May 13, 2026
On 8 May 2026, the Center for European Studies at EPOKA University organized a panel discussion titled “Albania’s EU Integration and Accession Process: Between Formal Progress and Substantive Transformation”.
The activity brought together academics, researchers, and an international delegation from European Movement Denmark (Europabevegelsen ) as part of their study visit to Albania and Montenegro.
The panel offered an in-depth and critical discussion on Albania’s European integration journey, focusing not only on formal progress in accession negotiations, but also on the broader political, institutional, and governance opportunities and challenges shaping the country’s reform trajectory.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Huseyin Bilgin, Rector of EPOKA University, and Dr. Jubjana Vila, Director of the Center for European Studies. The panel discussion included interventions by Dr. Jubjana Vila on the current state of Albania’s EU negotiations and the distinction between formal advancement and substantive transformation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gelanda Shkurtaj on judicial reform and rule of law challenges; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gentjan Skara on assessing the impact of the 2016 judicial reform; and Dr. Reina Zenelaj on the domestic political dynamics shaping Albania’s EU integration process.
The discussion that followed created an opportunity for an exchange of perspectives with the visiting delegation on EU enlargement, democratic reforms, governance standards, and the broader political and integration challenges. The event concluded with closing remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Isa Erbas, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences.
Through events of this kind, EPOKA University and its Center for European Studies continue to promote academic dialogue and international engagement on European integration and regional affairs. We would like to thank the visiting delegation and all participants for their valuable contribution to the discussion.
