By the powers of AI: Albania to speed up EU accession process by using ChatGPT

In a groundbreaking move, the Albanian government has entered into an agreement with OpenAI, the parent company of the renowned language model ChatGPT, to streamline the translation and incorporation of thousands of pages of European Union (EU) legal measures and provisions into the Albanian language.

The initiative aims to accelerate the country’s European Union accession process, given its longstanding wait in the EU’s waiting room for 14 years and growing frustration with the perceived lethargy in EU enlargement.

Albania, identified as the most pro-EU country in Europe, with over 97 per cent of its population favouring EU membership, has embarked on utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate through the extensive paperwork associated with aligning with EU regulations. The decision to employ ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI under the leadership of CEO Mira Murati, an Albanian-born visionary, marks a strategic move to expedite the integration process.

Romanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, envisioning a novel application for ChatGPT, proposed employing the model to not only translate EU legal content into Albanian but also to offer a comprehensive analysis of necessary changes in local legislation to comply with EU standards. Rama highlighted the potential to replace the need for numerous translators and legal experts, saving millions of euros and expediting the entire process.

The collaboration between OpenAI and the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) materialized following a telephone meeting between Rama and Murati. The joint effort aims to present a successful test of the AI-assisted legislation interposition, covering a vast corpus of 280,000 pages of EU legal measures, at the EU summit in Brussels on December 13.

Albania’s EU accession journey, initiated in 2009, faced delays tied to the progress of North Macedonia until the summer of 2022. Prime Minister Rama, frustrated with perceived EU enlargement obstacles, expressed skepticism toward the Chief of the European Council’s call for a new deadline for enlargement, emphasizing the need for a longer timeframe.

The current bilateral crisis between Greece and Albania, triggered by Greece’s threat to veto accession talks over the imprisonment of Albanian ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri, adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Rama indicated that the AI-powered legislative interposition project would be presented to EU leaders alongside discussions addressing the Greek dilemma.

Albania’s innovative use of ChatGPT extends beyond EU integration. In August, the government announced plans to deploy ChatGPT in creating services to enhance public administration through the e-Albania government services platform. The virtual operator, powered by ChatGPT, is anticipated to offer real-time responses and is scheduled to launch in early 2024.

Moreover, Rama unveiled plans to leverage AI in public procurement, aiming to combat corruption by introducing transparent and data-driven processes. Describing existing procedures as “archaic,” he emphasized the transformative potential of AI in modernizing governance.

If successful, Albania’s pioneering use of AI in its EU accession process could set a precedent for other candidate countries. Mira Murati, recently appointed as interim CEO of OpenAI, has not yet commented on the developments, maintaining the company’s reputation for limited public statements.