European Commission backs Albania’s ambition for EU membership by 2027

Countries that meet the necessary conditions can join the European Union without waiting for a specific date, according to Piotr Cichocki, Press Officer for Neighborhood and Enlargement/Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the European Commission. Speaking to RTSH, the Albanian public broadcaster, Cichocki reaffirmed the EU’s support for Albania’s ambition to achieve membership by 2027, describing it as an ambitious but achievable goal.

“Albania has signaled its intention to conclude accession negotiations by the end of 2027. The Commission is ready to support this ambitious objective. Countries that fulfill the necessary criteria can join without waiting for a set date,” Cichocki said.

Why is this important: The 2027 target shortens Albania’s timeline for EU membership by three years compared to the previous projections set by the prior European administration. Those forecasts were once deemed overly optimistic, but the European Commission’s latest confirmation reflects increased confidence in Albania’s reform efforts.

What Albania needs to address: While reaffirming that every candidate country should join the EU based on merit, the European Commission highlighted specific challenges Albania must tackle.
“It is essential for Albanian authorities to further accelerate EU-oriented reforms, particularly in strengthening the rule of law, consolidating law enforcement records, combating corruption and organized crime, and promoting fundamental rights, including media freedom, property rights, and minority protections,” Cichocki added.

Context: The European Commission’s support for Albania comes as EU enlargement regains priority status across key European institutions, including the European Council and Parliament. According to Cichocki, the membership process is guided by the Copenhagen Criteria, which requires candidates to meet rigorous standards outlined in EU treaties and agreed upon by member states.
“Every candidate must join when they are ready, fulfilling all the conditions and criteria established in the EU treaties and European Council conclusions from 1993,” he explained.

The EU’s current Political Guidelines for 2024–2029 also underscore that enlargement is merit-based, with progress measured through the successful implementation of reforms and the societal and economic alignment of candidate countries with EU standards.

Next steps: Albania’s 2027 goal depends on the continuation of reforms in governance, anti-corruption measures, and human rights protections. The European Commission remains a critical ally in supporting Albania’s progress, but the final success will depend on the country’s ability to meet the stringent requirements set by the EU.