The EU paves the way for opening accession negotiations with Albania on another group of chapters
Albania has moved closer to opening accession talks with the EU on the group of chapters related to ‘External Relations’. On Monday the EU member states decided to request Albania to share its negotiating position regarding Cluster 6 (External relations). The Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council announced that ‘at the same time, the Council will begin working on its common position, in order to prepare the next Integovernmental Conference with Albania.
Why is this significant: Following the opening of the first group of accession negotiation chapters in October, launching talks on another cluster would represent significant progress in Albania’s EU negotiation process and an acknowledgment of the country’s advancements in EU-related reforms.
Context: The European Commission has recently presented to the Council the screening report on cluster 6 – External Relations, with a recommendation to open accession negotiations in this area. Monday’s decision of the Council approved the Commission’s report and decided to request Albania to present its negotiating position on cluster 6.
The next step is the adoption by the Council of the EU Common Position for negotiations with Albania in the area of External Relations. This step would pave the way for holding the third Intergovernmental Conference which would mark the opening of negotiations on cluster 6.
The European Commission’s Enlargement package in October expressed support for the opening of this cluster by the end of this year.
The cluster covers a policy area where Albania’s progress has been particularly highlighted by the EU. The Commission’s report issued in October praises ‘Albania’s active engagement during its term as a non-permanent member in the UN Security Council until the end of 2023, as well as its record of full alignment with the EU’s common and foreign security policy’ which ‘testify to its strategic choice of EU accession and its role as a reliable international partner’.
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