European Commission’s 2026 Progress Report on Albania / Joint press conference by Prime Minister Rama and the Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa

 

The European Commission’s 2026 Progress Report on Albania was presented to Prime Minister Rama today by the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, during a joint press conference following their meeting.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Good afternoon, everyone. 

Dear Ambassador of the European Union to Albania, 

Dear Sophia, 

I welcome you today to the best progress report that Albania has ever received, which actually shows that you’re a good omen in your mission to represent the European Union to Albania.

For a long time, the story of Albania’s European journey has been predetermined. But what was expected to happen? The candidate status. Yes. No. When? The opening of the negotiations. Again, yes. No. When? The adoption of the interim benchmarks. Again, yes. No. When?

Today, instead, this report that the European Commission issued yesterday. Today outlines a new story that builds no longer on what is expected to happen, but on the steps that we must take to accomplish this journey. 

Well, differently put, the European fate of Albania is entirely in our hands today. 

And I believe that this is the main headline of the report. Albania is entering the last milestone of the EU accession negotiations. Well, obviously we must watch out here because this last milestone is comprised of the other 1,000 meters to be covered, with each meter having 100 cm to be overcome one by one. Harmonising all the movements of our state body at the benefit of the finish line.

The report indicates that compared to one year ago, Albania’s level of readiness has increased significantly in at least 20 negotiation chapters. It highlights the important progress made of areas ranging from the economy to digital transformation, from energy, education, and legislation approximation to the EU standards.

The European Commission further appreciates that good progress has been made in the operation of the judiciary and the fight against corruption whilst underlining the fact that SPAK has continued to show independence and yield results in its mission. 

Those who are acquainted with the history of the Albanian state and could look back not so far but to 2016 where the reform injustice came to light fully realizes the importance of such evaluation.

However, the report highlights the shortcomings as well in the judiciary system, the delays in courts, the need to have more final judgments over corrupt related cases and efforts for undue influence on the justice institutions.

Further, the report raises serious concerns, I would say, over the functioning of democratic institutions, parliamentary oversight, media freedom, environmental protection and the quality of public consultation. It also addresses the protests of last month. Actually, placing the finger on the wound of violence, but also quoting claims for excessive use of force by the police. Dialogue is underlined as the path towards which everyone should seriously engage.

I’m bringing all this to attention because no finding of the progress report could be sidelined. Absolutely not, even this last finding.

The right to protest, the right to protest must be always safeguarded. Violence must be punished morally and legally. And every claim for excessive use of force by state authorities must be seriously examined. Whilst dialogue is vital to democratic coexistence, we, the ruling majority, have our own particular responsibility to make it possible in particular with those segments of the society who have a different opinion from us.

As you can see, I’m not speaking today only about the shining side of this report that is actually shinier than ever, but I’m also talking about the shades of this coin. Not only because I see no contradiction between the fact that Albania has made great progress and the fact that the country itself is faced with not small problems, but both also stand true, and both are part of the realistic view that the European Commission has of Albania.

But I’m speaking about these both as I believe that this is how we must get used to look at the country’s constant positive progress in Albania where real problems should not prevent us from appreciating real progress and the other way around the real progress should not make us blind to real problems.

Otherwise, if everyone saw only one side of the coin, everyone singing at their own tune, we feed wanting or not, not only the traditional divide, but also allow cracks that directly undermine this major national mission of EU membership and infringes upon our common national interest.

Because at this very moment, both the sides are connected to a real historic opportunity to go through the threshold or let’s say go through the door of the United Europe that so far was quite or felt quite distant and we want to go through it.

I would like to mention one novelty this year that is included within the enlargement package of this year: for the first time, the European Commission has launched guiding roadmaps for the most or let’s say, four front-running countries in the negotiation process. Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine.

For Albania, the road map outlines the steps and working goals for the year that lies ahead, giving or granting the process more clarity and predictability. In the meantime, time. The commission deems our objective to conclude negotiations by the end of 2027 as ambitious but feasible. That in itself is an extremely important evaluation that must be understood with all the burden and conditionalities it carries.

The roadmap does not specify any membership date because there is no way for it to do so. And obviously it cannot preset the result of the negotiations. But the road map outlines concretely, centimetre by centimetre, as I mentioned earlier, the last milestone to accomplish or to fulfil this national and historic objective.

That means that time gains an increasing importance by the day and that every day becomes even more precious vis-à-vis this goal. That is something that must be well understood by everyone engaged in the front line of this process: the parliament, the government, the judiciary, first and foremost our own majority.

The opportunity we have in our hands today to conclude negotiations for EU accession is unique and historic in itself, and it is not there as a fixed fact. History would never forgive us if we were to miss this opportunity and if we cause it ourselves, Albanians.

Therefore, for those who want Albania to be unconditionally successful, I will do my best for this country to experience the opposite of the unfortunate happenings in the past that has happened to the country any time it saw itself to climb up and that’s so no one and nothing could question this historic opportunity for the sake of anyone or anything.

Well, finally I want to turn to something that in my capacity as a prime minister remains essential. For many years Albanians have lived in a stark contrast between the opportunities they found abroad and those provided here in the country. For many households, migration has been the pathway towards better jobs, better education, better health care service or simply simpler towards a safer relationship with the state.

And I do not want to touch upon the changes that have been happening to Albania and what needs to Change further. However, I want to add that we cannot be properly serious when speaking about our union to the Europe of a member states without taking into account this reality because at its very essence this very process is not about Brussels or Paris or Berlin or for all of them together.

It is Albania’s European state building process where Albanians or let’s say where Albanians could have the institutions, economic opportunities, legal certainties and a place to raise their children just like across Europe.

So, everyone who hears about the progress in the EU accession negotiations must all always keep in mind the very substance of this process that is about enhancing their very own personal living standards wherever they live in Albania. That is precisely the main motive that keeps me so very committed to the process. But it is also the main reason why this progress report makes me very happy as a certificate, a very objective one at that indicating Albania’s great progress.

Thank you very much. I’m going to give the floor now to Madame Ambassador. Extending once again my belief that she’s a very good omen coming to Albania.

The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Sofia Moreira de Sousa: Good Afternoon, once again,

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, ministers, colleagues from the diplomatic corp,

Dear distinguished media representatives, journalists and all the distinguished audience.

Yesterday the European Commission adopted its annual report on Albania. And I had just handed it as you witness to Mr. Prime Minister and today.

 I also handed it to the president and will do so to parliament and in the following days I will do it to the minister of Europe for Europe and foreign affairs to civil society and to business representatives. The report is public for all Albanians to read.

Its message is simple. Albania has moved forward. 

Prime Minister, that reflects real hard work by your government and your negotiating team and a steady commitment to the European path. All negotiation chapters are open, and four are provisionally closed.

But continuing this path requires sustained efforts on justice, corruption, and organised crime. The report records good progress. SPAK has continued to show independence and deliver results in the fight against organised crime and high-level corruption. This effort needs to be sustained as corruption remains a real challenge. That is why it’s so important to continue to work on its prevention too. Any future reform and legal initiatives must build on the 2016 justice reform to preserve and further increase the effective functioning of the justice system, including investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption.

On democracy, the report points to a deeply polarised climate, limited parliamentary oversight of the government and the lack of meaningful public consultation. Electoral reform is urgent to address the OECD recommendations, but this requires a truly inclusive process beyond the two main political parties, who have equal representation in the Ad Hoc parliamentary committee on electoral reform.

On fundamental rights, the new laws on gender equality and on violence against women are real positive steps. Now, the legal framework to protect these and all fundamental rights has to be applied in practice.

On media freedom, the information has been partially decriminalised. It’s a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. Media funding remains opaque. A comprehensive media reform to address all identified shortcomings is still awaited. Reports of disproportionate use of force by police against journalists must be addressed as a priority.

On the environment, progress has been limited. The report finds that 2024 changes to the law and protected areas and repeated extensions to the law on strategic investments have led to a deterioration in nature protection. The incompatible provisions need to be repealed, and major projects, including the one planned in Zvernec, will be measured against EU standards.

We had a detailed discussion this morning about this, and the European Commission colleagues and the Albanian authorities will continue discussing this in the next few days. And actually, it was precisely the environmental concerns that triggered the peaceful demonstrations that started at the end of May.

The protest then developed into a broader movement calling for transparency, accountability, anti-corruption efforts and good governance. Peaceful protest is part of a democratic life. Violence has no place in it. Any response to violence must remain proportionate and lawful. But I repeat, violence has no place in a democratic life. Grievances should be resolved through genuine dialogue, and it is for democratic institutions to provide a space for this dialogue to happen.

Yesterday Albania also received a road map to membership. It sets no new conditions and offers no shortcuts. It reflects Albanian’s own goal of concluding negotiations by the end of 2027. And that goal depends on reforms and results. Speed cannot come at the expense of quality and inclusiveness. So reforms need real consultation and open debate in parliament, which is the responsibility of all political forces in Albania.

Aspiring to join the European Union is a choice Albanians have made, and it belongs to all of them. Government, opposition, civil society, local communities. This is why meaningful consultations are key. At the end of the day, these reforms are not meant to please Brussels, but aim to build a strong, inclusive democratic society that is ready to join the world’s largest union of democracies.

I would like to finish as I started. Albania has moved forward. We are not yet at the end of the road. 

The European Union will continue to support every step along the way. Europa eshte ketu! 

Thank you.

 

***

 

Madame Ambassador, yesterday in Brussels, we heard that Montenegro in 2028 might become the 28th EU member state. In addition, what was said was that Albania will be in the same position next year as Montenegro is today, with closed negotiations in 2027 and the accession treaty. Referring to these assertions, can we then say that 2029 is the year when Albania will become a new member state should our country complete all reforms?

And to Prime Minister Rama, well, Prime Minister, using your words, “stars are well aligned for Albania”, but the situation is rather more complex for your government since you are being faced since weeks now with a protest demanding your resignation. Well, the protest actually has been accompanied by an open fight, I would say, within your political family, with the Tirana mayor accusing you directly that you have been interning you’ve been asking him to relinquish the mandate as a mayor and have done all these through the minister of justice. Allow me to be direct. Have you threatened Mr.Veliaj  and do you think that Mr. Veliaji is behind the protests? Thank you.

 

The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Sofia Moreira de Sousa:  Indeed, we have yesterday Albania was given a road map where it’s clear it’s as I as I mentioned it’s it entails no new goals, no new deadlines but basically takes into practice the the ambition in terms of the timeline that Albania has put for itself to join the European Union.

In short, it is feasible but it’s going to be very challenging. It entails a lot of effort because it’s the last part is the last sprint that is the most difficult and it is something that is not only about approving laws. It’s about implementing the reforms is about having a discussion with all the Albanian society of what these reforms entail.

As you know, we don’t have much time, but Albania has proved until now the resilience and the capacity to do so. I have no reason to believe this will not happen in the next year. So we have a calendar, but it will all depend on the pace and the way that these reforms are adopted and implemented, and this must be a goal for all Albanians, people that all take part in it. Thank you.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you for the question. 

First, I wish to say that the progress report is first and foremost a mirror reflecting the work that has been done by the government. Those who want to know what shape the government is in could read the progress report and, as a result, could find it in the certificate issued by the government. A certificate that makes me happy because it is very clear that Albania has made major progress, which unfortunately Albanians could not observe from the public disinformation channels and TV stations.

I would like to say, on the other hand, that the government is on top of the work and continues to strive each and every day. And when I’m saying every day, this is what I exactly mean by it.

It is a work that is being done guided by the very objective that has brought us together in this press conference, namely the historic objective of our country’s ultimate union with Europe and the endeavour not to miss an historic opportunity that has come as a result of arduous work but is also a result of what you mentioned, and I will repeat, a favourable star alignment for Albanians.

All the rest is similar to the noise and honking of the cars driving on the boulevard. So, well, they are as important to us as what you ask me about is important to ourselves or to me.

 

From Report TV, I have a question for you first, Mr Prime Minister. I would like to quote the progress report and say that the European Commission has considered the protest starting by the end of May and escalating in October as a major civic mobilisation. Do you think that you have properly responded to such mobilisation or protest without ignoring it or without actually considering it only as a result of foreign interventions?

And second, do you think that this movement could risk turning into a student movement like that of Serbia?

And another question for you, Madame Ambassador: do you believe that, in terms of Albania EU integration, this political pluralisation, this harsh political climate and protests, should they continue, will affect Albania’s EU accession? Thank you.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Well, when it comes to the similarity between Albania and Serbia and, as a result, the situation between Albania and, let’s say, the Albanian and Serbian situation, you could find by comparing the position of the European Union regarding the change in Serbia and the major changes happening in Albania this year.

These are two realities that have no point of contact with one another, regardless of the effort to actually associate them together, thanks to an agenda that is not the agenda of the European Union or the agenda of the government and the ruling majority but is the agenda of those who want to bring down the government by using violence.

When it comes to the great, or let’s say major, mobilisation, civic mobilisation, I myself have made a distinction between the mass protests of early June and the later degradation of the boulevard. into a stage for crows and blackbirds, as it was a violent event without using stones or molotovs.

So it was violent even then because there was war; there is no dialogue. Resign. Well, it is put it legitimate that someone thinks this way in a democracy, but it is entirely unlawful that stones and fire be used to sustain such opinion.

Whereas when it comes to the mass protests, we have taken important steps to address what we read as reasons behind the ring of the citizens. Namely, these are steps towards transparency. And at this point, I wish to remind you that we have published everything in relation to Zvernec and Sazan and have not seen so far any substantial contest.

Since everything actually is in our favour, when it comes to the way we have carried out the entire process, the lawfulness of it and the moral that we represent as the ruling majority of this country with a new budget.

Further, we have tackled directly issues related to the economic concerns of the people, ranging from the delivery on a very early pledge, that is, the reduction of the VAT for basket products to 6%, up to the reduction of the fuel with 32 ALL by shifting the tax, the circulation tax on the vehicle and taking it out of the price as a component of the price.

Well, I’ve heard that people or let’s say I’ve heard that it was considered or called a return to the ideological left wing. They do not know what they are talking about. This is not a return to the ideological left. Instead, it is about creating opportunities to redistribute more of what’s being gained in the economy.

That has been our longstanding key motive and concern. How to achieve further redistribution by growing the economy further? Well, neither the right nor the left wing lays a golden egg. It is the economy itself that either gives us the opportunities or not.

Our economy is growing regardless of what is being said, and such growth has allowed us to ensure such mass redistribution with a new package that would be impossible and has been so under other conditions. So we could have been ideological left-wingers, God forbid, but we would not be able to do it. And if we were to do it, we would have brought the economy to ruin or to a collapse. That is the reality. That is the fact of the matter. The rest is like the noise of the cars driving around here.

Finally, I wish to say that I have listened much more carefully than all of you and all of others to those who have rallied down here every day. I’ve listened to them because I’ve always been obliged to do so, forced to do so because whilst they cried out loud and threatened, vilified us demanding the resignation whilst relentlessly repeating there is no dialogue. I was up in my office working with their voices against the background.

So, I exactly know what they’ve been saying. They’ve been repeating it so many times that I know it now by heart. Well, I also know those musical poems, those insulting songs and tunes and so on and so forth. 

But There is not a single idea for me to take note of. No program, no option or alternative form. And I would like to seize this conference to clarify again for everyone that, in no case, the resignation of a democratically elected prime minister, in agreement with the people, can be imposed by the street.

But in my case, there is something else, more specific. That is this one here. This here, the last milestone of the negotiations, is split into 1,000 meters, with every meter comprising 100 cm, with every centimetre wanting the responsible professional on top of it and wants the respective work to be carried out and the respective tasks to be accomplished because it says in black and white there that the conclusion of negotiations by 2027 is an ambitious but feasible goal.

But if we were to achieve such an ambitious goal, we could only do so by focusing centimetre by cm here rather than distracting or losing our focus following the stones and the noise or agenda that is not at all connected to this national mission.

I know it’s easy to make irony or, let’s say, to mention this involvement of foreign actors, but their involvement from June up until now is real, and it has not been me. So it was not me or any other official, but one of the most distinguished personalities in France in charge of the malicious interventions that Albania has been part of in such hybrid warfare.

He specifically said that I have never stated that protests were organised by Iran. What I have said instead is that the hands of the criminal regime of Iran are there in the boulevard and there are facts to prove it.

Well, surprisingly, the digital Iranian army that we have identified as being very active in distributing bird videos shows to be active in the blows in Paris. These are facts. The cause is here. Obviously, our task is to tackle the cause.

But on the other hand, let us be aware of what we are doing. To listen to one another, to understand one another, to look at the facts, to mutually accept who is right about something or something else. Instead of rejoicing over the viral distribution of our video of the videos of those who do not want Albania to be here.

They do not want Albania to focus here. They do not want 2027 to conclude successfully for Albania. They do not want us to focus on the centimetres and meters of the last milestone. But they want us to be dragged down, and the numerous stories of every day into a vicious cycle where the most shameful, unfathomable thing was the justification on the block of the violence. Thank you.

The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Sofia Moreira de Sousa: So on my on my question and I reiterate here indeed what Mr. Prime Minister said that the 2027 the process the integration process continues is on track. Yesterday, we had the roadmap to confirm it, but accession is not just a technical exercise, and it’s not just about approving laws.

It belongs to the whole of Albanian society, and in the report the commission describes the largest civic mobilisation since the democratic transition, with citizens calling for transparency, accountability, and good governance. These concerns are very close to the heart of the accession process.

Peaceful protests is a democratic right, but as I said before, violence is not and violence has no place and independently from whoever it comes from.

What is missing today, and you mentioned in your question, is referring to a polarised society. What is missing today is dialogue, and all sides, with no exception, need to make a genuine effort to start it, and we need to fight this polarisation, which can only be done through democratic means, addressing it through democratic institutions and finding ways and venues where the grievances of the people can be heard and addressed.

Again, not through violence, but the way that everyone- civil society, media, academia, authorities and institutions will address this polarisation will be reflected for sure in the accession path.

But coming straight to the question, protests we have them in Europe as well, in many places. The importance is to understand the grievances of the people and find democratic ways to address them.

Prime Minister Edi Rama: Thank you very much to all of you once again, and as I have informed you, we are going to put another window on the screens of those who are interested; that is a window of dialogue. 

Offered to all of those who would wish to interact with me, myself, or the government on every matter they consider important.

A window of dialogue for students threatened by pseudo-students showing up at doors or universities and sending violent messages to those who think differently, behave differently or dare to take a step towards dialogue.

Three groups of students; three of them were actually taken back, or let’s say they were not allowed online, exerting threats and violence whilst they tried to meet me without any cameras, without any pictures or any press releases. Just asked to talk to me.

Three groups of students I can mention by name who were deconspired, who were found out, I don’t know how and who were extremely bullied because of it.

I want something to be clear for each and everyone. I’m no longer a student or a university professor, but I come from a life path where I used to be a student and a university professor and together with students, I went out on the streets against a real, not imaginary regime for one reason only: to be free to say whatever I want wherever I want.

Those who think that instilling fear by stoking violence will have any impact on me and our journey are actually mistaken. Instead, they are going to receive their response step by step legally, as they are doing both criminally and administratively.

Even those who raise their hands, both those who raise their hands against the state and the forces and those who block the streets just because they want so, without thinking of the hundreds and thousands who live in this city and have their own right to move freely and have their own right to do, and say whatever they want and to think whatever they want and go wherever they want.

Thank you!