Euronews – Albania joining EU in 2024? Gjipali: It is difficult without political dialogue, 31 October 2024

In an interview on EuroNews Albania to elaborate on the last report of the European Commission on Albania 2024, published on October 2024, Gledis Gjipali asserted that Albania is facing significant challenges in the process of European integration, with funding and full mobilisation of the administration being the main obstacles. According to Mr. Gjipali, high-level experts will be needed to carry out these processes. Additionally, a stabilised political situation is crucial for achieving success in this regard. Without functional political dialogue, either in the Parliament or other institutions, the implementation of important reforms is impossible. Mr. Gjipali also emphasized that a well-organized political system and an inter-party agreement are essential for full support of the technical aspects of the integration process. However, he considers the realisation of this process difficult, as political parties are focused on maximising results ahead of the election period. Nevertheless, there is hope that in the new Parliament, dialogue will prevail, especially on major issues related to Albania’s integration into the European Union. Regarding the opening of the second Cluster of negotiations, Gjipali emphasized the importance of making the most of the time lost due to blockages in the past years. In relation to Kosovo’s progress report and its path towards candidate status, Mr. Gjipali noted that this process has been delayed. He mentioned the reforms that Kosovo has undertaken, as well as the sanctions imposed on Russia, which are fully aligned with the European Union’s policy. This step demonstrates a strong effort to meet the EU’s requirements, even though some EU member states, such as Serbia, have taken opposing stances.

Euronews – Albania joining EU in 2024? Gjipali: It is difficult without political dialogue, 31 October 2024