SANECA – Training Workshop on National Plan of European Integration and the involvement of non-state actors on its drafting and monitoring, 30 March 2022

On 30 March 2022 was held the training workshop on the National Plan of European Integration (NPEI) and the process of involving non-state actors on its drafting and monitoring. This activity was held in a hybrid format with physical participation at Xheko Imperial Hotel and with online participation on the ZOOM platform. The activity made together the members of tables of the Platform, that are coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and Economy for chapters 1, 3, 6, 7, 20, 28 and 30; to get in touch for more details on the methodology of drafting and the process of approving of National Plan of European Integration, with special focus on the process of consulting and involvement of non-state actors.  

Joniada Barjaba, representative of the Ministry of Finance and Economy highlighted that the organisation of such tables should be an instrument that can be used during all the process.  Afterwards, Laureta Spahiu who took the word, thanked the participants and introduced the objectives and results of the SANECA project. She underlined that the cooperation and the common engagement with the Ministry of Finance and Economy is making possible the realisation of these tables, while making them functional.

During the first part, Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA, presented the process of drafting and approving of the National Plan for European Integration, noting that the interplay between governmental and non-governmental actors is very important, emphasising the importance of the quality for this process. He briefly explained what happens during the preparatory work for the National Plan of European Integration, analysing the role and the importance of the process of drafting the NPEI, the priorities that should be set in the framework of European Integration and the procedure of updating contributions. He assessed that through the Platform it is possible to facilitate this process, recalling that soon is expected the opening of negotiations for Albania’s membership with the European Union.

To follow, Hadid Kovaçi, representative of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, discussed  about the process of consulting and informing on the National Plan of European Integration. He during his speech was focused on the role of responsible institutions and the challenges that were faced during the process of drafting and consultation, and the way that this process is carried out in practice. Kovaçi said that the process of drafting and consulting of NPEI is a legal obligation and the plan itself is a document of special importance in the framework of European Integration and country’s development. He noted that the Platform is a good way to offer and exchange ideas and expertise, but it has its own challenges because this is its first year of implementation. For this reason, it would be necessary to organize  relevant trainings with the members of the discussion and consultation tables of the Platform for the consultation process and in particular about the negotiations process.

The participants had a special interest in the way of carrying out this process, the documentation that must be submitted by the institution, which leads the chapter and how often the act should be consulted. Also, with special interest was to know the real contribution given by the Ministries or various Institutions responsible for the negotiations process.