Albania has emerged as a new EU accession frontrunner among Western Balkan states, Andreas Schieder, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Albania, said on July 9. 

This is a significant turnaround for a country that previously lagged behind neighbours Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on the path to European Union membership.

“In this term’s first report on Albania, we welcome the rapid progress the ‘accession front-runner’ has made over the past years,” said Schieder during a European Parliament session on July 9, when MPs voted on reports on Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and North Macedonia. 

Schieder confirmed to bne IntelliNews that Albania is now considered a frontrunner not only among the three countries, but among all EU candidates, alongside Montenegro.

The reports adopted called for intensified reforms and the effective use of the EU’s Growth Plan while warning against foreign interference in the region.

“Albania is a strong and reliable partner in foreign policy and has taken remarkable steps in all areas such as justice, anti-corruption and environmental protection,” Schieder said, adding that the country’s goal of full EU membership by 2030 would require continued progress on job creation, social welfare improvements and comprehensive electoral reform.

A post on social media platform X by the European Parliament’s S&D group praised Albania’s efforts, stating: “Well done, Albania – a frontrunner in accession negotiations! We fully support the goal of being ready for EU membership by the end of 2027.”

Albania applied to join the EU in 2009 and was granted candidate status in 2014 but only started accession negotiations in 2022. Since then, it has moved faster than expected, with member states agreeing to open four clusters covering 23 chapters in three years – a pace that has surpassed Serbia’s progress over the past decade.

“In the context of enlargement policy, the term ‘frontrunner’ has been associated with Albania for the first time,” said a recent report from Belgrade-based think-tank the European Policy Centre (EPC), attributing this shift partly to Albania’s alignment with EU foreign policy and its vocal support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has positioned the country as a “pro-European nation with strong ambitions”, according to the EPC, citing initiatives such as hosting the European Political Community summit in May and the opening of a College of Europe campus in Tirana.

Despite its rapid progress, the European Parliament report warned that Albania still has work to do. MEPs highlighted the need to strengthen judicial independence, combat corruption and organised crime and protect fundamental rights, while also improving media pluralism and transparency of ownership.

Schieder said, as quoted in a European Parliament statement, that while Albania “can proudly be called a ‘frontrunner’ among the EU accession candidates, we are not at the finishing line yet.” He added that it is “crucial to continue on this path with the same pace and dedication, fighting corruption and strengthening the rule of law”.

Albania has seen strong public and political support for EU membership, with the European Parliament noting the country’s broad political consensus on the issue. “Albania’s future lies within the EU,” Schieder said, while the parliament’s report also highlighted the need for constructive and inclusive political dialogue to address ongoing polarisation.

Key challenges ahead include reforms to Albania’s electoral system, enhancing voting rights for citizens abroad and increasing transparency in media ownership to build public trust, MEPs said.