Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
217. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her attention has been drawn to a recent construction project in Albania which seeks to disapply EU environmental law (details supplied); if she will raise this issue with the European Commission in relation to Albania's application for EU accession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45075/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAlbania applied for EU membership in 2009, received candidate status in 2014, and opened accession negotiations in 2022. After opening all six negotiating clusters within one year, Albania met Rule of Law interim benchmarks in May 2026 and can now start the process for closure of negotiating chapters.
In order to join the EU, all candidate countries must align their national legislation with the entire body of existing EU law. Under the current enlargement methodology, EU policy areas are organised into 33 technical negotiating chapters, which are grouped into six thematic clusters. Environmental policy is addressed under chapter 27 on environment and climate change, which is part of Cluster 4 on green agenda and sustainable connectivity.
Each year, the European Commission publishes its enlargement reports, which provides a detailed assessment of the progress made by each candidate and potential candidate country across all policy areas, including on the environment.
The enlargement report also identifies the main challenges that candidate and potential candidate countries must address to achieve full alignment with the EU acquis. If a candidate country does not fully align its legislation with EU acquis in each policy area, it will not be in a position to fully advance in the accession process. Ireland takes the Commission's analysis into account when forming its position on the individual candidacies of candidate and potential candidate countries.
I am aware of the issue you referenced. On 9 June, I hosted my Albanian counterpart, Mr. Ferit Hoxha, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, in Dublin. During our meeting, while welcoming recent widespread reform efforts made by Albania to align with EU acquis and reaffirming Ireland's support for Albania's EU accession process, I also noted that the EU accession process is merit based and that Albania will need to meet the necessary standards across all areas of EU policy.
Ireland strongly supports EU Enlargement which will be a priority of our upcoming Presidency. The EU accession process requires all candidates to align with all areas of EU laws. This is a strength of the enlargement process. If a country implements all necessary reforms it has the opportunity to move forward. If countries do not align their legislation with EU law in particular areas, they will be unable to proceed. Ireland continues to urge all candidate and potential candidate countries to continue aligning with the EU acquis in all policy areas to advance in their accession process and seize the current momentum on enlargement.
