Ladies and gentleman,

Honorable Mayor,

Dear Romana,

I thank you for participating in this activity, the first in fact, of a series of periodic activities, focusing on the programs and financing instruments of the European Union.

This activity is at the same time a decisive calendar year for Albania’s progress towards European Union membership.

The European Commission’s Enlargement Strategy to be presented next month marks a very positive moment for our region because it puts a political perspective and concrete perspective on enlargement policy at a time when skepticism towards further enlargement of the Union is dominant in European politics and public opinion.

We expect from this Strategy concrete proposals for the next steps on the progress of the accession process for the countries of the region, including Albania, in a short and long term perspective.

It is very clear that the quality and speed of key reforms, especially those related to strengthening the rule of law. The rule of law is directly linked to the concrete perspective and the positive pressure that the European Union can exert over our countries.

Reform in the field of justice, where the European Union played not only an assisting role, but a co-writer and partner at every step of the process, demonstrates this Union’s transformation process better than any other reform in Albania or the region.

In this context, we are convinced that the continuation of the implementation of the justice reform will enable Albania to join the two neighboring countries that have already opened accession negotiations with the European Union. This is an unparalleled moment, so our persistence and commitment are decisive: Our common interest must be negotiable for all political and social actors.

At the same time, we are aware that the approximation of legislation and the more intensive political interaction between us and the European Union will not lead to the organic integration of our region and the rest of Europe as long as there is a deep economic and development gap between two parts of the continent.

The economic strengthening of our region and its integration with the rest of Europe requires a creative and strategic thinking of the Commission itself to involve our countries in more community programs and instruments, mainly in those areas where the impact is imminent, sustainable and multifaceted: such as infrastructure, transport, science, innovation and technology, and so on.

Most importantly, the budget planning of the European Union 2020-2027, should gradually prepare the Union for the new wave of enlargement with our countries.

The economic and developmental integration between us and the European Union begins first of all by strengthening economic cooperation in our region.

What we are doing for four years now under the Berlin process and the creation of a common economic zone in the Western Balkans is precisely about reducing the economic and development gap between us and other European countries, and improving the interconnection in four Key areas such as infrastructure,  trade,  innovation and digitalization of services, and finally, mobility and rapprochement among our citizens.

The Albanian Government is seriously invested in strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries, considering cross-border areas as development regions with similar natural and cultural characteristics. The development perspective and social cohesion and improvement of interconnection between our countries have been the subject of the practice of joint governmental meetings with Kosovo, Macedonia and soon with Montenegro as well.

The financial support that the European Union has consistently offered, both for reforming and transforming processes in Albania, as well as for the economic vitalization and development perspective of our countries, emphasizing the regional and cross-border approach has played a fundamental role in this context.

The European Union’s cross-border or transnational co-operation programs coincide with the objectives of the European Union as well as those of the Albanian government, including, among others, improving infrastructure, supporting employment, preserving the environment and supporting research, development technological and innovation.

All these objectives are embodied in national policies and strategies; yet, translating them into concrete actions is still to be desired. Cross-border and trans-national programs have been present in Albania since 2004, but the impact they have on local and regional development has been slightly sensitive.

So let me propose 3 areas where we can and will significantly improve our work:

First, we need to focus more on the impact of programs and activities funded by EU assistance:

Cross-border co-operation programs are mainly focused on studies, analysis, strategies or capacity-building assistance, which of course are important, but their impact does not reach communities.

In this context, the fragmentation of small grants funds uncoordinated under a strategic framework has caused their impact to be small and unsustainable.

This makes sense especially at the level of local government, as the territorial cooperation projects themselves target exactly the level of local communities and transboundary spaces. No less important is that this impact radiates beyond the perimeter of Tirana and translates into the recovery and development of the regions and municipalities throughout Albania.

Secondly, there is a clear need for better orientation and coordination of actions within the Cross Border Cooperation, as well as their integration with the priorities and programs of the central government and local government of our countries by ensuring harmonization with the investments being implemented in our cross-border regions.

This co-ordination creates the necessary platform to fully exploit the potential of all national and regional funding instruments provided by the European Union’s regional policy. Only in this way can we have a real impact on improving the lives of our communities and to guarantee the sustainability and continuity of reforms that meet the common European and national goals.

This concretely requires:

• Managing collaborative programs more strategically and efficiently, enabling communities and regions to absorb or make use of these funds; and:
• Establish a harmonious management system of these programs by standardizing the role of each of the actors involved

 

Thirdly, the best and most comprehensive transparency and communication:

We need to bring the European Union’s assistance portfolio out of the jargon of project and technology skills and put it in front of the eyes of the people and communities you represent. Therefore the MEPJ is coordinating work with the EU delegation in Tirana in order to improve communication with civil society, universities, business groups and interest groups.

The MEPJ as a leading and coordinating institution of European Union assistance is and will remain an open institution for society and that national interest is primarily formulated for the citizens and society.

Today’s meeting is the first activity in the context of this dialogue and cooperation that extends beyond the deadlines of the European Union assistance programs.

Thank you!