The importance of Western Balkan countries in guarding the external borders of EU became apparent in summer 2015 after the statement of Austria’s foreign minister Sebastian Kurz: “If we do not have functional border controls at the external borders of the European Union, the whole idea of a European Union without borders inside is in danger”. Following the actuality, the challenges posed by migration pressures for the countries of the region, and the implications of the “Balkans route”, were the main topics of the Vienna Summit. The principles of commitment to a European migration policy, based on criteria of solidarity and equity and the need to help the Balkan countries to manage the situation were the basis of discussion.

This Working Paper analyses the context, policies and actions of the Albanian Government following the Western Balkans Route impact on the country and the respective conclusions of the Vienna Summit of August 2015. The study took place from November 2015 until June 2016 and included desk review, media monitoring, interviews and field visits.

This Working Paper is part of the “Berlin Process Series”, started in November 2015 in Tirana as an initiative of the Cooperation and Development Institute supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Hanns Seidel Stiftung, and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. This Working Paper was supported by Hanns Seidel Stiftung.

Tags: Migration, P2P Connectivity, Reintegration

The following working paper, elaborated by a high professional scientist team of the “Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI) / ShtetiWeb” supported by the Tirana-office of the Hanns- Seidel Foundation (HSF), aims at fill in this apparent gap.

The study investigates in a paramount and comprehensive level the external pull factors and internal push-factors of the Albanian case of emigration wave to Germany and contributes therefore by its “lesson-learnt” to some improvement of understanding of the phenomenon and better tool of solving the situation.

The contents of the following study as part of the CDI-HSS “Berlin Process-Series-working papers” provides some scientific illumination and analysis of the Albanian generally migrant profile, analysis of the Albanian migrant experiences in the destiny-country Germany and also analysis of the perspectives of Albanian migrants after their return in the origin-country after having been rejected their asylum application, because they are regarded mainly as only “jobseekers”, expecting and wishing better living conditions.

The study is finally completed by some institutional and legal framework context on the reintegration topic and by special conclusions and policy recommendations. The study took place from April until October 2016 and the draft publication was presented by some joint CDI-HSF “round-table” discussion in Tirana on 16th of December 2016 to some public audience and to media, which were very interested in the topic.

Tags: Migration, P2P Connectivity, Society

This Working Paper is prepared by Cooperation and Development Institute and aims to investigate and provide a robust understanding of the recent migration outflow originating from Albania during 2014 – 2015, the push and pull factors that caused it; the experience of Albanian migrants abroad and the profiles and perspectives of the returnees.

The study took place from April until October 2016 and included desk review, media monitoring, in-depth interviews and field visits.

Tags: Migration, P2P Connectivity, Society

This is the 3rd CDI Working Paper analyzing Migration and it focuses on the return and reintegration of Albanian migrants logging an asylum seeker request in Germany in the period 2014-
2016, and subsequently returned to Albania.

It is primarily focused on the topic of return and reintegration of Albanian migrants, depicting, describing and analysing the path from asylum seeker requests in Germany in the period of 2014 to 2016 with all relevant expectations, challenges and constraints until the subsequent resettlement into Albania with all combined problems, difficulties and disappointments, which became evident when back in the homeland.

The study is characterized by methodology of scientific approach and is enriched by many case-examples and interviews, drawing a vivid picture of the past and present situation.

The contents of the following study as part of the CDI-HSF “Berlin process-series-working papers” concretely provide some scientific documented illumination and analysis of the Albanian generally migrant-profile, describe the Albanian migrant experiences in the destiny country Germany and give also some analysis of the perspectives of Albanian migrants after their return and reintegration into the society of the origin- country after having been rejected their asylum application.

Tags: Migration, P2P Connectivity, Society

The European Commission intends to publish a new methodology for the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans in early 2020. While the hope is that the new document will re-establish EU consensus on enlargement and revive its exhausted policy toward the Western Balkan region, there are already clear signs that it will all end up as another paper pushing exercise. Without tackling the root causes of the current situation, notably the enduring socio-economic entropy and political backsliding in the Western Balkans, this new move will only diminish the leverage of the EU. What is needed is a human development-centered EU enlargement model for the Western Balkans.

Tags: European Union, Western Balkans , EU integration , Economy , Migration