Albania: EU Accession Progress and Persistent Human Rights Gaps — 2026

Last updated: 7 October 2026

Photo: Albania - Carlotta Roma

This Albania EU accession update covers the latest developments in Albania's path to joining the European Union. Albania opened accession negotiations in 2022 and has made progress on several reform chapters. However, serious human rights gaps remain. For asylum decision-makers, the key question is whether EU progress translates into real protection for vulnerable people. As this update shows, it often does not.[1]

Albania is one of the most advanced Western Balkans candidates for EU membership. The country has passed new laws, reformed its courts, and improved its fight against corruption. Nevertheless, persistent problems with blood feuds, domestic violence, organised crime, and discrimination against Roma communities continue. This country conditions update explains what has changed and what has not.

What Has Changed: EU Accession Progress

Albania has made measurable progress on EU accession. The screening process for all 33 negotiation chapters is now complete. The EU has opened the first cluster of chapters, which covers fundamentals such as the rule of law, fundamental rights, and the functioning of democratic institutions. Albania has also continued its judicial vetting process, known as the "vetting" reform. This process checks the integrity, assets, and professionalism of every judge and prosecutor in Albania.[2]

By early 2026, about 66% of judges and prosecutors have been vetted. Many have been dismissed for unexplained wealth, ties to organised crime, or incompetence. The vetting has created significant gaps in the judiciary. Some courts are severely understaffed. However, the EU and Albanian government see this as a necessary step toward building an independent justice system.

Additionally, Albania passed amendments to its Criminal Code in 2025. These include stronger penalties for domestic violence, human trafficking, and corruption. The government also adopted a new national strategy on organised crime. Furthermore, Albania signed new cooperation agreements with Europol and Eurojust to strengthen cross-border law enforcement. These reforms look good on paper. The question is whether they work in practice.

Persistent Human Rights Gaps

Despite this progress, several serious human rights problems continue. First, blood feuds remain unresolved. The Albanian government has not passed specific legislation to address blood feuds. Families in northern Albania still live in fear. Children are kept out of school. Men cannot leave their homes. The National Reconciliation Committee reports that thousands of families are still affected.[3]

Second, domestic violence enforcement remains poor. Although Albania has a good legal framework on paper, implementation is weak. Protection orders are often not enforced. Police sometimes treat domestic violence as a family matter. Shelters for victims are underfunded and have limited space. As a result, many women remain trapped in abusive situations. For more on this issue, see our coverage of human rights conditions across the region.

Third, organised crime continues to operate. Albania is a transit country for drug trafficking. Criminal networks have links to politics and law enforcement. Witnesses and journalists who expose corruption face threats. Fourth, Roma and Egyptian communities face systemic discrimination. They have limited access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment. Forced evictions continue despite court orders against them.[4]

Albania has made important progress in its EU accession process, but significant gaps remain in the protection of fundamental rights, particularly for vulnerable groups including women, Roma, and families affected by blood feuds.
European Commission, Albania 2025 Progress Report

EU Benchmarks: Met vs Not Met

Impact on Asylum Claims

Some governments argue that Albania's EU progress means Albanian asylum claims should be treated with suspicion. However, this reasoning is flawed. EU accession progress does not automatically mean that protection gaps are closed. A country can pass new laws while still failing to protect vulnerable people. Courts have recognised this distinction.[5]

For example, a woman fleeing domestic violence may find that the protection order system does not work in her region. A man in a blood feud may find that the police cannot stop the other family. A Roma person may face discrimination that the state does nothing about. In each case, the formal legal framework is not enough. Courts must look at the reality on the ground. For evidence requirements in Albanian cases, see our asylum guide. To find an expert who can assess Albanian conditions for your case, visit our expert witness directory.