EU and Albania Review Progress on EU-Funded Reforms and Investments
The European Union and the Government of Albania held two annual monitoring meetings in Tirana on 9 and 10 June to review progress in implementing EU financial assistance under the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF) and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).
Co-chaired by Eridana Çano, National IPA Coordinator, RGF National Coordinator and General Director of SASPAC, and Sigrid Brettel, Head of Unit at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), the meetings assessed achievements, discussed challenges, and agreed on priorities for the year ahead.
Both instruments play a key role in supporting Albania's EU accession process, accelerating reforms, and delivering tangible benefits for citizens.
Reform and Growth Facility
The second Reform and Growth Facility Monitoring Committee reviewed progress in implementing Albania's Reform Agenda under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans in five priority areas: business environment, human capital, energy, digital transformation and infrastructure, and rule of law.
The Reform Agenda supports reforms aimed at accelerating economic convergence with the European Union, boosting competitiveness, preparing Albania for membership in the EU Single Market and bringing benefits to citizens, even before accession.
Single Market and bringing benefits to citizens, even before accession.
Since the launch of the programme in 2024, Albania has completed 21 of 41 reform steps in the first reporting period and 12 of 21 reform steps in the second reporting period. Based on this progress, the EU has so far disbursed EUR 213 million in three instalments from the total allocation of EUR 922 million, making Albania one of the top performers among the Western Balkans.
Opening the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu reaffirmed Albania's commitment to the reform process:
“The RGF is, above all, a vehicle for the kind of deep, structural change that will outlast the facility itself, shaping the Albanian state's capacity, accountability culture, and policy coherence for the long term. The Government of Albania has provided political ownership and cross-governmental mobilisation. The upcoming July 2026 report submission represents a decisive inflection point: it is a test of our administrative maturity and a signal to our European partners and to the region about what Albania is capable of delivering. The Government is fully aware that the rigor of this submission will directly condition the trajectory of Albania's accession process. We are not merely seeking the next tranche of funds. We are building the track record that will establish Albania as a credible, predictable, and high-performing partner of the European Union”.
Sigrid Brettel welcomed Albania's strong performance while encouraging continued momentum:
“Albania’s performance under the Reform and Growth Facility is good and we want to support you so that it becomes excellent. The next reporting period will be critical, as some reform implementation deadlines are approaching. The European Commission will also reward the best performing Western Balkan countries with additional funds. Albania has an opportunity to remain amongst the top performers and to potentially benefit from additional reform-based support in the future, through continued progress in delivering reforms.”
The European Commission stressed the importance of maintaining reform momentum and effective coordination to secure future disbursements and advance Albania's EU accession process. Albania's strong performance could also position the country to benefit from additional EU funding linked to future reform commitments under the Reform Agenda.
IPA Assistance
The annual IPA Monitoring Committee reviewed the implementation of around 150 ongoing EU-funded projects supporting reforms linked to Albania's EU accession process.
Since 2007, the EU has provided more than EUR 1.9 billion in grants to Albania. Together with Western Balkans Investment Framework investments, this support has leveraged an estimated EUR 4.7 billion in investments since 2008.
The Committee welcomed the launch of new projects over the past year in areas including anti-corruption, environment, local governance, and food safety.
In addition, EUR 100 million under the IPA 2025–2027 programme was adopted to support reforms in rule of law, democracy, justice, human rights, good governance, and critical raw materials. The EU also welcomed the increased use of Twinning projects – where Albania will be directly assisted by EU Member States institutions to support preparations for EU membership.
Discussions highlighted the need to accelerate implementation of several major programmes, including operational programmes worth EUR 130 million in the areas of digital transformation, energy efficiency, and youth employment. Their successful implementation is also linked to the fulfilment of a closing benchmark under Chapter 22 of the accession negotiations.
The Committee also discussed areas requiring further attention, including administrative capacity, staffing and retention, contracting procedures, coordination of investment projects, preparations for future management of EU programmes, and strengthening financial management, audit, and control systems.