Albania today closed the first three chapters in its negotiations on EU membership, Report's Balkan bureau informs.
The decision was made at the ninth Albania-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the conference with Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the development was a recognition of Albania's progress and reforms.
"We have just agreed on the provisional closure of three important negotiation chapters. This is not merely another step in a long process, but also a clear recognition that Albania is moving forward, that reforms are producing results and that the country is increasingly prepared to assume the responsibilities of membership," Rama said.
The move follows a decision adopted by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states on July 10. The decision approved the EU's common position on the provisional closure of negotiations on Chapter 25, Science and Research; Chapter 26, Education and Culture; and Chapter 30, External Relations.
Earlier in the day, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos described the day as a "super Tuesday" for the EU enlargement process.
Kos said Albania, together with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro, was making significant progress on the path toward European integration.