EU accession: first chapters closed in 2026 with rule-of-law benchmarks

Albania's EU talks moved to closing chapters in 2026. On 14 July 2026 at the ninth accession conference, three chapters (science and research, education and culture, external relations, per Brussels Times) were provisionally closed; Chapter 20 (enterprise and industrial policy) was closed at the tenth conference on 14 October 2026. Under the revised methodology no chapter can close until interim benchmarks in Cluster 1 (rule of law) are met; the Commission said Albania met them. Commissioner Kos urged further reform on rule of law and anti-corruption, and the most difficult chapters on justice remain open. The EU's Chapter 27 (environment) is the one an MEP said Sazan/Zvernec could put at risk.