As Albania accelerates its preparations for EU candidate status, public policy areas undergo significant development. Regional development policy is particularly new and requires further research. This study examines sustainable development in Albania by analyzing the regions of Tirana, Shkodra, and Kukes. The methodology includes a literature review, analytical and comparative approaches, qualitative interviews, and quantitative data collection. The research is structured into five chapters. The first chapter provides an overview of the study framework. The second outlines the theoretical and scientific foundations of sustainable and regional development in relation to geography. The third chapter presents an analysis of regional development in Albania, highlighting disparities in light of EU requirements and NUTS division. Chapter four compares the regions: Tirana as a driver for change, Shkodra as the North in Development, and Kukes as the "shrinking" region. The final chapter offers conclusions and recommendations. The research concludes that to increase and sustain growth in Albania, a regional development policy must be established.
