This paper follows an e-consultation as well as the debates of a dedicated forum. It is built on the existing legal and institutional context of both countries – Albania and Kosovo – and is viewed from the perspective of bilateral and regional initiatives. Although they are at different stages in advancing relations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the process of integration into the European Union, specific aspects of the legal framework of the latter two have been widely appreciated.

The topics that attracted the attention of the contributors can be divided as follows:
• Analysis and commentary on the evolution and profile of trade relations between Kosovo and Albania.
• Analysis on economic complementarity between the two countries, and on the sectors and actors most relevant in terms of exchanges between them form the second group of contributions.
• Better application of existing administrative and legislative measures and optimal use of the current regulatory and legislative framework is one of the most important conclusions of this discussion.

The very important role of history and politics in both countries and their shared future in the European Union concludes the set of major topics addressed in this forum.

This publication is available in Albanian language only.

Tags: Economy, Governance, Regional Cooperation

This Business Charter is an output of the project SIMPLE (Strengthening the Identity of Minority People Leads to Equality), an innovative institutional cooperation and capacity building initiative that involves 5 Adriatic Countries, aimed at achieving social cohesion in the area through the strengthening of the cultural identities and diversity values of minority communities historically and recently established in Adriatic Countries.

The partners of the project SIMPLE have developed joint strategies and approaches in the Adriatic basin for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination culture, as basic values for the peaceful coexistence of all citizens, without any discrimination based on ethnic origin.

SIMPLE aims to improve the life conditions of minority people transforming the key-factors that nowadays are weakness and providing to public authorities, minority associations, NGOs and other local, regional and national stakeholder of Adriatic Countries guidelines and recommendations to arrange targeted services for addressing minorities’ disadvantages at local level.

The Business Charter is part of a set of 6 thematic documents produced and shared by the SIMPLE consortium that will be the operational tools to be promoted by the Adriatic Permanent Observatory on Minority Communities, which will be established within the project.

Each output is edited in a single document proposed in 6 languages (English, Croatian, Albanian, Italian, Montenegrin, and Slovenian), in order to favour the concrete comprehension and utilization by all the stakeholders of the project participating Countries.

The documents are available on request from national responsible partners. Info and contacts on the project website: www.simpleproject.eu.

Tags: Education, Environment, Local Development, Society

The current study has been prepared by Cooperation and Development Institute as contracted by MoEFWA and aims to prepare an operational Education & Sensibilsation Campaign (ESC)
for the protection and promotion of biodiversity in the Prespa National Park (PNP) in Albania.

PNP and the protected areas (PA) in Albania in general have come second in the attention and budgetary allocations provided by the government. Financial resources affected to PAs have been considered as a cost, to be allocated after the basic needs of the population has been dealt with. Even those measures have been mostly regulatory as a response to the approximating of the acquis communautaire than based on a real understanding of the needs of the local population. The current PA structures do not have the technical capacities to manage PAs (all efforts are on inspection & prevention); and the flow of information, as well as management, reporting and control routines between PA, the regional level and the central level are not operational.

This paper is composed by two main parts. In the first one we explain our methodological tools and the respective approach. In the second one, we go into precise and concise actions through project fiches ready to implement. The goal is to provide tailored and comprehensive measures on education in environmental protection and biodiversity conservation adapted to local population mental framework.

Tags: Digital Economy, Education, Environment, Local Development, Society

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

Cooperation and Development Institute participated in the workshop “Shaping the future of Albania” organized by the Southeast Europe Association (Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft) civil society activists from Albania – journalists, academics, young generation politicians and officials from administration – as well as German and international stakeholders – met in Munich.

They held a dialogue on Albania and its future under Chatham House Rules, looking for answers to the current issues surrounding Albania’s civil society and defining additional questions. The problems that persistently came up in the workshop, whatever the context, were those of EU membership perspectives, of persuasive corruption, of the lack of the rule of law, the need for reform, the question of Albanian nationalism and of economic development.

Tags: Civil Society, EU Accession, European Union, Reforms, Society

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The survey and its subsequent analysis on the Youth Labour Market in Albania has been initiated as an answer to a perceived phenomena of mismatch of skills with the available positions in the existing youth market. The current youth unemployment rate – double the national one – is a clear indicator of this situation. The study is supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung – Tirana Office, in partnership with National Employment Service.

The study was based first on desk research over the European methodology of analyzing the transition of youth from school to work, completed with data gathering on national level. In our work we focused only on the labour market features of supply and demand of youth skills as perceived by the employers.

Tags: Education, Employment, Youth

The survey and its subsequent analysis on the Youth Labour Market in Albania has been initiated as an answer to a perceived phenomena of mismatch of skills with the available positions in the existing youth market. The current youth unemployment rate – double the national one – is a clear indicator of this situation. The study is supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung – Tirana Office, in partnership with National Employment Service.

The study was based first on desk research over the European methodology of analyzing the transition of youth from school to work, completed with data gathering on national level. In our work we focused only on the labour market features of supply and demand of youth skills as perceived by the employers.

Tags: Education, Employment, Youth

This paper was prepared by the group of authors – Svetlana Cenic, Ardian Hackaj, Amer Kapetanovic, Maria Eleni Koppa, Gazmend Qorraj, Dusan Spasojevic, Dragan Tevdovski and Daliborka Uljarevic and has been supported by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

In November 2014 the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung initiated a process to develop policy recommendations for a positive change of the political and economic situation in the Western Balkans. Representatives of academia, civil society and politics from the Western Balkans were invited, along with political experts on European integration from Germany and Brussels, to discuss core challenges and necessary reform policies. The public debate on the EU integration of the Western Balkans and a two-day workshop in November 2014 and March 2015 in Berlin resulted in the formulation of four core theses that point to the deficits of current policy approaches and suggest alternatives to policy-makers at the national and European levels.

Tags: European Union, Regional Cooperation, Society, Western Balkans