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 study analyzes two specific instruments which regulate the inter-institutional cooperation:
1. the Inter-Sectorial Strategy against Corruption 2015-2020, and;
2. the Memorandums of Cooperation/ Understanding among the main institutions involved in the efforts to prevent and
punish corruption.

From this research resulted that around 54% of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) are signed between the public administration institutions and the independent / constitutional institutions. The absolute majority of them have the same aim, that of facilitating the exchange and access to information. From interviews held with representatives of some of the institutions, it can be concluded that the MoUs become relevant tools, when they enable the access of specific institutions to state databases.

The full analysis aims to draw the attention on the efficiency of the instrument of Memorandum, on increasing the transparency of the public activities of the institutions involved in the fight against corruption, on consolidating the planning and monitoring strategic framework for the inter- sectorial strategies in place, and on supporting the monitoring and evaluations carried out by the civil society.

Tags: AntiCorruption, Institutional Cooperation, Institutional Governance, Public Policy

This publication was supported by: Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Tirana Office), Hanns Seidel Foundation (Tirana Office) and Friedrich Ebert Foundation, (Tirana Office).

The main objectives of the publication “The Berlin Process 2014-2018” are twofold: to continue to build the body of knowledge on this initiative, to analyze its features and actions implemented under “its roof”, and: to provide additional data on its interaction with Enlargement, and on its contribution to regional cooperation in WB6. The state of advancement of the connectivity infrastructure projects will be analyzed as well.

The report contains:
• an assessment of the scope of the Berlin Process as reflected in the Final Declarations of the Chair in Western Balkans Summits in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Trieste, and information about the upcoming London event;
• evaluation of interrelation of the Berlin Process permanent areas (connectivity and regional cooperation), with Enlargement process as expressed in the Enlargement strategies 2013- 2018 and in the EU funding through IPA Multilateral and IPA National;
• up-to-date information on the Connectivity Agenda, including state-of-affairs of connectivity projects NSPP of the Western Balkans 6, and progress made on the Economic Reform Programs and Regional Economic Area;
• WB6 regional cooperation achievements including people-to-people (P2P) connectivity, high level political cooperation, government-to-government (G2G), youth exchange (RYCO), Civil Society Forums, and Science Cooperation;
• debates spurred by Berlin process such as on the WB6 growth model, regionalization of enlargement, politisation of Enlargement, relations with Eastern connectivity, etc.

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

The current report benefits from a 5-year hindsight, and adds three novelties to the growing number of research on the Berlin Process. While including in our focus the implementation phase of the connectivity agenda projects, we have expanded the scope and also extended the timeline of analysis.

The structure of the report follows this pattern: from spatial connectivity to full integration in one polity. It starts with the explanation of the advantages that a larger scope and longer timeline brings while studying the efficiency of a multilayered connectivity and evaluating its impact. The people-to-people (P2P) connectivity complements the sector analysis. It will push the borders of sector approach to assess the interaction of higher mobility of people with the surrounding context. The interaction of markets globalization with social fractures at national level will be particularly addressed.

The last chapter puts the WB6 connectivity in the EU context and its surrounding uncertainty. EU enlargement to WB6 is affected by the same phenomena that EU integration is facing. But the big difference is that WB6 institutions are still young and under consolidation, when compared with the centenary liberal democratic institutions of Western Europe.

Further on the document has been enriched with conclusions of the 4th Tirana Connectivity Forum of November 2018 (TCF18). Different citations as well as longer contributions during the TCF18 in form of boxes have been inserted throughout the analysis.

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

To be implemented successfully in the Western Balkans countries (WB6), Large Regional Infrastructure Projects (LIPs) should be self-contained, backed-up politically, and with minimum interference from public authorities. Being self-contained involves having in-house the technical expertise and the initial financing to cover the planning phase, and possessing a granular understanding of the legal and institutional context of the host country. Political back-up – international and local – is crucial to successfully navigate the international geo-political scene, to by-pass the challenges posed by the incomplete legal and procedural framework during the construction and operations phase, and to secure the necessary leverage for efficiently pressuring all the levels of national and local administration that deal with LIPs.

We believe the study brings an innovative perspective on the local institution governance, or the local “institutional black box” that directly impacts an LIP cycle. This research brings those two elements to the attention of policy makers and International Finance Institutions (IFIs).

This report also aims to provide a detailed insight on the interaction dynamics, benefits and risk distribution between the host country and the IFI, bilateral donor or private investor on all the project life-cycle from design to post-construction. Wherever relevant, comparisons have been drawn with Connectivity Agenda (CA) projects. Finally, we have planned the publication of this report in the view of the ongoing preparation of the Growth and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. We believe this document provides original, context-based and applicable insights that can eventually contribute in the planning, implementation and the operation phases of the Connectivity Agenda projects.

Tags: Connectivity Agenda, Institutional Governance, Local Development, Trans Adriatic Pipeline – TAP