Union for the Mediterranean: How is Albania catching the opportunities?

On 15 March 2010, European Movement in Albania (EMA) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Embassy in Albania organized a policy forum on European Integration. This forum was focused on the Union for the Mediterranean, alternatives and opportunities that it brings for Albania.

The policy forum was moderated by Mr. Virgjil Muci, National Coordinator of the Union for the Mediterranean, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Muci underlined that this meeting was an evidence of the attention that civil society and other actors are demonstrating towards the Union for Mediterranean.

The meeting was opened by H. E. Mr. Ilir Meta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Minister Meta welcomed the organization of such activity and stressed out the importance of the Union for the Mediterranean as a continuation of the Barcelona process. The Union for the Mediterranean is founded on values such as tolerance, civilization and dialog. In this respect, Albania should pay a special attention to the enhancement of regional dialog, as a response to the common problem of lack of communication bridges that Mediterranean countries have faced in the past. During his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined two dimension of the Union for Mediterranean: The Parliamentary dimension represented through the Assembly and the cultural dimension, represented through the network of Anna Lindh Foundation, composed by 900 organizations from the Mediterranean countries. Mr. Meta highlighted that Albania’s membership in the Union is part of the European Integration process, giving a new and more pragmatic profile to this process. “The Albanian government is determined to promote this process which gives a new dimension to Albanian diplomacy” – concluded the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Spanish Ambassador H. E. Mr. Manuel Montobbio constructed his speech on three important axes, related to the overall understanding of the Union for Mediterranean, challenges, and opportunities it offers. Ambassador Montobbio was especially dwelled on the description of the Union for the Mediterranean as a space of common values such as peace, economic and social prosperity and dialog. Since the Mediterranean is the strategic border for the European Union, Albania should pay a special attention to the relations with partners contributing in the regional stability.

During the policy forum, Mr. Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of the European Movement in Albania (EMA), presented the policy brief entitled “The EU Spanish Presidency: Between hope and reality”. This policy brief offered an overall explanation of the EU Spanish Presidency, focusing on its crucial role in this transitory period for the EU, due to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. Mr. Gjipali mentioned the importance that this presidency has in economic and social aspects, notably through the work of drafting of the strategy “Europa 2020”. An important feature of the EU Spanish Presidency is also the drafting of a join policy in the field of migration and asylum, offering a global approach to these phenomena.

A special attention in this policy brief was paid to the Western Balkans, reflecting the latest stage of development for each of the respective countries. Regarding the Albanian situation, the filing of the EU questionnaire, the conclusion of the Visa Liberalization process as well as the functioning of the Stabilization and Association Council and Committee, were some of the main topics treated in the policy brief.

Civil Society perception as an important actor in the framework of the progressing of the Union for the Mediterranean initiative was the speech’s theme of Mr. Remzi Lani, Executive Director of the Albanian Media Institute. Mr. Lani mentioned that it is the duty of the actors of civil society to contribute to the full understanding of the process of the Union for the Mediterranean. They should participate in the monitoring of the European Integration process and should lobby for it. Only in this way, civil society will play a crucial role in the Albanian European Integration.

At the end of the speeches of the panelists, the policy forum continued with an open discussion session where representatives from diplomatic corps, Albanian government, journalist and lecturers exchanged views and perceptions on the Union for the Mediterranean.

Other distinguished guest in the policy forum included H. E. Mr. Muhammad Tarshahani, Ambassador, Embassy of State of Palestine,  H. E. Mr. Emmanuel Bourel, Counsellor, French Embassy , H. E. Mr. Ivan Sveda, Charge d’ Affairs, Slovenia Embassy, H. E. Ms. Amina Imam Gomaa, Ambassador, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H. E. Mr. Danijel Gortan, Croatian Embassy, ect.