BRUSSELS, Sept. 16, 2025

Albania opened the fourth Cluster, “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity,” during the 6th Intergovernmental Conference with the European Union on Tuesday. With the four chapters included in this cluster, the total number of chapters opened in Albania’s accession talks has now reached 28.

The Albanian delegation was led by Prime Minister Edi Rama and included Majlinda Dhuka, Minister of State and Chief Negotiator; Adea Pirdeni, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption and Deputy Chief Negotiator; Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister-designate for the Environment; and Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador and Head of Albania’s Mission to the EU, along with other senior officials from the relevant ministries.

Prime Minister Rama welcomed the development, calling the EU “a blessing for a country like Albania” and expressing hope that the last chapter could be opened by the end of the year. “This is not an enlargement process, it is a reunification with Europe,” Rama said.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised Albania’s progress, pointing to strong public support for membership—92 percent, according to the Barometer—as well as reforms undertaken in recent years. “This outcome reflects the hard work of the Albanian authorities, who have advanced reforms consistently, including during this election year. Albania is showing that positive change is possible and that the EU rewards this progress,” she said. Kos added that Brussels aims to start closing chapters quickly to help Albania meet its ambition of completing the process by 2027.

Speaking on behalf of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre emphasized that enlargement remains a key priority. “Today’s conference showed that enlargement is moving forward and that real reforms bring real results. Albania has worked hard over the years on judicial reform, the fight against corruption, and aligning its foreign policy with the EU,” she noted.