FM: Albania to open fifth cluster in EU accession talks

Albania will open the fifth cluster in its EU accession negotiations in the coming days, Foreign Minister Igli Hasani said on Tuesday, calling the move part of the country's accelerated path toward European integration.

The new step in talks with the European Union awaits only the scheduling of the next intergovernmental conference, Hasani told broadcaster A2 CNN. “We’re confident all clusters will be opened by the end of this year,” he said, adding that Albania expects to begin closing chapters in early 2026.

The foreign minister dismissed international concerns over political pressure on the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), saying they were part of the “puzzle” of Albania’s broader reform efforts. “The European Commission has never doubted that Albania is a serious partner,” he said.