IPA III

Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance — IPA III

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) constitutes the main pillar of the European Union’s financial support to Albania within the accession process. For the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework period, the total National IPA III budget for Albania is €524.85 million, enabling the financing of essential institutional reforms, administrative capacity building, and progressive alignment with European Union standards and legislation.

Unlike previous instruments, IPA III operates on a policy-driven approach, where funds are no longer pre-allocated through country envelopes, but rather distributed based on EU thematic priorities and the country’s progress toward accession[1]. This approach reinforces the principle of conditionality and fosters institutional accountability in implementing reforms.

The implementation of IPA III is based on the partnership between Albanian institutions — coordinated by the Directorate for the Administration of EU Financial Assistance at SASPAC — and the European Commission, ensuring transparent, sustainable, and impactful use of funds for Albanian citizens. The legal basis of this partnership is regulated by the IPA III Financial Framework Partnership Agreement, ratified by Law No. 65/2022[2].

Note: The IPA III budget is no longer pre-allocated by country, but rather based on thematic priorities and performance. Specific allocations for Albania are made through annual Financing Agreements (IPA 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) and the 2025–2027 Multiannual Action Plan, detailed in the sections below.

Thematic windows and support areas

IPA III funds are programmed according to five thematic windows[1][3], which mirror the clusters of negotiating chapters under the revised enlargement methodology. Each window addresses specific priorities of the accession process. The IPA III Programming Framework contains 20 thematic priorities under the IPA III Regulation[4], of which 17 are specifically applied in the Albanian Programming Framework[2]. Albanian implementing institutions work closely with the EU Delegation and SASPAC structures for project management and monitoring.

Annual Financing Agreements for Albania

Note on financial figures: The exact amounts for each Annual Financing Agreement are being verified against the official signed documents. For the most up-to-date figures, consult the Annual IPA Implementation Report 2023 and the official DG NEAR page.

IPA 2025–2027 Programming

The 2025–2027 programming cycle marks a fundamental innovation in the history of IPA in Albania: for the first time, three programming years have been combined into a single planning exercise[5]. This multiannual approach has enabled a more strategic vision, greater coherence with the accession negotiation process, and a stronger link between funds and sectoral policy objectives.

The programming was carried out under the coordination of the National IPA Coordinator (NIPAC), with support from the EU Technical Assistance project “Support to the Management of EU Financial Assistance in Albania” and the EU Delegation[5]. Conceptual innovations of this cycle include the terms “integrated justice” and “integrated good governance,” reflecting the interconnection between institutional reforms and the accession process.

5 Action Documents · Total value: €100 million[5]

The results and activities of these documents are closely linked with the Reform Agenda 2024–2027 and other EU support initiatives, respecting the principle of complementarity[5].

Operational Programmes 2024–2027

Under IPA III, Albania has prepared and approved three Operational Programmes for the 2024–2027 period, with a total EU contribution of €130 million (€30M + €50M + €50M)[5]. The programs were drafted in 2023, submitted to the European Commission on June 30, 2023, and approved in August 2024[5]. Together with national co-financing (approximately 30%), the joint investment reaches around €186 million[9]. They are implemented through indirect management and aim to support structural reforms in key areas of national development.

Geographic coverage of the programs

IPA III programs and projects have nationwide coverage, encompassing the entire territory of the Republic of Albania. Operational Programmes are implemented at both central and local levels, while WBIF investment projects focus on strategic infrastructure axes. To date, WBIF has contributed €333.4 million in grants to investment projects in Albania, of which €330.7 million come from EU IPA funds[11].

Investment projects — WBIF[11]

Legal and regulatory framework

IPA III legal and regulatory acts

Below are the legal acts and annual implementation reports for IPA III for each programming year.

IPA Annual Implementation Reports

Legal acts per programming year

Useful links

European Commission and European Union

• IPA III — Official European Commission page — DG NEAR
• Albania — Financial Assistance under IPA
• Delegation of the European Union to Albania
• Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF)
• Enlargement Process — Albania

National institutions

• SASPAC — State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination
• Directorate for the Administration of EU Financial Assistance
• Ministry of Finance and Economy
• Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs — EU Integration
• Official Publications Center — Official Gazette

Within the SASPAC website

• IPA III Financial Framework Partnership Agreement
• Operational Programme — Digital Economy and Society
• Operational Programme — Energy
• Operational Programme — Youth Employment