While it appears that it has been lost amid the multitude of assessments and recommendations accompanying the European Commission’s volume documents for the one-year performance of the region and candidate countries, the proposal to start drafting the Membership Treaty for Albania was the surprise of the enlargement package.

Reference to the time when this happened for other countries, the proposal takes on a special significance: for Montenegro, the special group for drafting the Treaty was established in April 2026, when the country had closed 14 of 33 chapters. Albania is proposed launching preparations with only four closed chapters.

)Since it is an important document and is currently taking time from member states, the European Commission has demanded that measures be taken in advance for Albania.) said expert on European integration issues Gledis Gjipali.

According to the Commission calendar, Albania aims to close six chapters by the end of this year, another ten in the first half of 2027 and 15 in the second half. At the end will remain the Group of Foundations, which includes the most sensitive issues of the rule of law and the functioning of institutions.

)This is the first to have concrete dates and deadlines and 2027 cited as the end of negotiations — that is, as a goal to achieve — is the first time to appear in a European Union document as a proposal, because to date it has been the Albanian side’s proposal that we will be ready by the end of 2027. It’s positive the committee’s readiness, so that’s saying we’re ready as you advance enough.Gjipali said.

But here lies the greatest test for Albania: the administration’s ability to cope with such an intense agenda, implement reforms and produce verifiable results are in the direction of drafting the treaty with a historical significance.

)Albania reports weekly with the European Commission. The ministries directly report to the relevant commissioners, who cover various fields, bring a draft legislation to be revised, return with comments, reviews, with suggestions, reshape. So it’s an extremely volume daily job that actually requires and in numbers of public administration at the central level because it’s an extremely large burden and for this process besides quantity requires and qualityThe expert stressed. / RAT