European officials and representatives of member state governments are set to gather in Brussels today for an Intergovernmental Conference focused on Albania’s European Union accession process.

Ahead of the conference, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is expected to deliver a statement to the media outlining the country’s progress and expectations regarding the negotiations.

The prime minister’s remarks will be followed by an official family photo with representatives of various European governments, while the conference is scheduled to formally begin at 7:00 p.m. local time.

For Albania, the meeting is expected to serve as a key milestone in confirming the country’s fulfillment of interim benchmarks and establishing the closing benchmarks for Cluster 1, known as “Fundamentals.”

The cluster includes Chapter 23 on judiciary and fundamental rights, Chapter 24 covering justice, freedom and security, as well as issues related to the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and economic criteria.

Cluster 1 also includes Chapter 5 on public procurement, Chapter 18 on statistics and Chapter 32 on financial control, all considered central pillars in Albania’s path toward European Union membership.