ABC News – European Leaders in Tirana: What does Albania stand to gain from the Summit? – May 16, 2025

On the occasion of the European Political Community (EPC) Summit held in Tirana, Nirvana Deliu, expert at the European Movement in Albania (EMA), emphasized that Albania is the third non-EU country to host such a summit, underscoring the continued strategic importance of the Western Balkans for Europe. According to Deliu, bilateral meetings with heads of state, even after the summit, reflect growing cooperation—both diplomatically and economically—as well as a deepening alignment in foreign policy interests.

She provided an overview of Albania’s EU accession process, which formally began with the opening of negotiations in 2022. The first phase, known as the explanatory screening, involved Albanian delegations traveling to Brussels to receive information on the EU’s legal framework. This was followed by a second phase, where Albanian delegations presented their own progress on aligning national legislation with the EU acquis, chapter by chapter. Deliu highlighted that Cluster 1, considered the most fundamental Cluster, was opened first and will be closed last, shaping the overall structure of the negotiations. She also noted that the opening of Cluster 3 – Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth is expected soon, marked by the upcoming Fifth Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels.

Discussing the challenges ahead, Deliu pointed out that economic-related chapters pose the greatest difficulties, primarily due to the region’s preparation for integration into the EU’s internal market. She stressed that the economic development gap between the Western Balkans and EU member states remains significant, and this is precisely what the EU’s Growth Plan seeks to address.

ABC News – European Leaders in Tirana: What does Albania stand to gain from the Summit? – May 16, 2025