Yesterday, the European Parliament's plenary approved the European Commission's 2025 report on Albania. It passed by a large majority with 483 votes in favour, 103 against, and 70 abstentions. MEPs welcomed Albania’s swift progress in recent years. However, they called on authorities to fully implement all adopted legislation.

Despite this progress, Parliament says Albania still faces several challenges. These include overcoming internal political polarization and improving the country’s political culture. The country must also strengthen the rule of law and consolidate anti-corruption reforms. The report noted Albania’s ambition to close membership negotiations by the end of 2027. Still, it warned that the quality of reforms will determine the final accession timetable. This report included key amendments submitted by MEP Fredis Beleris (ND / EPP). He worked in cooperation with fellow EPP MEPs Vangelis Meimarakis and Andrey Kovachev.

These amendments highlight the main problems Albania faces with the rule of law, human rights, and minority protections. For the first time in the history of this report, there is a clear, official mention of the indigenous Greek National Minority. The European Parliament now officially recognizes both their historical presence and their property rights in Albania.
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Furthermore, the report:

1) Calls on Albania to achieve decisive progress on the initial registration of properties and fair, mutually accepted compensation. It asks to improve the transparency of the state land registry and the quality of property data. It also demands that Albania ensure respect for the right to a fair trial and the right to effective legal protection in cases where property is taken or confiscated.

2) Reminds authorities that the justice system still faces political pressures and threats. These issues bring a serious risk of undermining the independence of the courts.

3) States that parliamentary immunity is part of Albania's constitutional framework, designed to ensure that democratic institutions work properly. It stresses that any related decisions must be made strictly according to constitutional rules and established legal steps, without political interference and without unnecessary delay.

4) Calls for increased transparency, conflict-of-interest checks, integrity risk assessments, and targeted preventative measures in high-risk areas. This applies especially to public procurement, government contracts, licensing, inspections, construction, and spatial planning.

5) Expresses concern over the serious irregularities found by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) during the rollout of the EU's Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development program (IPARD II) in Albania.

6) Underlines how important it is to ensure full transparency, accountability, and effective control mechanisms when using EU financial help. This is needed to protect the EU's financial interests and to maintain the trust of citizens.

During his speech in the plenary, Beleris criticized Commissioner Marta Kos for her lack of boldness in highlighting these issues, emphasizing that:

"The report we are discussing recognizes both Albania's desire to become a full member of the EU and the European Parliament's willingness to support it. Today, Albanian citizens are protesting the lack of democracy, the lack of prosperity, the violation of property rights, the manipulation of justice, the government's embrace of organized crime, and ultimately, the abandonment of the country by its youth. Naturally, these chronic problems disproportionately burden minorities, and especially the Greek minority, which is the largest.

Silencing reality, sugarcoating the situation, and - in many cases - the alignment of Commissioner Kos with the Albanian Prime Minister is interpreted by a large part of Albanian society not as support for the Albanian people to realize their European dream, but as support for Rama. We must be clear. Yes to accession, with no discounts on the European acquis."

In a post on his Facebook page, Beleris further stated:

"With steady steps, we are bringing the violations of the rights of the Greek National Minority to the European forefront. Every petition, every resolution, and every institutional intervention matters. The work continues."

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FRBL; EUROPARL.

Each year the European Commission adopts its "Enlargement Package" - a set of documents explaining its policy on EU enlargement. The core of this package is a Communication on enlargement, which takes stock of the developments over the last year. It examines the progress made by the candidate countries and potential candidates, the challenges encountered and reforms to be addressed and sets out proposals for the way forward. In addition to the main Communication, the package contains the Reports in which the Commission services present their detailed annual assessment of the state of play of the reform progress in each candidate country and potential candidate over the last year. These assessments are accompanied by recommendations and guidance on the reform priorities.

On November 4, 2025, the Commission adopted its 2025 Enlargement Package for ten aspiring EU candidates, among them Albania, North Macedonia and Turkey. This year's package reaffirms that the momentum for enlargement stands high on the priority agenda of the EU. It also confirms that the accession of new Member States is increasingly within reach.

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ALBANIA | Albania Report 2025

The report recognised the important steps that Albania has taken towards strengthening the rule of law and European institutional standards, but notes that serious weaknesses remain, in particular in the areas of justice, corruption and fundamental rights.

Albania has maintained political stability, although the climate between the government and the opposition remains tense. Despite the smooth conduct of the 2024 European elections, the credibility of the electoral processes was called into question due to ambiguities in issues of party financing and equal access to the media. The Commission calls on Albania to fully implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Judicial reform continues, with the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court performing well. However, delays in the operation of the special courts against corruption and organized crime are a cause for concern.

Corruption remains widespread, particularly in the public administration and local government. Despite the strengthening of institutions such as the anti-corruption agency (SPAK) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), final judicial decisions in high-profile cases remain limited.

The report noted improvements in the legal framework for human rights protection, but there are concerns about:

• Media freedom, with incidents of political pressure on journalists
• Minority and Roma rights, where exclusion and poverty remain high
• Online surveillance and personal data, where better protection is needed

Albania maintains a moderate level of readiness for integration into the EU internal market. Positive points include:

• Stable economic growth and controlled inflation
• Strengthening foreign investment in energy and infrastructure

However, significant challenges remain:

• High youth unemployment
• Large “black” economy and tax evasion
• Massive labor migration, exacerbating the shortage of skilled personnel.

The country has made progress in combating drug and human trafficking networks, with increased cooperation with Europol and other European agencies. However, criminal groups continue to operate and the seizure of assets from illegal activity remains insufficient.

Albania remains committed to its European path and has made significant steps. However, real progress now depends on the deep implementation of reforms, political consensus and the fight against corruption at all levels.
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​NORTH MACEDONIA | North Macedonia Report 2025

According to the report, North Macedonia has not made substantial progress over the last year on its path to accession to the European Union.

Commissioner Marta Kos noted that the country has not made the necessary constitutional changes that is required as part of its accession. At the same time, the European Commission assures that it will continue to support North Macedonia's European perspective.

The report stresses that North Macedonia must strengthen its efforts on the rule of law, ensuring the independence of the judiciary and effectively tackling corruption.

Furthermore, the country is called upon to adopt the necessary constitutional reforms to include citizens of other nationalities, such as Bulgarians, in the Constitution, as foreseen in the Council conclusions of July 2022.

The European Commission places particular emphasis on the implementation of bilateral agreements, such as the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty of Friendship with Bulgaria, which must be implemented in good faith by all parties.
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​TURKEY | Turkey Report 2025

The European Commission, in its annual report on Turkey's EU accession this year, highlights the country's "serious" and "worrying setbacks" in the area of ​​the rule of law and fundamental rights. These areas are, according to the Commission, "integral to the progress of EU-Turkey relations."

​The report highlighted that, although Turkey remains a candidate country and a key partner for the EU, its accession negotiations have been stalled since 2018. At the same time, it highlighted the EU's strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean and in developing a cooperative relationship with Turkey, in a gradual manner.

In economic terms, Turkey remains the EU's fifth largest trading partner for 2024, with bilateral trade reaching a historic high of over €210 billion.

The Commission expressed strong concerns about Turkey's retreat from democratic values, citing arrests of elected officials, political activists, journalists and businesspeople. Special mention was made of the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, in March 2025, as well as the cancellation of his diploma, which prevents him from being a candidate for the position of President.

Greece-Turkey relations

In regards to Greek-Turkish relations, a positive climate and reconnection at the highest political levels were mentioned. Following the Athens Declaration of December 2023, the two sides held repeated meetings on confidence-building measures. However, the report notes that differences over the continental shelf and exclusive economic zones remain unresolved and burden bilateral relations.

The Commission referred to tensions that arose in 2025, such as Turkey's rejection of the Greek Maritime Spatial Plan and the presentation of the Turkish plan, which oversteps and challenges Greek sovereign territory and rights. It also highlighted the establishment of marine parks by Turkey in areas under Greek jurisdiction, while Ankara opposed the establishment of corresponding parks by the Greek government within Greek waters.

The report noted an increase in Turkish violations of Greek territorial waters and airspace, as well as hostile actions related to the Great Sea Interconnector cable project. It also highlighted concerns about the inclusion of the expansionist "Blue Homeland" doctrine in Turkish school textbooks and the continued validity of the 1995 casus belli declaration.

Cyprus

In the case of Cyprus, Turkey still illegally occupies over a third of the island since its illegal invasion and occupation of July 20, 1974. The report underlined the importance of resuming talks on the Cyprus problem and calls on Turkey to actively contribute to a just and sustainable solution within the framework of the United Nations. It is recalled that Turkey continues not to recognise the Republic of Cyprus and supports a two-state solution, contrary to UN resolutions. Turkey is also called upon to reverse its illegal actions in Varosha.

The report notes that there was no unauthorized drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean during the reporting period, however Turkish military exercises and drone flights continued in Cyprus' zones.

Foreign policy and migration

Turkey, according to the report, is not aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, which contradicts its strategic goal of integration. The country follows a multi-layered foreign policy, playing a negative and often dangerous role in developments in Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and the South Caucasus.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Turkey maintains a mediatory role, but does not fully align with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia. At the same time, it is taking measures to prevent the circumvention of sanctions through Turkish territory.

On migration, the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement continues to deliver results, with Turkey hosting 2.7 million refugees. The EU has allocated €12.5 billion to support refugees and host communities, providing assistance in areas such as border management, education, health and social support.