Albania–France relations

Albania and France are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Albania is an EU candidate and France is also an EU member.

History
During the Middle Ages, the Anjous, a French noble family took control of Albania between 1272-1282.

During the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), Albanians declared the independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. France along with Russia opposed Albanian aims due to their support for Serbia, and both backed their Balkan allies' proposals for less territory and coast for the new borders of the Albanian state.

During World War I, France would occupy Southeastern Albania and created the Autonomous Province of Korçë, a French protectorate founded in 1916. The French would occupy this region until 1920 when they withdrew forces from the area.

Upon the end of World War II, France remained the only Western country where Albania had diplomatic and economic relations with, owing to Communist dictator Enver Hoxha’s French education. France was Communist Albania’s only nominal Western trading partner throughout the Cold War.

As a European Union (EU) founder and member, France was one of the only countries that did not support Albania in its euro-integration path, until March 30, 2020.

Resident diplomatic missions

 * Albania has an embassy in Paris.
 * France has an embassy in Tirana.