Information and promotion of European values and European integration process of Albania
Perceiving EU integration not as a mere institutional agenda, but as an ambitious development project being continuously determined from the whole society, EMA is actively committed to promoting European values and raising awareness in the public opinion on the impact and benefits of EU Membership for Albania. Through information campaigns, public forums of discussion and capacity building activities, we strive to explain the multifaceted EU integration process, creating ownership of the latter, stimulating critical thinking and analysis among central and local institutions, students, media, academia, civil society, private interest groups, etc.

Besides celebrations and promotion of European values on different occasions such as Europe Day, EMA is involved in analyzing and informing the public opinion on core issues of Albania’s path to the EU such as the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the process of achieving the EU candidate status and the Visa Facilitation/Liberalisation Process.


Projects undertaken under this programme area as below:

  • Debunking the EU integration process (September 2011 – May 2012) supported by British Embassy in Albania. This initiative aims to stimulate a more informed and cliché-free debate on EU integration through intervening with a series of analysis and information activities amongst interested target groups, mainly in two directions: making the key policy areas of EU integration and in particular the EC Progress Report on Albania 2011 more readable for the public opinion, and widening the scope of the debate on EU integration in terms of topics covered and actors involved.

  • Cycle of Policy Forums on European Integration (January 2009 - 2011) supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The overall objective of this project is to vitalize the public debate on the European Integration process of Albania and to promote EU values and policies in the context of the real transformation and development of the country.

  • Towards the Enhancement of Fair Competition and a Functional Market Economy in Albania (March 2011 - January 2012) supported by European Fund for the Balkans (EFB). This research project seek to provide an overview on the implementation of the competition and state aid policies in Albania, by identifying main problems and obstacles deriving from non approximation of normative acts and lack of implementation. The aim is to identify problems, compatibility of the legislative framework of strategic sectors as well as of existing state aid schemes. 

  • Organizing youth activities on the occasion of Europe Day 2011 (March 2011 - May 2011) supported by European Commission, DG Communication. The main objective of this international initiative was promotion of Active European Citizenship and Intercultural dialogue through social inclusion and coexistence as fundamental values of European Union and its enlargement prospective.

  • Visa Liberalization process with Albania: How to make it a success story? (June 2010 – May 2011) supported by Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA). Through an information campaign on the rights and obligations deriving from the visa liberalization for different layers of society such as: Roma community, students, policy researchers, business community and public at large, the project contributed to turn visa liberalization a success story in the framework of Albania’s European Integration prospective.

  • Youth activities’ series in the framework of Europe Day 2010 (March 2010 - May 2010) supported by European Commission, DG Education and Culture. This initiative took place on the occasion of 60 anniversary of the Schuman declaration aimed at bringing Europe closer to its citizens by fostering public debate on Europe's values and achievements while preserving the memory of its past. 

  • Aiming for quality standards for farmers and advocating with institutions (August 2008 - April 2009) supported by OXFAM GB. This initiative intended to make a significant contribution to increase the legal information on quality agricultural products across small scale farmers through an information campaign undertaken in biggest agricultural areas in Albania.

  • EuroMed-Scola (October 2008 – December 2008) supported by Delegation of European Commission in Albania. The aim of  this initiative was to contribute in increasing the information and awareness  of youth generation on the EU decision making process through a simulation game that  enhance the  social interaction  based on common values such as: pace, tolerance, freedom and civilization. During the activities organized under this project, 10 young participants from Albania were invited to discuss, debate and adopt resolutions on matters concerning Union for Mediterranean and on issues of common interest for the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership with other youths from 27 EU Member State and 12 countries of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

  • Support to the network of the EU Info Points in the university towns of Albania (August 2008 - July 2009) supported by Delegation of the European Union to Albania. The overall goal of the project was bringing Europe closer to Albanian citizens, especially to the young generation, in order to improve their knowledge on different issues related to EU policies and implementation of standards imposed by the Stabilization and Association Agreement, through the revitalization of the EU Info Points.

  • Supporting local government’s engagement in EU assistance programme’s (June 2008 - Mars 2009) supported by Dutch Embassy in Albania. This initiative aimed at enhancing the administrative capacities of Durres Municipality, responsible for the management of the EU funded programmes, disseminating knowledge on IPA and SSE instruments for relevant stakeholders, and enhancing the role of the civil society in the policy making process.

  • Guiding the Albanian farmers in a free market (April 2008 - June 2008) supported by OXFAM GB. The overall project goal was to contribute in a better guiding of the farmer’s community and food processing industry in carrying out their day to day economic activities based on legal and institutional instrument required by the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

  • Identification of the interest groups which might lose from the EU Integration Process (January 2008 - October 2008) supported by Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA). This project implemented in partnership with Albanian Agro-business Council intended to identify social groups that might be negative affected by the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement as result of the lack of information as well as to address various structural, administrative, legal, economic and sectorial policies instruments that will improve the situation.

  • Traveling to Europe (January 2008 – June 2008) supported by Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD), a Project of German Marshal Fund and Robert Bosch Foundation. This project was implemented in partnership with MJAFT! Movement, European Movement in Serbia and European Movement in Montenegro. On the focus of the project were 30 selected Albanian students, who get in touch with the EU values and culture through a 30 days European tour in some of the most important capitals of EU Member States.

  • Increase of Media capacities in elaboration of European Integration Process (July 2007 – January 2008) supported by Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA). This initiative aimed at creating a network of skilled and trained journalists who will cover issues that are linked with the EU Integration agenda of Albania, was implemented in partnership with Albanian Media Institute, Project Leader and the Agenda Institute.

  • Enhancing the role of the Parliament in the Stabilization and Association Process (October 2007 - June 2008) supported by OSCE Presence in Albania. This initiative achieved to contribute in supporting the involvement of the Parliament in monitoring the obligations deriving from Stabilization and Association Agreement, in promoting EU values and policies in the context of real transformation and development of Albania from MP’s in different constituencies in the country.