Albania-EU membership talks to kick off with corruption, checks and balances – Euractiv

Excessive ranges of corruption and restricted media freedom are among the many points on the forefront of Albania’s EU accession negotiations, which start at present (15 October), 16 years after the nation first utilized to hitch the bloc.

EU membership negotiations for each Albania and North Macedonia have been initially scheduled for July 2022, however no negotiation chapters have been opened since then. On the finish of September, nevertheless, EU member states unanimously determined to separate the bids and formally open EU membership talks with Albania.

The talks will deal with 5 key points, together with the judiciary, monetary management, and procurement, as Albania struggles with excessive ranges of corruption, gradual judicial processes, and restricted media freedom.

Will Albania’s notable efforts in recent times, such because the adoption of a number of anti-corruption measures, be sufficient to reassure the EU’s member states?   

Be a part of host Giada Santana and senior editor Alice Taylor on this episode as they unpack the EU’s enlargement technique, Albania’s evolving function in migration coverage, and the implications of the nation’s membership bid for the remainder of the Balkans. 

[Edited by Daniel Eck]