The European Commission is expected on Wednesday to present a roadmap on the progress of accession negotiations for Albania, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine. In the version circulating in Brussels, Albania is praised for the pace of negotiations, but the document does not overlook long-standing problems in democratic functioning and the way laws are passed.
What the European Commission is expected to announce
According to information circulating in Brussels, the roadmap is built on the ten progress reports for the four countries and is expected to be presented by Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
The document is reportedly already ready, but under embargo. It is available to the representations of the countries involved, while the official presentation is expected to provide, for the first time, guidance on timelines for closing the negotiations.
Albania, between a fast pace and governance problems
According to the Commission’s expected version, Albania has made significant progress in the negotiations. In a little over one year, all chapter clusters have been opened and the interim benchmarks for Cluster 1 have been met.
But the assessment is not without reservations. The text stresses that the country must maintain the pace of reforms not only in speed, but also in quality. The document again raises concerns about political polarization, weaknesses in parliamentary oversight, and the excessive use of accelerated procedures for passing laws, elements which, according to the Commission, undermine the quality of democratic governance.
The 2027-2028 deadline remains a target, not a guarantee
According to the roadmap, Albania and Moldova could reach the stage of closing accession negotiations at the end of 2027 or at the beginning of 2028. Ukraine is mentioned as a country that could follow later, by the end of 2029.
This timeline matches the ambition previously declared by Prime Minister Edi Rama to steer the process toward the end of 2027. However, the wording used remains a Commission projection and not a final political seal, much less a guarantee that the pace seen so far will be maintained without obstacles.
Montenegro presented as the most advanced example
In Wednesday’s presentation, Marta Kos is expected to emphasize that Montenegro is on the right track to complete accession negotiations by the end of this year.
The Commission sees Montenegro’s progress as proof that enlargement remains a concrete and achievable objective. The comparison also sets a political standard for other aspiring countries, including Albania, which, although it has moved quickly in opening chapter clusters, continues to face criticism over democratic standards.
Amid positive signals for integration, the message coming from Brussels is not only about the pace of negotiations, but also about the quality of the state. For Albania, the test is not simply how many chapters are opened or closed, but how real the reforms accompanying them are.