BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND GERMANY

Germany covers an area of 357, 022 km2 and is the most populous member state of the European Union estimated over 81 million people. The capital and the largest metropolis is Berlin since the reunification of West Germany and East Germany in October 3, 1990. The official language is German and Christianity is the predominant religion in Germany.

The Federal Republic of Germany was a founding member of the European Economic Community in 1957 and the European Union in 1993.

Germany is a Federal Parliamentary Republic composed of 16 states (or Lander), in Western and Central Europe. Legislative power is exercised by the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

Fifteen Cabinet ministers and the Chancellor together make up the Federal Cabinet. Germany is a member of United Nations, NATO, G&7 and G20 and OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). The status of the head of government as a key political figure has been stressed. Chief of State is the Federal President but this role is more ceremonial because head of the government and the leading political figure is the Chancellor.

As a global leader in several industrial technological sectors it is the world’s third-largest exporter and importer of goods. A developed country with a very high standard of living, it upholds a social security and universal health care system, environmental protection and free education in public universities.

OVERVIEW

Albania and Germany established diplomatic relations on May 18, 1922. Since October 2, 1987, when Albania and the Federal Republic of Germany first established diplomatic relations, both countries have shown a great interes and strong will to increase bilateral cooperation. Since Albania launched its democratization process in 1991, the partnership has been extremely strengthened. Germany considers Albania a key factor that plays a constant principled dynamic and stabilizing role in Western Balkans.

Albania highly appreciates Germany’s continued assistance in domestic reforms such as justice reform and all the support that Germany has shown regarding the opening of negotiations with the EU and the holding of the first ICG between the EU and Albania during the first half of 2022. Germany is one of the closest partners continuously supporting the endeavors of Albania to advance the process of European integration demonstrating also a steady support to the EU enlargement process.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

German-Albanian relations are guided by a spirit of partnership. Germany promotes and supports stability, democracy and the rule of law in Albania and across the region by supporting the country’s transformation process. In 2018, our countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations. Bilateral relation between two countries is estimated very good and extended in all fields.

The exchange of high-level visits has been frequent, which has contributed to the further promotion of bilateral relations. The Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Edi Rama, has visited several time Germany (2017, 2018, 2019, January 2020). At the invitation of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Rama paid an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany April 10-12, 2022. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited Albania twice: one on July 8, 2015 and the next on September 14. 2021. During the fist months of 2022, the State minister for Europe Anna Luhrmann, (17-18 January 2022) and Manuel Sarrazin, federal government’s special envoy for the countries of the Western Balkans (16 – 18 March 2022) have visited Albania.

Germany is in favor of carefully examining whether the reforms necessary on the journey of Albania and other countries of Western Balkans towards the EU, are being performed in their entirety.

Both countries conduct regular political consultations that are held alternately in Berlin and Tirana. The last diplomatic consultations, due to the restrictions from pandemic COVID – 19, took place online on October 14, 2020. The last round of political-diplomatic consultations took place in Tirana, on November 4, 2021.

An important moment in the relations between the two countries during the first months of 2022 was the approval in the Bundesrat of the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses between Albania and Germany, which was signed on April 12, 2022, in Tirana and will enter into force in June 2022.

Albania and Germany cooperate closely in the framework of international organizations where they are members, including mutual support for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (Germany 2019-2020 and Albania 2022-2023) and supporting the German Candidacy for the Secretary General of OSCE. Relations between Parliaments of both countries have also been frequent and intense, including the exchange of top-level parliamentary visits and the contribution of the German Bundestag in the Albanian European Integration process.

The development cooperation between Germany and Albania began in 1988. Actually, in Albania a lot of projects are funded by the Federal Government of Germany and being implemented by GIZ German Corporation for International Cooperation. All these projects in the field of infrastructure, environment, and urban development are designed to facilitate Albania moving to the EU.

Germany supports Albania’s crucial role in the Berlin Process as active leadership such as reconciliation and good neighborly relationships, connectivity and mobility agenda, as well as the establishment of the Regional Economic Zone.