EU ambassador: Albania is advancing in the accession process — passing laws is not enough, implementation is irreplaceable

At the conference with representatives of Albanian institutions and the European Parliament, the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Sofia Moreira de Sousa, focused on Albania’s EU integration process, stressing that enlargement should not be seen simply as a negotiation process between governments, but as a political project and a broad process of institutional and social transformation. The ambassador underlined that this process aims to bring different peoples together within a common space, where citizens enjoy the same rights and take on the same responsibilities. Speaking about Albania’s progress in the accession process, Moreira de Sousa said the country has entered a new and important phase, referring to the opening of six clusters and the provisional closure of three clusters.

“Enlargement does not mean negotiations between governments, but a political project, a process of transforming institutions and societies. It is a project that brings different peoples together with the same rights and responsibilities. For Albania, this project has entered a new important phase, opening all six clusters and provisionally closing three clusters. Many achievements and many good ones, there is concrete progress in the accession process, Albania’s European future is becoming ever more tangible,” she said.

The ambassador also praised the reforms undertaken in justice, singling out changes in the judicial system, the vetting process and the creation and strengthening of independent justice institutions. According to her, these reforms have influenced the transformation of the country’s institutional landscape and the strengthening of the rule of law.

“Justice reform has transformed the institutional landscape of the judiciary. Achievements in the rule of law, the vetting process, the creation and empowerment of independent judicial institutions. Albania has advanced its own legal framework for human rights, protection against gender-based violence, non-discrimination, data protection,” she added.

In her speech, the EU representative also focused on economic and structural reforms, stressing that they are being accompanied by concrete support through the European Union’s Growth Plan. According to her, this support aims to spur investment, business, innovation and connectivity, bringing a direct impact on citizens’ daily lives as well. Ambassador Moreira de Sousa stressed that the integration process should not be seen only as Albania’s preparation for future European Union membership, but also as a way to give Albanian citizens the opportunity to experience the transformative effects of European reforms and standards even before membership.

“Meanwhile, economic and structural reforms are also moving forward. With the EU Growth Plan, Albania is benefiting from what member states receive, through support for investment, business, innovation, connectivity, reforms that improve citizens’ daily lives. Membership not only prepares Albania for future EU membership, but helps Albanian citizens feel the transformative effect that EU membership brings,” the ambassador underlined.

Speaking about the new phase of negotiations, the ambassador warned that as Albania moves closer to membership, the process becomes ever more demanding and requires not only the adoption of legislation, but above all its effective implementation.

“The closer you get to membership, the more demanding the process becomes. Adopting legislation is only part of the process, implementation is the irreplaceable aspect.”

According to her, without the implementation of reforms and adopted legislation, the membership objective remains distant and the sustainable transformation of institutions and society cannot be guaranteed. The EU ambassador focused on the challenges accompanying the current phase of the process, stressing the need for Albanian institutions to function independently and for the reforms undertaken to produce sustainable results, particularly in the field of the rule of law and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

“Without it, EU membership will remain a distant goal, which perhaps one day things will change. The phase Albania is in will require institutions to function independently and reforms to provide a sustainable track record in the field of the rule of law, but more broadly with regard to democratic institutions,” she stressed.