The Second Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the European Union has started today in Luxembourg. The meeting is being chaired by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, the country that holds the next Presidency of the EU.
Albania is represented at this conference by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Chief Negotiator Majlina Dhuka, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani and Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni. At the table for the Albanian parties will be all the deputy ministers, who represent the sectors of the negotiation chapters that will be opened the next day, known as "Basics".
After the meeting at around 09:25 a press conference is expected by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó.
The meeting serves to open negotiations with Albania for group-chapter 1, which includes areas and chapters of negotiations such as:
The functioning of democratic institutions and the reform of public administration
Chapter 23 – Judiciary and fundamental rights
Chapter 24 – Justice, freedom and security
Economic criteria
Chapter 5 – Public procurement
Chapter 18 – Statistics
Chapter 32 – Financial control
After the presentation of the revised methodology for the accession negotiations in 2020, the negotiating chapters are divided into six thematic groups: Basic; Internal market; Competitiveness and inclusive growth; Green agenda and sustainable connectivity; Resources, agriculture and cohesion; and foreign relations.
Negotiations for group-chapter 1 are opened first and closed last. Progress in this group will determine the overall pace of negotiations.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper II) approved the EU's common position opening the first round of negotiations with Albania, thus allowing the holding of an intergovernmental conference with Albania on 15 October 2024 in Luxembourg.
Albania will be the first among the candidate countries to open membership negotiations according to the revised enlargement methodology, which will be a key moment for the Western Balkan country.
The first group of chapters covers fundamental reforms, paving the way for the start of negotiations for other groups. Progress on these reforms will also determine the overall pace of negotiations.
