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EU opens last accession negotiating cluster with Albania on resources, agriculture and cohesion

17.11.2025
Tirana, Albania
Press and information team of the Delegation to Albania
Cluster 5, Albania
© EU Delegation to Albania

Today, the seventh meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania marked the opening of negotiations on the so-called cluster 5: resources, agriculture and cohesion. This cluster is the last remaining and covers notably: agriculture and fisheries, food safety and cohesion policies. 

Enlargement is a geopolitical necessity for the EU. And a key priority for the Danish presidency. Accession of our Western Balkans partners upon completion of the necessary reforms is very important. Today’s step of opening the last negotiating cluster with Albania demonstrates the country’s commitment to further advancing its path towards EU membership.

Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark

This opening follows the opening of the first cluster on ‘Fundamentals’, the sixth cluster on ‘External relations’, the second cluster on ‘Internal market’, the third cluster on ‘Competitiveness and inclusion growth’, and the fourth cluster on ‘Green agenda and sustainable connectivity’ at the Accession Conferences with Albania held on 15 October 2024, 17 December 2024, 14 April, 22 May, and 16 September 2025, respectively.

Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis and relevant European standards will continue throughout the negotiations.

The EU also set benchmarks for the provisional closure of the chapters that belong to cluster 5. The Accession Conference will return to cluster 5 at an appropriate moment.

Background

Following the introduction of the revised methodology for accession negotiations in 2020, negotiating chapters are divided in 6 thematic clusters:

  • Fundamentals
  • Internal market
  • Competitiveness and inclusive growth
  • Green agenda and sustainable connectivity
  • Resources, agriculture and cohesion
  • External relations

Negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster are the first to be opened and the last to be closed, and progress under this cluster will determine the overall pace of negotiations.