Abstract
This study examines how Albania is re-shaping its social protection system through the process of European Union (EU) integration. It is not only about bringing legislation in line with what the E.U. requires, but also about more profound changes in institutions, services and how support gets to people who need it. The research looks at how public policies are being re-tooled to reflect European values such as social justice, inclusion and a life in dignity, and wrestles with the reality of constraints like scarce resources, bureaucratic shortcomings and addressing more effectively the needs of groups that are vulnerable. By looking at both the legal wording and the practical realities of how these policies unfold, the research tells us what it means for a country like Albania to prepare its social system for a more connected and just European future.