RTSH 24 – The opening of the final negotiating Cluster; Gledis Gjipali analyzes the EU Integration Process, 18 November 2025

Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of the European Movement in Albania (EMA), during an interview on RTSH 24, commented on the opening of negotiations for Cluster 5, Albania’s path toward EU integration, and the work that must follow in support of this process. Gjipali emphasized the importance of opening Cluster 5 – Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion – explaining that it removes the remaining obstacles to moving forward with the negotiation process, with the aim of meeting all the standards required for joining the European Union. Furthermore, Gjipali analyzed the role played by agriculture in Albania, especially in rural areas, stating that raising standards should be done without sacrificing farms and businesses. According to him, these interest groups should be directly involved in the negotiating structures through communication and information.

With regard to the latest report of the European Commission, Gjipali views the progress made in certain areas positively, but comments that the pace of reforms must increase, and that results must be produced across all chapters regarding their feasibility in all sectors. Continuing his analysis of this year’s report, Gjipali mentions a series of obstacles, dividing them according to the relevant fields. In agriculture, the problem remains the poor management of IPARD funds, which must be corrected to enable the restart of this program so that these funds can be distributed as soon as possible to all farmers. Regarding other obstacles, Gjipali highlights the lack of preparedness in the public administration, food safety issues, and the lack of investment in establishing a network of certified laboratories for product control, among others. Gjipali also stresses the importance of political consensus, which affects the EU’s confidence in Albania and the successful implementation of undertaken reforms.

In conclusion, Gjipali states that, for the moment, there is no risk of the EU itself slowing down negotiations with candidate states, arguing that it is the EU which, through positive and encouraging messages, is pushing this process forward for Albania and Montenegro. He further added that the Albanian public administration lacks the technical capacities needed to close all negotiation clusters on time. Gjipali also emphasized the confidentiality or lack of transparency on the part of the Albanian government regarding the negotiating position for each cluster, a practice not followed by other candidate countries.

RTSH 24 – The opening of the final negotiating Cluster; Gledis Gjipali analyzes the EU Integration Process, 18 November 2025