Von der Leyen says Albania is among EU accession frontrunners

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Tirana on Wednesday that Albania is among the frontrunners in the EU accession process, while stressing that more reforms are still needed across open chapters. She said Albania has already opened the final cluster of negotiating chapters and closed its first three chapters in July.

Von der Leyen said the remaining work covers justice, the electoral framework and the protection of Albania’s environment. She added that adopting reforms is not enough on its own and said they must be implemented thoroughly, with genuine engagement across political lines and continued dialogue with society.

She also pointed to the Growth Plan, saying Albania has achieved over 80% of reform steps and has already received 213 million euro in EU funds, with more payments expected in the coming weeks. The commission chief said the plan is designed to bring more EU investment to Albania while opening parts of the single market as reforms move forward.

Von der Leyen highlighted Albania’s entry into SEPA, the Single European Payment Area, and said it could save Western Balkan companies around 500 million euro a year. She also said transaction fees in Albania have fallen by more than 90%.

On roaming, she said the EU is reducing charges and wants the negotiations to move faster. She promised to return on the day roaming surcharges are abolished in Albania if talks with the companies are successful.

Von der Leyen said Albania hosted a first Western Balkan investment conference last year that mobilised 4 billion euro in new deals for the region, and she wished similar success for a second edition in November.

She said next week the European Commission will present its pre-enlargement policy reviews, looking at institutions, policies and the EU budget, and will set out roadmaps on how to protect democratic values and the rule of law. She said Albania is among the most advanced candidates and that the roadmaps will show what remains to be done, by when and what progress should follow.

Von der Leyen also said she will visit Emin Duraku school on Thursday morning and recalled the 2019 earthquake in Albania. She said EU4Schools rebuilt or refurbished 63 schools with EU support, including Emin Duraku.