EU envoy says Albania could join bloc by 2029

Albania could become a member of the European Union by 2029 if it keeps up the pace of reforms, the European Parliament’s lead rapporteur for the country said on Saturday. 

Andreas Schieder, the EU lawmaker responsible for monitoring Albania’s accession process, said the country has moved “very fast” since gaining candidate status, particularly on justice reform and the fight against corruption.

He said EU membership is not just about ticking boxes in Brussels, but about raising living standards and delivering real change for citizens. “This is not only a government project. It needs society behind it,” he said.

Schieder avoided setting a fixed date but said Albania has a “very good chance” of joining the EU before the end of this decade, during the current mandate of the European Parliament, which runs until 2029.