On May 26, the 8th Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the European Union will be held in Brussels. The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States of the European Union (COREPER) approved this Friday the holding of the 8th Albania-European Union Intergovernmental Conference.
According to this decision, the fulfillment of the Interim Benchmarks in the “Fundamentals” Cluster is confirmed, while the Closing Benchmarks for accession negotiations are defined for Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Rights” and Chapter 24 “Justice, Freedom and Security.”
The government emphasized that with this conference, Albania enters a new phase of negotiations for membership in the European Union. It further stated that this decision confirms Albania’s steady progress in fulfilling the key priorities of the accession negotiation process, strengthening the rule of law, and consolidating democratic institutions.
Furthermore, the government added that the decision acknowledges Albania’s progress in consolidating justice reform, as well as in ensuring the independent and efficient functioning and integrity of justice institutions and independent bodies, along with the fight against corruption and organized crime.
According to the government, the decision also recognizes progress in the field of human rights, including freedom of expression and media, property rights, respect for the rights of national minorities, equality, and non-discrimination, in line with the fundamental standards and values of the European Union.
“Today’s decision reaffirms the European Union’s support for Albania’s European perspective and acknowledges the commitment of Albanian institutions in implementing transformative reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, democratic consolidation, and sustainable economic and social development.
Albania, building on the progress achieved so far and guided by a clear European vision, remains determined to deepen reforms and deliver results in the areas of judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, public procurement, statistics, and financial control within Cluster I ‘Fundamentals’ and beyond, and to move steadily toward fulfilling the criteria for European Union membership within this decade. This is Albania’s Major National Project of European Transformation,” the government announcement stated, among other things.
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