Albania closes first EU membership chapters

Albania is formally closing its first three EU membership chapters at a summit in Brussels today.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is leading talks to seal agreements on science, education and foreign relations after bringing local laws into line with EU rules.

The meeting is part of a major day for EU expansion, with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro also advancing their membership bids in simultaneous talks.

The Albanian government aims to finish all remaining negotiations by 2027 and join the 27-nation bloc by 2030.