LUXEMBOURG (CHATNEWSTV) — The European Union formally opened negotiations with Albania on the Internal Market cluster during a high-level Accession Conference Tuesday, marking a significant step forward in the country’s EU membership bid.
“EU enlargement remains at the core of our priorities,” said Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, who led the EU delegation on behalf of the Polish Presidency of the Council. “This concrete progress reflects our strong commitment towards our partners in the Western Balkans, a region which is key for the stability and security of the European Union.”
The Internal Market cluster — designated Cluster 2 under the revised accession methodology — includes a wide range of policy areas vital to EU integration, such as the free movement of goods, workers, capital, and services.
Specific chapters opened for negotiation include:
Chapter 1: Free movement of goods
Chapter 2: Freedom of movement of workers
Chapter 3: Right of establishment and freedom to provide services
Chapter 4: Free movement of capital
Chapter 6: Company law
Chapter 7: Intellectual property law
Chapter 8: Competition policy
Chapter 9: Financial services
Chapter 28: Consumer and health protection
The EU also laid out benchmarks that must be met before these chapters can be provisionally closed.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama led the Albanian delegation and welcomed the development as a “turning point” in the country’s accession process, though his remarks were not released in full.
Tuesday’s conference builds on earlier negotiations, including the opening of the Fundamentals cluster in October and the External Relations cluster in December 2024.
Under the EU’s revised accession framework, adopted in 2020, the six-cluster approach aims to streamline the process. The Fundamentals cluster — covering rule of law, democracy, and public administration reform — remains central, as its progress will dictate the overall pace of negotiations.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also participated in the meeting and is expected to monitor Albania’s progress closely in the coming phases.
The EU said monitoring of Albania’s alignment with the EU acquis and relevant European standards will continue throughout the negotiations, and the Accession Conference will revisit this cluster “at an appropriate moment.”
