High levels of corruption and limited media freedom are among the issues at the forefront of Albania's EU accession negotiations, which begin today (15 October), 16 years after the country first applied to join the bloc.

EU membership negotiations for both Albania and North Macedonia were initially scheduled for July 2022, but no negotiation chapters have been opened since then. At the end of September, however, EU member states unanimously decided to separate the bids and formally open EU membership talks with Albania.

The talks will focus on five key issues, including the judiciary, financial control, and procurement, as Albania struggles with high levels of corruption, slow judicial processes, and limited media freedom.

Will Albania's notable efforts in recent years, such as the adoption of several anti-corruption measures, be enough to reassure the EU's member states?   

Join host Giada Santana and senior editor Alice Taylor in this episode as they unpack the EU's enlargement strategy, Albania's evolving role in migration policy, and the implications of the country's membership bid for the rest of the Balkans.