ALBANIAALBANIA

Treading the European PathTreading the European Path

REPUBLIC OF ALBANIAMINISTRY OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Regional Conference “Through Cooperation towards Integration”

Montenegro, 07-10 October 2007

MAIN POLITICAL MAIN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTSDEVELOPMENTS

On 12On 12thth of June 2006 Albania signed the SAA of June 2006 Albania signed the SAA between EU and its Member Statesbetween EU and its Member States

On 30On 30thth of July 2006 The Albanian Parliament of July 2006 The Albanian Parliament ratified the SAA and the Interim Agreementratified the SAA and the Interim Agreement

On 7On 7thth of September 2006 the European of September 2006 the European Parliament ratified the SAA Parliament ratified the SAA

The ratification procedures have already started The ratification procedures have already started in the Member States in the Member States

Trade liberalizationTrade liberalization

On 22 of July 2007, Albania started the implementation of On 22 of July 2007, Albania started the implementation of the Single Free Trade Agreement CEFTA 2006. 5 countries, the Single Free Trade Agreement CEFTA 2006. 5 countries, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Moldova and Kosovo had Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, Moldova and Kosovo had deposited the instrument of ratification of the Agreement. By deposited the instrument of ratification of the Agreement. By 22 August 2007, the agreement is in force for Croatia, as 22 August 2007, the agreement is in force for Croatia, as wellwell..

To Albania the CEFTA Agreement 2006 is not a simple To Albania the CEFTA Agreement 2006 is not a simple transposition of the 8 (eight) existing free trade agreements, transposition of the 8 (eight) existing free trade agreements, but a long bilateral and multilateral process. During this but a long bilateral and multilateral process. During this process, Albania has renegotiated (reviewed) bilateral process, Albania has renegotiated (reviewed) bilateral relations with Croatia and UNMIK/Kosovo and has negotiated relations with Croatia and UNMIK/Kosovo and has negotiated direct relations with Montenegro. This is a way for deepening direct relations with Montenegro. This is a way for deepening the dialogue and regional cooperation, good neighborhood the dialogue and regional cooperation, good neighborhood

relations and stability promotionrelations and stability promotion

Challenges aheadChallenges ahead

- - Albania membership in the Union requires to meet the Albania membership in the Union requires to meet the Copenhagen Criteria. The existence of a functioning market Copenhagen Criteria. The existence of a functioning market economy, and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and economy, and the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.market forces within the Union.

-The revised -The revised European PartnershipEuropean Partnership, setting out priorities that , setting out priorities that Albania should address in the short- and medium-term.Albania should address in the short- and medium-term.Albania adopted in September 2007 the National Plan to implement Albania adopted in September 2007 the National Plan to implement the European Partnership priorities and the SAA obligations and the European Partnership priorities and the SAA obligations and Interim Agreement.Interim Agreement.

-Approximation of legislation with acquis as stipulated in Article 70 -Approximation of legislation with acquis as stipulated in Article 70 of the SAAof the SAA

• Community assistanceCommunity assistance

– Strengthen capacities to better conduct the Strengthen capacities to better conduct the programming process and the monitoring of programming process and the monitoring of project implementation;project implementation;

– Better coordination with member states and IFIs;Better coordination with member states and IFIs;– Completion of the decentralization processCompletion of the decentralization process

Implementing instrumentImplementing instrument National Plan for the Implementation of the National Plan for the Implementation of the

SAA (NPISAA)- strategic PlanSAA (NPISAA)- strategic Plan

Adopted by the CoM Decision no. 577, dated 05.09.2007 “On Approving the National Plan for the Implementation of the SAA” Basic document for reporting on the accomplishment of the Albanian obligations in the framework of the European Integration Process in the short/medium/long term period. This plan makes an attempt to cost the This plan makes an attempt to cost the European integration process, which is necessary for budgetary European integration process, which is necessary for budgetary forecasting. It also broadly schedules reform and capacity-building forecasting. It also broadly schedules reform and capacity-building steps and defines institutional responsibility and its pace towards steps and defines institutional responsibility and its pace towards European Integration.European Integration.

The Plan consists of three main chapters: Political criteria, Economic criteria and the ability to meet the obligations of EU membership

Basic reference for designing governmental initiatives on public administration reform and training strategyA “guide” for prioritizing and allocating the resources in orderto create an administration capable of copping with Integration commitments

Monitoring instrumentsMonitoring instruments

Progres Reports on Implementation of National PlanProgres Reports on Implementation of National Plan

On Monthly and Quarterly bases On Monthly and Quarterly bases

Line Ministries and other institutions report on the progress Line Ministries and other institutions report on the progress of implementation of the NPISAA, in terms of legal initiatives of implementation of the NPISAA, in terms of legal initiatives and implementing activities.and implementing activities.

Updated information on the new requirements of the process.Updated information on the new requirements of the process.

Every three months MoI prepares the quarterly progress Every three months MoI prepares the quarterly progress reports on the bases of monthly reports of Line Ministries and reports on the bases of monthly reports of Line Ministries and institutions.institutions.

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Role of the Ministry of Integration Role of the Ministry of Integration and Line Ministriesand Line Ministries

The CoM Decision stipulates the following:The CoM Decision stipulates the following:• Ministry of IntegrationMinistry of Integration: :

coordinates and monitors the implementation of the coordinates and monitors the implementation of the National PlanNational Plan

reports to the Council of Ministers on the progress reports to the Council of Ministers on the progress concerning the Implementation of the National Planconcerning the Implementation of the National Plan

Line Ministries & other State InstitutionsLine Ministries & other State Institutions: (: (European European Integration Units) Integration Units)

report to MoI at the beginning of report to MoI at the beginning of each montheach month on the on the implementation of their commitments as foreseen in the implementation of their commitments as foreseen in the Plan.Plan.

Ministry of Finance:Ministry of Finance: Insures the reflection of the financial needs deriving from Insures the reflection of the financial needs deriving from

the National Plan to the MTBP and the yearly budget. the National Plan to the MTBP and the yearly budget.

Content of the National PlanContent of the National Plan

Annexes of the National Plan, as an integral part Annexes of the National Plan, as an integral part of it, identify: of it, identify:

• (i) (i) legal initiativeslegal initiatives to be undertaken in accordance with the to be undertaken in accordance with the obligations laid down in the SAA and the European Partnership. obligations laid down in the SAA and the European Partnership.

• (ii) (ii) costs of translation and Preparation of Legislationcosts of translation and Preparation of Legislation

• (iii) (iii) capacity buildingcapacity building; ;

• (iv) (iv) training needstraining needs in each institution and field; in each institution and field;

• (v) (v) assessment of fundsassessment of funds needed in infrastructure, IT and needed in infrastructure, IT and expertise;expertise;

• (vi) (vi) list of implementing activities list of implementing activities to be carried out in line with to be carried out in line with the obligations deriving from the SAA and the European the obligations deriving from the SAA and the European PartnershipPartnership..

Preparatory Work in Law Preparatory Work in Law ApproximationApproximation

MoI has completed a documentary package providing the MoI has completed a documentary package providing the vision for the approximation of legislation, which includes:vision for the approximation of legislation, which includes:

– the professional translation of the the professional translation of the White PaperWhite Paper

– the the methodology of approximationmethodology of approximation

– glossaryglossary with legal terms regarding EU with legal terms regarding EU

– manualmanual on the use of community legislation; on the use of community legislation;

– screening of the Albanian legislationscreening of the Albanian legislation which is in which is in force and which will be gradually aligned with the force and which will be gradually aligned with the acquisacquis. .

INSTRUMENTSINSTRUMENTS OF LAW OF LAW APPROXIMATIONAPPROXIMATION

Council of Ministers has adopted a Council of Ministers has adopted a Decision on Instruments of Decision on Instruments of approximation of the domestic legislation with the approximation of the domestic legislation with the acquis acquis communautairecommunautaire. .

– line ministries and other central institutions are required, when line ministries and other central institutions are required, when preparing normative acts, to submit a preparing normative acts, to submit a Explanatory Explanatory Memorandum and Table of ConcordanceMemorandum and Table of Concordance of legislative of legislative provisions with the relevant EU provisions. provisions with the relevant EU provisions.

– Both of these instruments and the draft proposals are to be Both of these instruments and the draft proposals are to be forwarded to the Ministry of European Integration for forwarded to the Ministry of European Integration for verification and approvalverification and approval. .

– If a draft normative act has not been submitted together with If a draft normative act has not been submitted together with both instruments, it will be both instruments, it will be returned to the expert body for returned to the expert body for revisionrevision and will not undergo further procedure. and will not undergo further procedure.

Structure of the Ministry of European Structure of the Ministry of European IntegrationIntegration

CommitmentsCommitments

• Albania is committed to contribute by all means to the Albania is committed to contribute by all means to the political, economic and institutional stabilisation through the political, economic and institutional stabilisation through the development of civil society and democratisation, institution development of civil society and democratisation, institution building and public administration reform, regional trade building and public administration reform, regional trade integration and enhanced economic cooperation, as well as integration and enhanced economic cooperation, as well as through cooperation in a wide range of areas, particularly in through cooperation in a wide range of areas, particularly in justice and home affairs, and the strengthening of national justice and home affairs, and the strengthening of national and regional securityand regional security..

• Albania Albania is committed to create a new climate for economic is committed to create a new climate for economic relations above all, for the development of trade and relations above all, for the development of trade and investment, factors crucial to economic restructuring and investment, factors crucial to economic restructuring and modernisation; in regional cooperation and the development modernisation; in regional cooperation and the development

of good neighbourly relationsof good neighbourly relations

Cross Border CooperationCross Border Cooperation

The development of regional co-operation corresponds to a The development of regional co-operation corresponds to a commitment made by the countries of the region at the EU–commitment made by the countries of the region at the EU–Western Balkans Summits of Zagreb (2000) and Thessaloniki Western Balkans Summits of Zagreb (2000) and Thessaloniki (2003). At the EU-Western Balkans Summit of Thessaloniki (June (2003). At the EU-Western Balkans Summit of Thessaloniki (June 2003) it was noted that, "rapprochement with the EU will go 2003) it was noted that, "rapprochement with the EU will go hand in hand with the development of regional co-operation". hand in hand with the development of regional co-operation".

Regional co-operation is a principle of the highest importance Regional co-operation is a principle of the highest importance for the political stability, the security and economic for the political stability, the security and economic development of the Western Balkan countries. Many of the development of the Western Balkan countries. Many of the challenges facing the Western Balkan countries are not only challenges facing the Western Balkan countries are not only common to them but also have a cross‑border dimension, which common to them but also have a cross‑border dimension, which involves their regional neighbors involves their regional neighbors

Cross Border CooperationCross Border Cooperation

• Albania takes part in two Cross Border Cooperation Albania takes part in two Cross Border Cooperation Programmes, whose strategic documents are based Programmes, whose strategic documents are based on a joint strategic planning effort between the two on a joint strategic planning effort between the two countries and is also the result of a large countries and is also the result of a large consultation process with the local stakeholders and consultation process with the local stakeholders and potential beneficiaries. potential beneficiaries.

• The objective of the cross-border programmes are to The objective of the cross-border programmes are to promote good neighbourly relations, foster stability, promote good neighbourly relations, foster stability, security and prosperity, which is in the mutual security and prosperity, which is in the mutual interest of both countries, and encourage their interest of both countries, and encourage their harmonious, balanced and sustainable development. harmonious, balanced and sustainable development.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGYCOMMUNICATION STRATEGY

The Ministry of Integration has made communication one The Ministry of Integration has made communication one of the strategic objective fully recognising it as a policy. of the strategic objective fully recognising it as a policy. A renewed commitment to communication with Albanian’s A renewed commitment to communication with Albanian’s citizens is of vital importance to support the integration citizens is of vital importance to support the integration and association process to the European Union .and association process to the European Union .The success of the integration process is strictly linked to The success of the integration process is strictly linked to an effective communication action plan that involves an effective communication action plan that involves Albanian citizens and all key players. In particularly Albanian citizens and all key players. In particularly politicians and institutional stakeholders at all level have politicians and institutional stakeholders at all level have to gain trust through good policies and good to gain trust through good policies and good communication about this integration process to Europe.communication about this integration process to Europe.

Following this background the Ministry of Integration has Following this background the Ministry of Integration has decided to adopt a specific action plan to improve decided to adopt a specific action plan to improve communication about the European integration processcommunication about the European integration process

EffectiveEffective use of IPA funds use of IPA fundsIPA 2007:IPA 2007:

Planning of IPA 2007 started on end October 2006 of Planning of IPA 2007 started on end October 2006 of and the project fishes were submitted to the EC on and the project fishes were submitted to the EC on beginning of March 2007.beginning of March 2007.

IPA committee approved IPA 2007 on July 2007IPA committee approved IPA 2007 on July 2007

EC recomandation was adopted on September 2007EC recomandation was adopted on September 2007

Framework Agreement to be signed and ratifiedFramework Agreement to be signed and ratified

Pecularity of IPA 2007 for Albania is that it included Pecularity of IPA 2007 for Albania is that it included thethe component of regional development under the component of regional development under the capacity building componentcapacity building component

IPA 2007 projectsIPA 2007 projects

• Political requirements (16.5 million)Political requirements (16.5 million)– Support for PAMECASupport for PAMECA– TA to the CFCUTA to the CFCU– Implementation of the predention systemImplementation of the predention system

• Economic and social requirements (9.5 Economic and social requirements (9.5 million)million)– Contribution to multibeneficiary programsContribution to multibeneficiary programs– Support to INSTATSupport to INSTAT– Support SME policiesSupport SME policies

• European Standards (28.3 million)European Standards (28.3 million)– Rehabilitation of water and sewerage systemRehabilitation of water and sewerage system– Customs and Taxation SupportCustoms and Taxation Support

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!