Albania has closed another chapter in the negotiation process with the European Union, while another political message also came from Brussels: the pace of reforms must continue. This was the line conveyed by Irish minister Thomas Byrne after the 10th Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference.
A supportive message, but also pressure for continuity
At the joint press conference with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, Byrne described the development as an important moment for Albania and for the EU itself.
According to his statement, the closing of another chapter in the negotiations should be accompanied by the continuation of the same pace in reforms and by the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations.
What Thomas Byrne said
Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence said that Albania must maintain continuity at this stage of the process.
“Today is an important moment for Albania and the EU. Today Albania has closed another chapter, and I encourage Rama and Albania to continue to maintain the pace and continuity of the Commission’s recommendations. We want to close other chapters, because your future lies and is in the EU,” Byrne said.
Integration remains tied to conditions and recommendations
The statement by the Irish official once again places the emphasis on a point that Brussels regularly repeats: Albania’s progress on the path toward membership is not measured only by political conferences, but by the concrete fulfillment of commitments.
In this framework, the closing of chapters is seen as a procedural and political step, but the real weight remains on the implementation of the reforms required by European institutions.
The 10th Intergovernmental Conference marks another phase in the negotiation process, while the EU’s expectation, according to the message delivered after the meeting, remains the same: more pace, more implementation, and less political rhetoric.