EU and Albania Provisionally Conclude Enterprise and Industrial Policy Chapter
The European Union and Albania have provisionally closed negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy (chapter 20). This marks the fourth negotiating chapter to be concluded in the country's EU accession talks.
Brussels, Belgium – October 14, 2026 – The European Union and Albania have provisionally concluded accession negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy, covered by chapter 20. This development represents significant progress in Albania's EU membership process.
This is the fourth negotiating chapter to be provisionally closed. In July 2026, three other chapters were provisionally concluded: science and research (chapter 25), education and culture (chapter 26), and external relations (chapter 30). Albania has opened all 33 screened negotiating chapters.
Thomas Byrne, Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, whose country held the EU Council presidency at the time, welcomed the development. He emphasized that the decision reflects a commitment to advancing Albania's EU integration and urged the country to continue with reforms.
Under the EU's negotiation principles, agreements reached on individual chapters are not final until an overall agreement is achieved. The EU may revisit earlier chapters if necessary.