Albania’s dream of becoming part of the European Union may be closer than ever. Marta Kos, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, has stated that Albania could become the EU’s 29th member state by 2029 — if reforms continue at the current pace.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe and during the Bled Strategic Forum, Kos expressed optimism that Albania can complete accession negotiations by 2027, opening the door for full membership two years later. She underlined that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government has shown strong progress in judicial reforms and EU-related laws, which are key conditions for accession.

Still, Kos was careful to note that the final decision lies in the hands of EU member states, meaning that politics in Brussels could influence the timeline. Other EU officials, as well as analysts, expect Albania to realistically join closer to 2030, while some even warn the process could stretch into the mid-2030s.