourg, paving the way for the opening of negotiations under Cluster 2 on the internal market, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The date was officially announced by the Polish EU Presidency following a consensus reached by the ambassadors of all 27 member states in Brussels.
The meeting will mark the formal launch of negotiations on several chapters within Cluster 2, including Chapter 1 (Free movement of goods), Chapter 2 (Freedom of movement for workers), Chapter 3 (Right of establishment and freedom to provide services), Chapter 4 (Free movement of capital), Chapter 6 (Company law), Chapter 7 (Intellectual property law), Chapter 8 (Competition policy), and Chapter 28 (Consumer and health protection).
This follows Albania’s opening of Cluster 1 on the fundamentals on Oct. 15, 2024, which includes judiciary reform, rule of law, fundamental rights, and democratic institutions. On Dec. 17, 2024, discussions began on Cluster 6 covering foreign relations, security, and defence policy.
Foreign ministers are also expected to discuss the acceleration of the enlargement process with Western Balkan countries, where Albania and Montenegro are seen as frontrunners.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the announcement, taking a jab at opposition leader Sali Berisha, who had previously claimed there would be no further chapter openings with the EU.
“Didn’t they say there would be no more chapter openings, huh? Europe alarmed by a narco-dictatorship, huh? I didn’t even get dinner because I behaved badly, huh?” Rama wrote sarcastically on social media.
He added: “Monday, we are in the EU for the Fourth Intergovernmental Conference and a new series of chapter openings.”
Rama described the negotiations as the “most intensive in the history of EU integration,” noting that while Montenegro has been negotiating since 2012, Albania began only last year.
“With our calendar set to close by 2027, we’re on track to be ready to join the EU,” Rama said. “You can’t help but say to the political and media swamp dwellers: this is a miracle of freedom. God bless Albania! God bless Europe!”
