A new agreement between Greece and Albania, reportedly finalized in late December 2024, has raised serious concerns over transparency, as the Albanian government has yet to publicly acknowledge its existence or disclose its contents. Instead, details of the deal have emerged almost exclusively from Greek sources, particularly from the newspaper Kathimerini (link). This lack of openness has fueled speculation that the agreement primarily benefits Greece while offering minimal gains for Albania.
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| Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Edi Rama in a meeting table |
A One-Sided Deal?
According to Greek reports, the agreement includes key provisions that align with Greece’s long-standing demands:
- Easier Self-Identification for the Greek Minority – Albanian authorities will no longer require official documentation for individuals to declare themselves part of the Greek minority. Instead, self-identification will be automatically accepted within 30 days.
- Expanded Language Rights – Beyond the existing rule that a minority language can be officially used if at least 20% of a local population belongs to that group, the new agreement allows historical presence to be considered a sufficient criterion.
- International and Greek Monitoring – Implementation of these provisions will be overseen not just by international bodies such as the OSCE and the European Commission, but also by the Greek Embassy in Tirana.
- Greek Military Cemeteries and Property Issues – The agreement reportedly includes provisions on Greek war cemeteries in Albania and addresses unresolved property claims by the Greek minority.
In return, Albania’s only apparent gain is the recognition of pensions for Albanian emigrants in Greece—a demand that has been on the table for years but remains unresolved.
Why the Secrecy?
The Albanian government’s complete silence on this agreement raises serious concerns. Why has there been no official communication? Why was such a deal negotiated behind closed doors? The lack of transparency suggests that the government may have made concessions that could prove controversial domestically, particularly on issues related to national sovereignty and minority rights.
This secrecy also prevents public scrutiny and parliamentary debate, effectively shutting out Albanian citizens from a decision that could impact the country’s long-term interests. If the agreement truly served Albania’s national interests, why not present it openly?
What Is Albania Giving Away?
By failing to disclose the terms of the deal, the Albanian government has left the impression that Greece is the primary beneficiary. The provisions related to the Greek minority, language rights, and property claims have been longstanding Greek demands, and their approval without broader national discussion suggests that Albania may have yielded under diplomatic pressure.
Meanwhile, key unresolved issues that concern Albania—such as the recognition of Chameria property claims and Greece’s formal removal of the state of war with Albania—remain unaddressed. This further reinforces the perception that the agreement is imbalanced and that the Albanian government may have prioritized Greek interests over national ones.
Urgent Need for Transparency
The silence from Albanian authorities is fueling speculation and potential domestic unrest. If the government truly believes this agreement serves Albania’s interests, it must immediately disclose its full contents, allow parliamentary scrutiny, and engage in a transparent discussion with the public. Otherwise, the perception that this deal disproportionately favors Greece will only grow, deepening public distrust in the government and creating unnecessary tension in Albania’s bilateral relations.
Secrecy in diplomacy often means one thing: one side got the better deal.