EC aims to open accession talks with Albania on fundamentals cluster by yr-end

The fundamentals cluster includes the following areas: judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, public procurement, statistics and financial control. It is being opened first and closed last.

Albania applied for EU membership in April 2009 and was granted EU candidate status in June 2014.

Albania is showing progress towards European Union accession, but it still has to overcome challenges across various areas involving organised crime, judicial independence, and market competitiveness, with corruption being a prominent issue in both public and private sectors, the Commission said in a report on the country's progress to membership.

The country needs to step up the fight against crime, with a focus on illicit drugs, and money laundering, it added.

Moreover, the Albanian government must improve the independence of its judiciary, addressing case backlog and procedural delays.

Albania has shown progress in adapting last year’s recommendations on developing its market economy, with the economy proving resilient despite oscillations occurred due to the war in Ukraine. It is moderately prepared for market competition but needs to address issues like energy, infrastructure, and digitalisation, the Commission also said.

Albania also needs to speed up its adaptation of the green agenda, through the addressing of challenges environment, climate change, and energy efficiency.