Justice, judiciary, procurement and public administration are some of the areas affected by the first group-chapter opened between Albania and the European Union.

Albania opened this Tuesday in Luxembourg the first group-chapter of negotiations with the European Union.

This chapter group affects essential areas such as: justice, judiciary, functioning of democratic institutions, public procurement or public administration reform.

Following the presentation of the revised methodology for the accession negotiations in 2020, the negotiating chapters are divided into six thematic groupings: The basics; Internal market; Competitiveness and inclusive growth; Green agenda and sustainable connectivity; Resources, agriculture, cohesion as well as foreign relations.

The first group-chapter, or as it is called the ‘basics’ or ‘fundamentals’, also includes public procurement, statistics and financial control.

This chapter group is opened first and closed at the end of the integration process. Progress in this group will determine the overall pace of negotiations.

Negotiations take place between the ministers and ambassadors of the governments of the member countries and the candidate country through the Intergovernmental Conference.

They include the undertaking by the candidate country of the full approximation of EU legislation, its implementation, as well as the implementation of other legal, political, economic, administrative and other reforms to meet the criteria for membership.