PRESS RELEASE
EU held the first intergovernmental conference with Albania

On 19 July 2022, the EU held the first Intergovernmental conference (IGC) with Albania in Brussels. This marks a historical event for Albania in the road to the EU integration, and a step closer in realizing the aspiration of the Albanian people to become part of the European family.

The delegation of Albanian consisted of 25 high-ranking officials as part of the Negotiating Group, led by Prime Minister, H.E. Mr Edi Rama, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms Olta Xhaçka, and the Chief Negotiator for Accession of the Republic of Albania to the EU, Mr Zef Mazi, in congruence with the institutional structure established for the accession negotiations. The Second Deputy Governor, Ms Natasha Ahmetaj, member of the Negotiating Group, was also part of this delegation representing the Bank of Albania.

Albania received the status of a candidate country in 2014, and the First Intergovernmental Conference held yesterday in Brussels, marks a new phase in the accession process to the EU 

First, during negotiations, the entire Albanian legislation, divided in accordance with the 35 acquis chapters of the EU law, will undergo the screening process, in order to correctly assess its alignment with the EU acquis.

The President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, emphasized the significance of this historical moment in the joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr Edi Rama, and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Mr Dimitar Kovacevski, as well as the Czech Prime Minister, Mr Petr Fiala, who holds the six-month rotating EU Council Presidency. She highlighted the fact that the governments of Albania and North Macedonia have adopted the required reforms, not just in the view of the EU membership, but also for the well-being of their people and to increase the quality of life in both these countries. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Edi Rama stressed out that: “The opening of accession negotiations is only the end of the beginning to the EU membership” and “We need to build a democratic and European Albania.” The Czech Prime Minister, Mr Fiala, holding the six-month rotating EU Council Presidency, commended this achievement as a “milestone” in the road to the EU membership.

Currently, the Bank of Albania contributes to a series of chapters as part of the inter-institutional groups established for each of the 35 Chapters. The Second Deputy Governor, Ms Natasha Ahmetaj was appointed as the negotiator of Chapter 17 on Economic and Monetary Policy, as well as the Chair of the interinstitutional group for Chapter 4 on Free movement of capital. The Bank of Albania has a main contributing role in Chapter 9 on Financial Services, Chapter 32 on Financial Control, and Chapter 18 on Statistic, as well. In addition to these chapters, the Bank of Albania contributes to Chapter 3, 20, 28, and 24.

In accordance with the new methodology on expansion, the accession negotiations are expected to continue with the approval of the negotiating framework drawn up by the European Commission, the opening of the chapters on so-called “Fundamentals”, which include issues like the judiciary and fundamental rights.