On Monday, November 17, Albania will open the final negotiating cluster during the seventh Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the EU in Brussels, marking the opening of all negotiation chapters in a record time of just 12 months.
Prime Minister Edi Rama will participate in the seventh Intergovernmental Conference together with the Minister of State and Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka, the Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni, as well as other members of the Albanian delegation, in order to formally open negotiations for Cluster 5, “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion,” reports Tch.
After the proceedings, Prime Minister Rama, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, and the Danish Foreign Minister Marie Bjerre will hold a joint press conference.
Cluster 5 includes five key chapters essential for the country’s economic and social development, with the most direct impact on production, competitiveness, and balanced territorial development.
Through this cluster, Albania will benefit from the modernization of agriculture, increased production capacities, and the digitalization of the food supply chain.
A special focus is placed on strengthening food safety control mechanisms and aligning with EU standards, while the fisheries and aquaculture sectors aim to benefit from European rules and programs for sustainable management.
In the cohesion component, Albania addresses the enhancement of capacities for managing EU funds and preparing for effective participation in regional development policies.
Meanwhile, the chapter on financial and budgetary provisions includes alignment with European practices on transparency, budget planning, and public fund administration.
The opening of Cluster 5 represents a decisive step toward Albania’s final approach to the EU, consolidating the progress made so far and creating a foundation for deeper reforms in sectors that support the country’s economy, food security, and sustainable development.
