National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania Workshop: The process of European integration in Albania – opportunities for involvement in the process of negotiations for the rule of law, 19 April 2024, Durrës

On April 19, 2024, in the premises of the University of Durrës “Aleksandër Moisiu” the workshop with the theme “The process of European integration in Albania – opportunities for involvement in the process of negotiations for the rule of law” was held, under the framework of  National Resource Center for Civil Society in Albania, with the contribution of two experts: Elda Zotaj, lecturer and EU expert and Nirvana Deliu, researcher at European Movement Albania.

Integration experts, Zotaj and Deliu, provided a thorough analysis of the process of Albania’s integration into the European Union, identifying key moments from the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1991 to the publication of the EU Enlargement Package for the Western Balkans in November 2023. The experts emphasised that the main priorities of the EU integration process for Abania are the strengthening of democratic institutions, the fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as the protection of human rights.

Elda Zotaj commenced her presentation with a brief history of the creation of the EU and its enlargement process, moving on to explaining the Copenhagen and Madrid Criteria, giving the participants a comprehensive view  of ​​the conditions that each country that aims to join the EU must fulfil. Zotaj made an analysis of the Stabilization Association Process (SAP) as the general framework of relations between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU, identifying three main goals: stabilising the region, promoting regional cooperation and opening the perspective of EU accession. She emphasised that the EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Agreement defines political, commercial and other relations, including political dialogue, trade liberalisation, the four freedoms of the EU’s internal market and cooperation in priority areas, making possible facilitation of the accession process. Zotaj continued her presentation focusing on the main national and European strategic documents prepared within  the European Integration process such as NPAEU, NPEI and European Commission Reports, emphasising the importance of each document and their function in the process. She concluded by offering a comparative look of Albania’s journey in the process of accession to the EU with that of other countries of the Western Balkans.

Nirvana Deliu introduced the New EU Enlargement Methodology, with a comparative analysis of what can be positive for our process and what is affected not so positively from this new methodology. Deliu gave a structured information on how it would be possible to align Albanian legislation with the EU Acquis by presenting the Clusters of the approximation of legislation according to the themes determined for their division, also presenting the institutions responsible for the alignment of each chapter. In addition to this information, Deliu explained the stages of the negotiation process and Albania’s stage today, with a special focus on the successfully finalised screening process. She paid particular attention to the institutional negotiations  structure for Albania’s EU accession, explaining the wide range of institutions set up in the function of the negotiation process. Deliu stopped at the Partnership Platform for European Integration focused on the Discussion and Consultation Tables for Chapters 23 and 24, where she emphasised that this platform includes the Steering Board and 33 Discussion and Consultation Tables, aiming to ensure a comprehensive representation for public and private partners in the integration process.

Through the presentation of this detailed information, Zotaj and Deliu offered a complete overview of the challenges and processes involved in the path to Albania’s accession in the European Union. They clearly presented the steps of the process and the challenging journey that Albania has had along with all its obstacles. The participants engaged with questions about the progress of the process so far, new strategies that may be in the discussion by the government and on the expectations regarding the estimated date for the finalisation of the 2030 accession process.

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This workshop takes place within the framework of the National Resource Center for Civil Society in Albania, supported by the European Union and implemented by Partners Albania for Change and Development in cooperation with the European Movement in Albania and the Albanian Center for Population and Development.