Info Session – The path towards the EU: Enlargement Process, Negotiations, and Engagement Opportunities, 29 July 2025

On 29 July 2025, an info session was held on the history of the European Union’s creation and the process of European integration; the EU enlargement policy and the steps Albania has taken within the framework of ongoing negotiations, as well as the concrete ways of involving non-state actors, especially trade unions, in the decision-making process. The Session took place at the premises of the Europe House, organised in cooperation with the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH – CTUA). It was attended by political leaders, executive representatives of the KSSH-CTUA, and members of various trade unions from across the country.

In his welcoming speech, Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of European Movement Albania (EMA), highlighted the importance of these info sessions as essential tools for bringing the integration process closer to stakeholders, who should be actively involved. He underlined that at Albania’s current stage, it is essential for all groups to be involved not only in the consultation phases, but also in decision-making processes, where their concrete contributions are expected. Although inclusive platforms and mechanisms have been established at the state level, participation persists in being fragmented and inconsistent.

On other hand, Kol Nikollaj, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania (KSSH-CTUA), emphasized the need for trade unions to be directly involved in the European integration process, playing an active and effective role. He pointed out that, although trade unions represent a significant membership base, their involvement in this process needs to be further deepened. In this framework, such trainings are extremely valuable in improving the quality of participation and supporting an all inclusive integration process. 

During the training, EMA staff organised three sessions on different thematic topicsthat further encouraged discussion.

Firstly, Ermelinda Muçaj, Project Officer, delivered a presentation on the history of the creation of the European Union and the evolution of the European integration process.  She highlighted not only the chronological and institutional developments of the EU but also the ongoing challenges that have accompanied and continue to shape this transformation.  Emphasizing the importance of understanding the historical context behind the European project, Ermelinda pointed out that a solid grasp of these foundations is essential for critically analysing the accession negotiation process.  Accordingly, the presentation included an analysis of the founding treaties of the EU, from the Treaty of Paris to the Treaty of Lisbon, explaining the innovations that these legal instruments introduced to the Union’s institutional framework.  She also addressed key moments of enlargement and deepening integration that contributed to the gradual construction of a common political and economic space.  A special part was dedicated to explaining the acquis, the body of law that candidate countries are required to fully transpose and implement. The competences of the main EU institutions, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, as well as the European Council, highlighting their differences, were clarified.  Special attention was given to the cycle of institutional cooperation and the importance of maintaining a balance between them, representing a modern form of separation of powers within a transnational structure.

The second session of the activity continued with the presentation of Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director, who provided a structured overview of Albania’s journey towards European Union integration. He brought to attention the key milestones that define this long and complex process, starting from the submission of the application for membership and the granting of candidate status, through the technical assessments by relevant EU institutions, up to the formal opening of accession negotiations. Gjipali then explained the nature and importance of the foundational documents drafted and used throughout the negotiation process, with particular emphasis on three Roadmaps that serve as guiding instruments for structuring and overseeing the necessary reforms in line with the acquis. He focused particularly on the need to undertake and implement profound institutional and legal reforms, which are prerequisites for the provisional closure of the relevant negotiation chapters outlined by the EU’s common negotiating position for each Cluster opened so far for Albania. In this context, he emphasized the strategic importance of Chapter 23- Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, and Chapter 24- Justice, Freedom and Security, describing them as among the most challenging in the entire negotiation process.

In the third session, Nirvana Deliu, Project Director, addressed the role of various actors in  negotiation process for Albania’s membership in the European Union. She stressed that the involvement of civil society actors, interest groups and trade unions is essential to make this process more inclusive, transparent and grounded in broad expertise. At the start of her presentation, Deliu explained the functioning of public consultation mechanisms, focusing on two main platforms that enable civic and institutional participation in the legislative and decision-making process. She also presented the functioning of the National Council for European Integration (KKIE), as the highest advisory body in this field, whose membership is renewed every two years and where an open call is also made for unions and businesses to participate. Further, she presented the Partnership Platform for European Integration (PPIE), a platform that aims to institutionalise the contribution of various actors. Through it, five groups have the opportunity to apply for participation in specialised roundtables related to specific chapters of the EU acquis. Deliu explained the application procedures for these technical and advisory roundtables, which aim to include external expertise in the design and implementation of reforms required by the integration process. At the European level, she highlighted the Enlargement Candidate Members (ECM) platform, established by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). This is the first EU institutional initiative to include multiple  representative groupings, reflecting EESC’s composition of three main groups, thus ensuring comprehensive representation. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of the EU-Albania Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), which serves as a cooperation platform between the EESC and Albanian civil society, with the aim of supporting the work of the Stabilisation and Association Council.

The participants engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues, including the increasing role and involvement of trade unions in the European integration process, as well as the creation of concrete platforms to ensure their voices are heard. The potential influence of EU member states during negotiations was also addressed, along with the need to improve the enforcement of legislation in Albania. Additionally, questions were raised regarding the progress of the integration process for the Eastern Partnership countries and Turkey, comparing the approaches and challenges in those contexts with Albania’s experience.

*This info session took place within the framework of the “Building Partnership on Fundamentals: Empowered CSOs in the EU  accession process” project, with the financial support of the European Union – IPA Civil Society Facility 2021, which is implemented by the European Movement in Albania and in cooperation with the Academy of European Integration and Negotiations (AIEN), Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) and the Center for Transparency and Freedom of Information (CTFI).