The 9th intergovernmental conference between Albania and the European Union has begun in Brussels, marking another stage in the negotiation process that the government presents as progress on the path toward membership. According to the official announcement, three more chapters are expected to be closed at this meeting.
Which chapters are expected to close
These are Chapter 25 – Science and Research, Chapter 26 – Education and Culture, and Chapter 30 – External Relations.
If formalized, these will be added to the other chapters addressed earlier in the negotiation process between Albania and the EU.
The Albanian delegation in Brussels
Prime Minister Edi Rama traveled to Brussels together with the official Albanian delegation to take part in the conference.
The meeting is considered part of the European integration calendar, while the concrete outcome remains tied to procedures and decision-making at the EU level.
Message from the Enlargement Commission
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos described July 14 as a “Super Tuesday” for the enlargement process.
According to her, for the first time in more than two decades, four intergovernmental accession conferences are being held on the same day.
What this phase of the negotiations signals
The opening or closing of chapters is seen as a procedural indicator of the progress of negotiations, but not as an automatic guarantee of the immediate approach of full membership.
Beyond the optimistic statements of the official side, the integration process remains conditioned by the pace of reforms and by the assessment of European institutions.
The conference that began today in Brussels is expected to clarify whether the three chapters will be officially closed, as announced by the official side.
For now, the development is being read as another procedural step in Albania-EU negotiations, rather than as an arrival point in itself.