Minister Kumbaro Says Government Approves Final By-law on Scientific Research Toward Closing EU Integration Chapter 25

The Council of Ministers approved the twelfth bylaw to implement the 2024 Law on Science, which completes the regulatory framework for organizing scientific research in Albania. This is an important step in the country’s European integration process.
Mirela Kumbaro, the Minister of Education, announced that the full package of bylaws aims to align Albania’s research system with European Union directives and regulations, in close collaboration with Albanian institutions and the European Commission. This decision fulfills one of Albania’s key obligations under Chapter 25 (Science and Research), one of the most advanced chapters in the negotiation process and expected to be among the first closed.
Implementing this framework creates new opportunities for public and private universities, research institutions, and the private sector. It facilitates the development of research units and participation in international projects. Albanian institutions now have a complete legal basis to integrate into the European Research Area, allowing them to participate in European research infrastructure consortiums on an equal footing with EU member states.
Meanwhile, the government has significantly increased its financial support for scientific research. Compared to 2022, funding has tripled, including the budgets of not only the Ministry of Education but also other public institutions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, security, and infrastructure. Further increasing this funding is one of the main objectives for meeting European standards.
The European Commission has positively assessed progress in this field, and together with Chapter 26 (Education and Culture), Chapter 25 is expected to be concluded as a result of coordinated interinstitutional work in the continuation of the negotiation process.