The project “Support for Albania’s EU Integration”, Phase 3 represents one of the most significant European Union interventions in support of Albania’s accession process. With a budget of 7,250,000 euros and a duration of three years, the project began its implementation in January 2025 and comes at a decisive moment for the progress of accession negotiations and the implementation of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Overall objective
The overall objective of the project is to support the Government of Albania in the successful management of the European Union integration process, ensuring that Albanian institutions are equipped with the necessary capacities, instruments, and knowledge to meet the demands of this advanced stage.
Specific objectives
The project pursues two interrelated specific objectives:
First, improving the capacities of Albanian institutions to manage the negotiation process with the EU, including the alignment of national legislation with the acquis communautaire. This component is essential at a time when Albania has entered the active phase of opening negotiation chapters.
Second, supporting Albania in the implementation, monitoring, and reporting on the Growth Plan, including the promotion of accelerated integration into the European Single Market in the areas envisaged by this plan.
Expected results
In relation to the first objective, the project aims to produce concrete results through strong support for the timely achievement of the objectives and results set out for Albania’s negotiation path. This includes improving the process of alignment and harmonisation with the EU, the successful transposition of EU legislation into national law in the relevant negotiation chapters — in accordance with the priorities of the Government of Albania — as well as raising public awareness of and support for the integration process in the country.
In relation to the second objective, the project is expected to achieve increased use of accelerated integration opportunities by the Government of Albania, improved knowledge and level of Albania’s participation in European Union programmes, strong support for achieving the objectives of the Growth Plan and the reform agenda, and effective monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Growth Plan by Albanian institutions.
Direct beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries of the project are the key institutions leading the European integration process in Albania: the Prime Minister’s Office, including the Minister of State and Chief Negotiator; the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), in its capacity as National IPA Coordinator, together with the NIPAC Support Office; the Ministry of Finance; as well as the Line Ministries covering the relevant areas of the negotiation chapters.
Strategic importance
The third phase of this project comes at a time when Albania is facing growing demands for advanced institutional capacities. The process of opening negotiation chapters, the implementation of the Reform Agenda for Albania, and the management of benefits from the Growth Plan — which may reach up to 1 billion euros for the 2024–2027 period — require a capable, coordinated, and results-oriented public administration. Through this support, Albanian institutions will be better prepared to meet European standards and to ensure that the accession process delivers tangible benefits for citizens.