Albania’s EU accession negotiations are far behind those of Montenegro, but the government in Tirana is no less ambitious than its counterpart in Podgorica. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister, has vowed to complete the EU accession process by the end of the decade.

However, the country is not just hampered by political polarisation, but also by the remarkable success of the country’s prosecutors in investigating corruption among the most senior politicians. While this may win Albania points in the EU accession process, it does not sit well with its politicians.

Read more: Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress (January 26, 2025)