On the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Albania
A-10-2025-0106
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Andreas Schieder
- Voted on · Adopted 502–120–64 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2025/2017
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This resolution responds to the Commission's 2023 and 2024 reports on Albania, assessing its EU accession progress and outlining expectations.¶¶ It welcomes Albania's EU integration commitment and progress, including opening negotiations on two clusters, but urges further reforms in rule of law, anti-corruption, media freedom, and fundamental rights.¶¶¶ It calls for addressing political polarisation, electoral shortcomings, foreign malign influence, and environmental concerns, while supporting regional cooperation and EU-funded initiatives.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a resolution that welcomes Albania's progress but calls for further reforms in key areas, including rule of law, media freedom, and fundamental rights.¶¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes Albania's full alignment with EU foreign policy and its commitment to EU integration, including the ambition to close negotiations by 2027.¶¶
- Urges Albania to accelerate reforms in rule of law, anti-corruption, organised crime, human trafficking, fundamental rights, and media freedom.¶
- Calls for constructive political dialogue and an end to polarisation, inflammatory rhetoric, and political attacks; stresses the need for cross-party consensus on EU integration.¶
- Calls for enhancing resilience against foreign malign influence, including disinformation and cyber threats, and for a coordinated EU-Albania response mechanism.¶¶
- Calls for comprehensive electoral reform to implement OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations, including on party financing.¶
- Calls for ensuring media ownership transparency, protecting journalists from intimidation and SLAPPs, and decriminalising defamation.¶¶
- Calls for strengthening civil society's role, improving public consultations, and ensuring effective implementation of public administration reforms.¶¶¶
- Urges full alignment with the Istanbul Convention on gender-based violence, adoption of legislation on LGBTI+ rights, and protection of minority rights.¶¶¶
- Calls for safeguarding property rights, improving the cadastre, and ensuring fair compensation in expropriation cases.¶
- Calls for strengthening judicial independence, supporting SPAK's work, and increasing final convictions in high-level corruption cases.¶¶¶
- Calls for aligning with EU acquis on environment, including reversing amendments to the Law on Protected Areas and reconsidering harmful projects like the Vlora airport and Skavica hydropower plant.¶¶¶
- Welcomes the Security and Defence Partnership with the EU and calls for deeper regional cooperation, while cautioning against initiatives that could undermine EU integration.¶¶
Who is affected
- Albanian political parties and institutions: urged to improve dialogue, implement reforms, and ensure democratic accountability.¶¶
- Albanian media and journalists: calls for protection from intimidation and legal safeguards against SLAPPs.¶¶
- Civil society organisations: encouraged to participate in EU accession process and receive adequate funding.¶
- LGBTI+ persons, women, minorities, and persons with disabilities: calls for stronger legal protections and implementation.¶¶¶
- Albanian authorities: required to implement reforms in rule of law, anti-corruption, environment, and public administration.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 922 million in grants and loans to Albania under the Reform and Growth Facility.¶
- Albania ranks 99th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.¶
- Albania ranks 80th in Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index.¶
- Albania fell six places to rank 23rd globally in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report.¶