EU - Albania

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Albania is a candidate country following the Brussels European Council of June 2014.

In March 2020, the European Union decided to open accession negotiations with Albania. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement was signed with Albania in June 2006 and entered into force in April 2009. As a candidate country, Albania continues to profit from EU funds under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) in order to carry out comprehensive reforms and strategic investments, and benefits from the participation in EU programmes. In view of the country’s European perspective, human rights and the protection of minorities play a central role in EU-Albania relations.