20/05/25 (Agence Europe) – Albania is leading the way towards EU membership. The European Commission has announced that Tirana will officially open a fourth set of negotiating chapters on the EU’s fundamental achievements, Cluster 3, at an Intergovernmental Conference scheduled for Thursday 22 May. This cluster, on ‘Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth’, encompasses Chapters 10 (Digital Transformation and Media), 16 (Taxation), 17 (Economic and Monetary Policy), 19 (Social Policy and Employment), 20 (Enterprise and Industrial Policy), 25 (Science and Research), 26 (Education and Culture) and 29 (Customs Union), bringing the number of chapters opened by Albania to 24. “If [Albania] continues at this pace [of reform], it is quite possible that it will join the Union before the end of the decade”, said President of the European Council António Costa during his visit to the country last week (see EUROPE 13641/4). (IS)