TIRANA, May 11 – Public Procurement Agency Director General and Chapter 5 negotiator Reida Kashta said public procurement stands as one of the key chapters in Albania’s European Union integration process. She said the EU places it within the new negotiation methodology under the fundamental cluster.
Kashta made the remarks at a conference on negotiation progress. She said Albania is currently working in two parallel directions: the public procurement system and Chapter 5 of the EU negotiations. In addition, she pointed to Albania’s accession process to the Government Procurement Agreement under the World Trade Organization, coordinated with the European Union.
She said the EU has assessed Albania’s procurement system as ready to join the intergovernmental agreement. She added that the process now awaits approval from other participating parties.
Meanwhile, Kashta outlined three main conditions for closing Chapter 5. She listed full legal alignment with EU acquis, stronger institutional capacity at all levels, and stable performance data.
Further, she said Albania works on all three pillars. She confirmed that legal changes are in final stages for full alignment with EU legislation. She also said institutional capacity documentation stands ready, along with performance data for 2022–2025.
At the same time, she explained that the second agreement under negotiation extends beyond the European Union framework and includes global partners, with the EU as one participant.
Kashta said EU approval remains essential. She noted that it confirms Albania’s procurement system reaches a level of maturity comparable with EU member states. She added that the agreement would expand Albania’s opportunities for international cooperation and competition beyond the EU area.
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