“We’ll close the chapters by 2027” — Deputy Minister Fino: the biggest challenges are “Fundamentals” and food safety

Official Brussels views positively the work Albania is doing on European Union accession negotiations.

Speaking to Vizion Plus, Deputy Foreign Minister Megi Fino said the closure of the first three chapters was only the beginning, while official Tirana awaits the next signal.

“There is no doubt that the closure of three chapters in July of this year was not a one-off. We certainly expect there will be other cases, undoubtedly at this pace and within this work plan that we have agreed with the European Commission,” Fino said.

She stressed that keeping the current pace could make it possible to reach the objective of closing all chapters by 2027, a target also agreed with the European Commission.

“We have seen that in less than two years, all chapters have been opened, three chapters have been closed, and we have now also made progress with the interim benchmarks. The work continues, it is daily, not only for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, it is work that belongs to the entire Albanian government and administration. First and foremost, for us it is undoubtedly about keeping this momentum, this pace and this commitment, which we have at maximum. The government’s will is maximal,” Fino said.

But which sectors are the most challenging for the country? Deputy Minister Fino listed several, from “Fundamentals” to “Food Safety”.

“I could mention the fundamentals chapter. Undoubtedly chapters 23 and 24, which more or less set the pace of the entire negotiating framework, because it is the chapter that opens first and closes last. Undoubtedly, as regards the chapters on agriculture and rural development or food safety or the environment. These are important topics and sectors which affect and require many capacities at central but also local level,” she said.

In July, the country held the EU–Albania intergovernmental conference, where the first three chapters were closed: “Science and Research”, “Education and Culture” and “External Relations”.