Source: European Parliament
In its 2024 Albania report[1], the Commission positively noted the continued implementation of justice reform and the vetting, leading to significant improvements in the functioning of the judiciary, including strengthening its independence.
The Commission also recommended that Albania ensures further improvements in accountability, quality and efficiency, addressing identified shortcomings[2].
EURALIUS[3], was an EU funded project with over EUR 20 million allocated for the period 2005-2022, implemented by consortia involving authorities from several Member States, that played an important role in supporting the roll out and implementation of justice reform.
The Commission has taken note of the decision of the Albanian government to impose a ban on TikTok, following concerns over risks to users’ well-being.
As a candidate country, Albania is expected to progressively align its legislation with the EU digital acquis. The introduction of a temporary ban is a sovereign decision by Albania.
The Commission will continue to assist Albania in its EU alignment to ensure that any measure is compatible with EU acquis and European standards.
EU enlargement is a merit-based process. Based on the revised enlargement methodology[4], negotiations on Cluster 1: Fundamentals are opened first and closed last.
Related progress, including on the functioning of the judiciary, public administration reform, fight against corruption and organised crime, determine the overall pace of negotiations.
On 11 October 2024, the EU adopted its Common Position for negotiations on this cluster[5], based on the progress made, which sets out benchmarks Albania has to meet in these areas.
- [1] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/albania-report-2024_en.
- [2] Id., p. 5.
- [3] https://www.euralius.eu/index.php/en/about-us2.
- [4] https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2020-02/enlargement-methodology_en.pdf.
- [5] EU Common Position on Cluster 1: Fundamentals Albania: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/AD-18-2024-INIT/en/pdf.