Albania opens fifth cluster in EU accession talks
Albania officially opened the Fifth Negotiation Cluster – Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity – on Tuesday, marking another key step toward EU membership. This cluster includes four chapters: Transport Policy (14), Energy (15), Trans-European Networks (21), and Environment & Climate Change (27).
Why is this important: The opening of this cluster is a milestone in Albania’s EU path, focusing on critical areas like infrastructure, energy transition, and environmental standards. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised Albania’s progress, noting that when she visited in December “almost everything was in red” — meaning unopened chapters — but now the process has moved significantly forward.
Context: Kos expressed confidence that by December Albania will also open the last cluster, Agriculture, and reiterated strong EU backing:
“I strongly support your plan to close all chapters by 2027 and to have them all green, and then, of course, to have you in the EU as soon as possible.”
Prime Minister Edi Rama thanked the EU team for its close monitoring:
“The honor is all ours. I also want to thank your team in Albania that stays ‘above our heads’ to make sure we stay focused.”
Kos urged Albania to ensure broad domestic consensus by engaging Parliament, civil society, and the private sector to support key reforms, including judicial independence, property rights, minority issues, and media freedom.
European support: Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre, whose country holds the EU Council Presidency, echoed this optimism, promising to do “everything possible” to advance Albania’s path. Rama praised Denmark’s support, joking “To have the Vikings on our side gives us great confidence, and we must spread this across Europe so that no one dares block our path.”
Next steps: Rama admitted that the Green Agenda cluster is particularly challenging, which is why the new government will have a dedicated Ministry of Environment to lead the effort. If progress continues at the current pace, Albania aims to have all chapters provisionally closed by 2027.
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