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Prime Minister Edi Rama and the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, are holding a joint press conference today at the Prime Minister's Office, a day after Brussels published the progress report for Albania for 2025.
Gonzato submitted the progress report to the head of government, along with some guidelines on which Albania seems to focus in order to become part of the European Union.
"This year's report is published at an important moment for Albania's integration into the EU. 5 out of 6 chapters have been opened and work is underway to open the last group of chapters. All this has been achieved with extraordinary speed and I want to congratulate the Albanian authorities for this excellent result. Now we must seize this unique opportunity, as we are entering a crucial phase. It is a phase where Albania's will and ability to align with EU standards and legislation will be tested", Gonzato stressed.
He said that attention should be paid to the intermediate milestones that every aspiring country must meet, emphasizing areas where there are gaps.
"Without their fulfillment, no other chapter can be closed, even provisionally. The report is factual and comprehensive, we hope it will be read and appreciated because it gives credit where it is due and highlights areas where there are setbacks," Gonzato added.
After handing over the report to the head of government, Gonzato announced that he would later meet with Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali to discuss the report, then with civil society yesterday, then with the Speaker of the Parliament and the president.
While Albania expects to conclude negotiations with the EU by 2026, Brussels, with the publication of the progress report, presents a more gloomy situation for EU membership. The European Commission first criticizes Albania for guaranteeing equality in elections. Copy-pasting the ODIHR findings for the May 11 elections and raising concerns that the ruling party has abused the public administration in the service of party interests, the European Commission urges the majority to sit down with the opposition for a comprehensive reform.
The European Commission is concerned about the Rama 4 government regarding its intervention in the massive dismissals, with or without resignations, of employees from all management levels in left-wing-governed municipalities. The transparency of the executive branch also remains problematic.
For the seventh consecutive year, SPAK continues to be unconditionally evaluated in international monitoring reports. Meanwhile, the EC sees the courts in Albania as "threatened" by political interference.
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