Cluster 5 – Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion

Cluster V covers the areas of agriculture, natural resources and cohesion policies. This cluster holds particular importance, as it addresses sectors directly linked to economic development, food safety, and the reduction of regional disparities. Within this cluster, candidate countries commit to aligning their national legislation with the EU acquis, ensuring the harmonisation of agricultural policies with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, strengthening control and inspection mechanisms to guarantee food standards, as well as building capacities for the management of structural funds and cohesion investment programmes.

Cluster V aims at the modernisation of the agricultural sector, increasing competitiveness, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable regional development, thereby contributing to the full integration of candidate countries into the European Union’s common policies. Negotiations for this cluster were officially opened at the Seventh Intergovernmental Conference between Albania and the EU, held on 12 November 2025. Alongside the opening of negotiations, it was established that this cluster may be provisionally closed only after the specific criteria of each chapter, 18 in total, have been fulfilled.

Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development

Chapter 11 contains a large number of mandatory rules, many of which are directly applicable. The proper implementation of these rules and effective oversight by an efficient public administration are essential for the functioning of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which requires the establishment of management and quality systems such as the paying agency, the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), and the capacity to implement rural development measures. This chapter also includes legislation on the protection of designations of origin, geographical indications and traditional specialities for agricultural and food products, as well as the control of such protection; rules on organic farming and control and inspection systems; State aid in agriculture; and the creation and functioning of a system for the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), an important tool for shaping the CAP. This chapter addresses several horizontal issues, such as horizontal issues, common market organization, state aid, rural development, quality policy, and organic production.

Following the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, three closing benchmarks have been set for this chapter:

• Albania submits an implementation plan for the establishment of an Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) to be fully operational by the date of accession. The plan covers all actions required for the full implementation of each separate component of the system and their integration, including a presentation of the current status of preparation, the future targets indicated in a timetable, a plan of legislation still to be adopted, precise budgetary and human resources requirements and identification of possible shortcomings and respective solutions. Albania demonstrates it has made satisfactory progress towards the setting-up of the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) in line with the EU acquis, including the establishment of the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).
• Albania submits an implementation plan for the setting up of a paying agency to be fully operational by the date of accession. Taking into account the standards as regards independence, reliability, accountability and financial rectitude, the plan includes a presentation of the current status of preparation, the future targets indicated in a timetable, a plan of legislation still to be adopted, precise budgetary requirements, human resources needs including recruitment schedule and identification of possible shortcomings and respective solutions. Albania demonstrates it has made sufficient progress towards the setting up of this paying agency in line with the EU
• Albania has in place an effective financial management, monitoring and control system with sufficient capacities for control and audit with highest levels of integrity and ethics ror control and audit, in order to fully use and benefit from EU agricultural and rural development funds upon accession. Albania has introduced effective remedial measures for the sound management of the IPARD support, including in the areas of internal management and control procedures and measures related to irregularities, fraud and corruption, and strengthened the integrity of the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (ARDA).

Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Policies

Chapter 12 covers the detailed rules in the field of food safety which lays down hygiene requirements for the production of agricultural products. Furthermore, European Union legislation establishes detailed veterinary rules, which are essential for maintaining animal health, animal welfare and the safety of food products of animal origin within the internal market. In the field of plant protection, EU rules cover issues such as seed quality, plant protection materials, harmful organisms and animal feed.

Following the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, six closing benchmarks have been set for this chapter:

• Albania submits to the Commission an approved national programme for the upgrading of establishments for products of animal origin and establishments for feed. As regards the milk sector, the national programme should also include a strategy for the use of non-compliant raw milk and for improving the quality of raw milk.
• Albania demonstrates sufficient progress in the use of animal by-products and in the establishment of a disposal chain in line with EU requirements.
• Albania demonstrates sufficient progress in establishing an EU-compliant system for official controls of live animals and animal products, including its funding.
• Albania demonstrates sufficient progress in the implementation and enforcement of rules related to animal health, in line with EU requirements (including animal identification and registration, disease surveillance, eradication programmes, disease control and emergency measures).
• Albania demonstrates sufficient progress in the implementation and enforcement of rules related to animal welfare, in line with EU requirements (including animal welfare at farm, during transport and at the time of killing).
• Albania demonstrates that it has set up and developed the relevant administrative capacities and infrastructures, making tangible progress in setting up a sustainable system of official controls, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) that includes the operation of official laboratories and border control posts in accordance with the Albania has demonstrated it will have sufficient administrative capacity to correctly implement and apply all the acquis covered by this chapter, in particular as regard animal and plant health, phytosanitary rules, and food safety and feed safety, upon accession and makes further progress in increasing its infrastructures, equipped with sufficient resources and staff performing official activities with impartiality and ethics, and without conflict of interest, in line with the requirements laid down in the EU acquis.

Chapter 13 – Fisheries and Aquaculture

Chapter 13 aims primarily at the establishment of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which focuses on the management of fishery resources within European waters. The main objectives of the CFP are to prevent overfishing, protect marine ecosystems and ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries. The CFP regulates fishing quotas, technical measures, the monitoring and control of fishing activities, as well as support for aquaculture and scientific research. It also promotes the economic sustainability of communities dependent on fishing and facilitates access to the EU single market for fishery products. The sub-areas covered by this chapter include resource and fleet management, inspection and control, structural measures, market policy, State aid and international agreements.

Following the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, two closing benchmarks have been established for this chapter:

• Albania has an advanced level of alignment with the EU acquis on fisheries, as well as relevant international agreements, ensuring that Albania will be able to fully implement the Common Fisheries Policy upon accession.
• Albania puts in place the sufficient administrative, inspection and control capacity respecting highest levels of integrity and ethics as required by the Common Fisheries Policy and demonstrates that EU requirements will be fully met upon accession, in particular as regards inspection and control.

Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments

Chapter 22 covers the financial support provided to countries and regions for the implementation of projects aimed at strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion, with particular emphasis on: 1) enhancing economic and social cohesion by reducing disparities between EU regions; 2) increasing regional competitiveness in order to secure the EU’s global competitiveness; 3) European territorial cooperation, which aims at promoting cooperation between EU regions. This chapter contains the framework regulations establishing the rules for the preparation and implementation of operational programmes, whose execution is financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Following the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, six closing benchmarks have been set for this chapter:

• Albania has demonstrated satisfactory implementation of EU pre- accession funding approved for indirect management, particularly for the components and sectors relevant for the implementation of cohesion policy.
• Albania submits to the Commission a comprehensive and good quality draft of its Partnership Agreement (PA) in line with a high-quality, detailed action plan and a related timetable, setting out clear objectives and timeframes in order to meet requirements deriving from the EU Cohesion Policy. The PA should contain arrangements to ensure alignment with relevant EU priorities and strategies, the selected thematic objectives, their justification, and the main expected results for each cohesion policy Fund. The PA should include indications of planned programmes, sources of funding, and a summary of the assessment of the fulfilment of applicable enabling conditions.
• Albania submits to the Commission a comprehensive and good quality draft project pipeline for implementation under cohesion policy. This draft should clearly demonstrate the availability of sufficient resources for the preparation and execution of the project pipeline.
• Albania has in place the necessary legal bases and consultation processes and enhanced capacities to ensure resources, commitment and ownership by all relevant public and private bodies at national and sub-national levels in the programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of cohesion measures in line with the European Code of Conduct on Partnership.
• Albania has in place a comprehensive institutional set-up, including organisational development and capacity building strategies for key institutions, for the programming, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, communication, audit and control of cohesion policy, with formally designated structures that have clearly defined functions, tasks, and responsibilities and demonstrates sufficient institutional and administrative capacity at all levels with high levels of integrity and ethics to manage cohesion policy programmes. Albania has in place a planning, monitoring, and evaluation system that is well aligned with EU requirements, supported by a fully functional electronic Management and Information System.
• Albania has in place an effective financial management, monitoring and control system with sufficient capacities and high levels of integrity and ethics for control and audit functions, to enable the full and effective use of EU funds from the date of accession. Albania adopts and implements the public accounting law in compliance with the International Accounting Standards for the Public Sector.

Chapter 33 – Financial and Budgetary Provisions

Chapter 33 covers the rules governing the funds of the EU budget (own resources). These resources consist primarily of 1) contributions based on the gross national income (GNI) of each Member State; 2) customs duties; and 3) a resource based on value-added tax (VAT). Member States must have the appropriate administrative capacities to adequately coordinate and ensure accurate calculation, collection, payment and control of own resources. The sub-areas covered by this chapter include traditional own resources, VAT-based resources and GNI-based resources.

Following the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, one closing benchmark has been set for this chapter:

• Albania has a good level of alignment with the acquis and demonstrates sufficient statistical and administrative capacity to be able, from accession, to correctly calculate, forecast, account for, collect, pay, control and report to the EU on own resources in line with the acquis, including by implementing an action plan in order to sufficiently prepare and introduce procedural rules.

Screening Timetable for EU-Albania Cluster 5

Relevant documents:

Screening Report for Cluster 5 – Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion, August 2025

EU Common Position for Cluster 5 – Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion, November 2025