Albania’s Progress on EU Accession: A Positive Signal from Brussels

On 16 September 2025, Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, welcomed Albania’s encouraging progress in its accession process to the European Union. The occasion was the official opening of Cluster 4 during the sixth intergovernmental conference between Albania and the EU. This cluster covers transport policy, energy, trans-European networks, and environment and climate change—key areas for sustainable and modern development.

Minister Byrne praised the remarkable determination of the Albanian government, which he had witnessed first-hand during his visit in July. He underlined that Ireland actively supports the EU enlargement process and looks forward to giving Albania further momentum during Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency next year.

The opening of this important cluster represents a major milestone on Albania’s ambitious path toward full EU integration. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to implementing legislative and political reforms aligned with the Union’s high standards.

Despite the progress achieved so far, challenges remain, particularly in the areas of rule of law and the fight against corruption. Nevertheless, the recent developments show that Albania is on a promising path and continues to enjoy the support of the EU and individual member states.

With these steps, hope is growing that Albania could become a full member of the European Union by 2030—a development of great significance not only for the country itself but for the entire Western Balkans region.

Source: 
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/press-releases/continued-progress-by-albania-towards-eu-accession-welcomed-by-minister-byrne/

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