The European Union has significantly increased its budget for candidate countries, allocating €42.6 billion to support Albania and other aspiring member states in their path toward integration. The EU’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, emphasized that this substantial funding increase reflects the Union’s strong commitment to advancing the integration of future member states.
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| Marta Kos in a public speech at the European Commission |
Speaking on the matter, Kos highlighted a 37% increase in the EU’s enlargement budget, equivalent to an additional €11 billion compared to the current €31 billion allocated. “Accession negotiations with countries such as Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine have progressed rapidly.
These nations are ambitiously working to conclude negotiations in a short timeframe,” Kos stated. “Over the coming years, we will provide €42.6 billion for candidate countries, a 37% increase from the current €31 billion. This is a clear political and strategic commitment to the integration of future member states, including Albania.”The increased funding responds to ongoing requests from member states and underscores the EU’s dedication to the enlargement process. Recently, Brussels has acknowledged significant progress in Albania’s journey toward EU membership.
This commitment is further demonstrated by the EU’s pledge to open the final two clusters of accession negotiations—specifically, the Green Agenda and Resources, and Agriculture and Cohesion—during the Danish presidency.The bolstered financial support aims to facilitate critical reforms necessary for integration, ensuring that Albania and other candidate countries are well-equipped to align with EU standards and policies as they advance toward full membership.