TIRANA, August 10 – Albania is stepping up work on its European Union integration process, with more than 20 draft laws already prepared for Chapters 16 and 29. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said the first half of 2026 brought heavy workloads and strategic tasks, but EU integration remained a key priority for the Ministry of Finance.
Yzeiraj said Albania has completed its first 3 negotiating chapters. Institutions continue working to meet the conditions and standards required under the remaining chapters. He described European integration as a historic mission and highlighted the progress made during 2026.
The deputy minister focused on Chapters 16 and 29, which cover taxation and the customs union. He said officials have already planned and prepared initial drafts for more than 20 pieces of legislation. At the same time, teams are working to build 50 electronic and digital systems for data transmission with the European Commission. Yzeiraj said Albania aims to close both chapters next year.
Meanwhile, he thanked the ministry staff and agencies involved in the process. Their work covers legislative alignment with the EU acquis, stronger administrative capacity and the digital infrastructure needed to implement and monitor European standards. Yzeiraj said the continued work on taxation and customs will support Albania’s progress towards the next stages of negotiations and the eventual closure of the chapters.
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