The 27 ambassadors of the European Union member states have unanimously approved the continuation of accession talks with Albania, giving the green light to open the fifth and final negotiation cluster — covering Agriculture and Cohesion.
This milestone brings Albania a significant step closer to EU membership, with the sixth Intergovernmental Conference now scheduled to take place in mid-September. During this meeting, the EU will formally open Cluster 4, which focuses on the Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity.
Albania was previously asked by the EU to submit its negotiating position for this cluster by June.
Cluster 4 includes key sectors such as transport, trans-European networks, road and rail infrastructure improvement, and transport safety. It also addresses energy policy, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.
The Albanian government, under Prime Minister Edi Rama, aims to complete accession negotiations by 2027 and achieve full EU membership by 2030. Rama has publicly committed to the “Albania 2030” vision, promising to conclude all negotiation chapters within the next two years and secure membership by the end of the decade.
Since the start of formal negotiations in 2022, Albania has opened 16 out of 35 chapters, marking steady progress toward its European path.
