Albania and the EU, from negotiations to weight in the economy/ While accession negotiations continue, the Union remains the most important partner
From the establishment of diplomatic relations with the European Community in 1991, to the opening of membership negotiations and the process of negotiating chapters, Albania's journey towards the European Union has gone through several key stages over more than three decades.
The process began with the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and Albania received candidate country status in 2014. In 2020, the Council of the European Union approved the opening of accession negotiations with Albania, and two years later the first Intergovernmental Conference was held, marking the official start of the process of reviewing Albanian legislation.
On Europe Day, Albania is now at a crucial stage of negotiations. The country is awaiting the assessment of member states on the Interim Milestone Report, while aiming to close the first 10 chapters out of a total of 33.
The process is mainly related to the "Foundations" group, which includes justice, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, areas that remain decisive for the further advancement of negotiations with the EU.
But Albania's relationship with the European Union extends beyond the political process of integration. The European Union remains the country's main economic partner, both in trade and investment.
According to INSTAT data, in 2025, European Union countries accounted for 57% of Albania's total foreign trade. 72.5% of Albanian exports were directed towards the union countries, while 51% of imports came from the European market. Italy remains Albania's main trading partner in the EU.
Even in investments, European countries hold the main weight in the Albanian economy. According to data from the Bank of Albania, during 2025 the flow of direct investments from European Union member countries reached around 729 million euros, with the main contribution from the Netherlands, Italy, Austria and Germany.
Meanwhile, businesses with capital from European Union countries account for over 60% of foreign and joint ventures operating in Albania, maintaining their main weight in the Albanian economy.
Beyond the symbolism of May 9, European integration remains closely linked to the country's economic development, where trade, investment and the presence of European businesses continue to have a dominant role in the Albanian economy.
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