The European Commission highlights Albania's reform progress as indicative roadmaps are prepared for future steps towards EU membership. European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, spoke today following the publication of the 2026 Enlargement Package, which shows that commitment to reform yields progress towards European Union membership, which is not the case for all candidate countries.
The European Commission has adopted its annual Enlargement Package, which reviews the progress made by partners in the enlargement process over the past year and sets out reform priorities for the coming period.
Enlargement is one of the EU's most significant policies, bolstering peace, stability, and prosperity across the continent. Firmly rooted in the merit-based principle, a credible enlargement policy increasingly represents an investment in Europe's collective security, and Montenegro, Moldova, Ukraine, and Albania have advanced on their path towards the European Union.
The European Commission's report also outlines the main conclusions, highlighting that Albania continues to make progress towards EU accession. During the reporting period, it opened the last remaining cluster and met the interim benchmarks for the rule of law chapters, thereby paving the way for the provisional closure of four chapters. Further efforts are now required across all remaining chapters.
Achieving Albania's ambitious yet realistic goal of concluding accession negotiations by 2027 requires maintaining reform momentum and fostering inclusive political dialogue. Sustaining this momentum will necessitate the swift implementation of high-quality, EU-related reforms. At the same time, the reporting period recorded the country's largest civic mobilisation since its democratic transition.
EU accession demands a whole-of-society approach and constructive dialogue.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said regarding the candidates' progress:
"The significant progress achieved by individual candidates over the past year allows us to turn the promise of enlargement into reality. We are now proposing a set of indicative roadmaps for the most advanced countries in the negotiation process - Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, and Moldova. A clear pathway for the year ahead and a solid foundation for the upcoming negotiations. Step by step, we are building a more complete and stronger Union."
The reports demonstrate that the pace of reform - particularly in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights - alongside political commitments in security and defence, as well as progress towards economic convergence, directly shapes the speed of the accession process for each partner.
The Commission also presents a common framework for gradual integration to further deepen alignment in strategic sectors such as energy, transport, the digital sector, and defence. This will make gradual integration more structured and harmonised.
"We have seen remarkable progress among the countries furthest along in the accession process. Today, we are only a short time away from completing Montenegro's EU integration process. An enlarged Union is becoming tangible with the other three frontrunners as well, as Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine could join the European Union in the coming years if they sustain their reform efforts. It is also essential that EU member states continue to support enlargement," stated Marta Kos.
In light of the progress made by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine, the Commission has set out indicative roadmaps featuring concrete milestones and objectives for the coming year. Drawing on past experience - particularly from the 2004 and 2013 enlargements - these will help organize the preparation for the next phases in a more structured and transparent manner, supporting the work of candidate countries, EU institutions, and member states alike.
It is now up to the Council to consider the Commission's recommendations and decide on the next steps in the enlargement process.
(EUpravo zato)