This study was prepared as part of the project “Promoting Internet Broadband in the Accursed Mountains”, implemented by the Minister of State for Innovation and Administration and Cooperation and Development Institute, and funded by the European Union under the IPA instrument, Albania-Montenegro cross-border cooperation programme.

The study consists of four chapters:
1. “Overall assessment of the socio-economic development of the area, geographical position and terrain, area demographics, state of mountain tourism and the prospect of its development through broadband access and broadband internet connection”.
2. “Preparing the list of broadband internet operators and providers in the selected area, evaluating the existing legal framework and policy documents with suggestions for their improvement, identifying the synergies of using broadband internet to enhance cross-border cooperation in exchanges of tourists and increasing trade exchanges.”
3. “Broadband Internet Services in the Accursed Mountains.
4. “Financing Broadband Internet in the Alps”.

The process of preparing this study group was led by Ms. Anis Lamllari, Project Director for the first three chapters, and by Ms. Krisela Hackaj for the fourth chapter.

This study report is in Albanian language only.

Tags: Economy, Local Development, Society

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This concept paper is prepared in the framework of the Conference “Albanian in the Berlin Process: Fall 2015 Stocktaking and Recommendations” and it is published in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Hanns Seidel Foundation.

This document contains amongst other: interviews with representatives of Albanian and foreign institutions involved in this process, presentations and speeches of the speakers in the Conference and other findings of the research carried out by ShtetiWeb team.

We will outline the Berlin Process’ institutional, legal and policy(ies) framework, the synergy with prior mechanisms, the novelties brought by this process, assess the connectivity argument with reference to its contribution to growth and prosperity in the region, and give an overview of the existing regional initiatives that directly or partially affect the Berlin Agenda. Finally, specific findings will be drawn for each category of the involved stakeholders, on the way they interact, the national and regional mechanisms and the monitoring component.

The study methodology is based on desk research and interviews with national, regional and international stakeholders. It will be published after the conference and will include the speeches of the invitees as well as the results of discussions.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance

This paper aims to outline the Berlin connectivity agenda and its relevance and impact on the economic growth of Albania. The methodology used by the authors will be based on the identification, and subsequent analysis and assessment of the political commitments and their respective legal base and consequences. We will sift through the official declarations and joint statements, public speeches, political statements, and press releases of the main EU and WB6 institutional actors and on their impact on the ground. The second component would focus on a formative evaluation process of the on-going connectivity projects in Albania.

The paper will be based on a qualitative analysis of the available information, completed with five semi-structured interviews with national and international stakeholders involved in the implementation of ‘Berlin Process’ related agenda in Albania such as Government, EU, IFIs and other involved actors.

Initially, the paper will start with the ‘Berlin Process’ institutions, approach and priorities as well as on the connectivity agenda with reference to the contribution of concrete projects to growth and prosperity in the country. Then, it will summarily assess Albania’s economic relations both at the regional and European level and identify the critical areas in need of reforms, the priority sectors and the obstacles to growth. Finally, specific recommendations will be drawn for each category of the involved stakeholders, in order to take out the most from the ‘Berlin Process’. Special attention will be paid to the argument of a joint regional platform for economic governance and of the regional value chain.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance

October 2016

THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF BERLIN PROCESS FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS: A VIEW FROM ALBANIA

Monitoring Report

This Working Paper aims to document and analyze the progress Albania has achieved in implementing the commitments taken in the framework of the so-called Berlin Process as stated in Vienna Summit in August 2015, and the challenges ahead to the upcoming Summit of Paris of July 4th 2016. The Berlin Conference held in August 2014 was the starting point of the official coming to existence of the “Berlin Process”. Initially planned as a one-off event called by Chancellor Merkel, this process took an existence by itself to become today one of the most important regional cooperation platforms, equipped of a budget of EUR 1 billion until end of 2018. Its objectives are to enhance joint regional economic governance – in the framework of the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries – by laying the foundations for higher and sustainable growth. The process aims to contribute to the reinforcement of a sound economic environment and reliable political, legal and societal structures in these countries. This Working Paper aims to document and analyze the progress of the Albanian Government in achieving the: a) necessary alignment to the standards of legislation and reforms (soft measures) needed and agreed upon in Vienna Summit; and, b) in implementing the related measures with regard to infrastructure projects. In drafting this Working Paper, Cooperation and Development Institute has hold several meetings and interviews with the main relevant institutions involved in the process (i.e. the Strategic Planning and Development Unit – part of the Department for Development, Financing and Foreign Aid at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Energy and Industry, WBIF, etc.). Moreover, an extensive research and analysis of information from other public sources has been carried out, namely: a) official declarations and joint statements, public speeches,  political statements, and press releases of the main EU and WB6 institutional actors; b) specialized economic media; c) national strategic documents and annuals reports of different institutions/structures in charge of implementing sector-based policies.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance, Transport

This non-paper is prepared in the wake of the conference “From Paris to Rome: Perspectives from Albania on Regional Cooperation – Fall 2016”.

The Berlin process remains a thinly documented development. There are very few official documents, studies, assessments that offer a comprehensive view on this extremely important initiative. Against this setting, CDI / ShtetiWeb, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Hanns Seidel Foundation and Konrad Adenauer Foundation, aims to cover this gap.

The methodology of CDI / ShtetiWeb work is based on the identification, and subsequent analysis and assessment of: a) official declarations, joint statements, public speeches, political statements, and press releases of the main EU and WB6 institutional actors; b) related impact and developments in Albania and in Western Balkans region; completed with, c) semi- structured interviews with beneficiaries and implementing stakeholders. The research phase is followed by conference – as a public debating platform- with stakeholders organised in autumn of every year. The proceedings of the Conference complete the research results and are published in the form of a Monitoring Report.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance

The present publication is the first comprehensive policy document examining the Berlin Process. It is the result of a close collaboration amongst CDI / ShtetiWeb and its regional partner CSOs, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, German and French Embassies in Tirana, EU Delegation to Albania, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prominent Members of the Albanian Parliament.

The first part of the publication includes a research paper on the Berlin Process, conducted by the research team of CDI / ShtetiWeb, and completed with an assessment of Albania’s position in this process as of November 2015. The research paper served as a working document for the conference “Albania in the Berlin Process: Fall 2015 Stocktaking and Recommendations”, held in Tirana on 5 November 2015. The contributions of the participants were redacted and are presented in written form in the second part of the publication.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance

In the aftermath of Brexit referendum and after the Paris Summit, it is of utmost importance to reflect over the progress achieved so far in the framework of the Berlin process (BP), its place in the myriad of existing regional cooperation initiatives and platforms 2, and the challenges ahead. Three years after its inception and one year before its end, it is time to take stock of its dynamics and to contribute with contextualized recommendations on its role to further enhance regional cooperation in the Western Balkans (WB6), and to its contribution to the EU accession path of the WB6 countries. In its endeavour to document, analyse and promote the Berlin process, Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI) and its partners – Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS) – are producing their latest study “Monitoring the Berlin Process: From Paris to Trieste”. Its aim is to assess the current achievements and remaining challenges, to identify innovations and the added value of the process, to document its parcours with focus on Albania, and provide an assessment on its future the Summit of Trieste. This study is a component of the Berlin Process Series and complements former assessments done by CDI on specific pillars of the BP such as connectivity, migration or youth cooperation.

We have included in the first section of the study the main conclusions of the annual conference “From Paris to Rome – Perspectives from Albania on Regional Cooperation”, held in Tirana on October 26-27, 2016, developed under the Chatham House Rules.

Tags: Berlin Process, Connectivity Agenda, European Union, Institutional Governance, Western Balkans, Structural Weaknesses

This Guide is intended to be an educational tool for youth organizations in Albania, so that they can rely on a simple instrument during their daily work illustrating how the EU integration process works in Albania and what are the main EU and other programmes where they can apply for funding. The Guide has been developed in cooperation with National Youth Congress (NYC) and aims to explain in simple words the EU negotiations process, the potential contribution that youth organizations can provide especially in relation to two specific negotiations chapters, and finally to provide a short description of the EU funding Instruments available for them.

This Guide serves to introduce NYC organizations with the basic information on the EU integration process, on two specific Chapters of negotiations of particular interest for the youth organizations, namely Chapter 19: Social policy and employment and Chapter 26: Education and Culture. The Guide also inquiries about the relevant Albanian involved institutions and the policy framework regulating both chapters. Finally, the Guide also provides information on the main EU funded and other initiatives where youth organizations may apply as per their field of interest and activities.

Tags: EU Integration, Employment, Youth

The goal of this publication is to provide an overview of the state of democracy in all four EU membership candidate countries in the Western Balkans – Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania. To achieve this, the publication presents a “shadow report” on some of the key Copenhagen criteria – democracy, freedom of expression and regional issues and international obligations, as presented within the original country reports.

The report covers the period from November 2016 to October 2017, with the exception of Montenegro, where October 2016 was also included due to the importance of the parliamentary elections and the consequences they had for democracy in the country.

This publication represents a cooperation between the Centre for Contemporary Politics from Belgrade and the Cooperation and Development Institute from Tirana, published with the support of the European Fund for the Balkans through the Think and Link Regional Policy Programme.

Tags: EU accession, European Union, Western Balkans