CEEOL - Search Result

Albanian Greek relations from the eyes of the Albanian public – perceptions 2013

Author(s): Alba Çela,Sashenka Lleshaj / Language(s): English

Keywords: Albania-Greece Relations; Migration; EU Integration; The Cham Issue

It is necessary to make an effort to capture the perceptions and their implications on policy and discourse by objective research. This study will first try to summarize for a non expert audience the list of main issues that condition that relationship between these two neighboring countries focusing on contemporary debates. A note for the objectives of the report is included before presenting the main conclusions from the national poll carried out in Albania in 2013. // A parallel study has been conducted by the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Comparisons between perceptions were the subject of the two conferences organized in the context of this project and discussed in Tirana and Athens respectively in November and December of 2013. // A comparative analysis will be the subject of a forthcoming joint report of AIIS and ELIAMEP. (Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Office Tirana)

More...

Albania and Kosovo. In quest of a Common Future

Author(s): Dritan Sulçebe / Language(s): English

Keywords: Albania Kosovo Relations;

This Policy Paper was prepared in the context of the joint Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) project: “Albania and Kosovo - In quest of a Common Future”. Its first chapter deals with the historical dimension of the relations between Albania and Kosovo. During their history Kosovo and Albania have been isolated for more than four decades and this has caused deep divisions in economic, political and societal terms, which still persist today. During WWII, both countries experienced a short term unification (1941-1944), which resulted very successful in strengthening their economic ties. However, during the communist regimes in Albania and Yugoslavia, cooperation was limited only to sporadic academic and cultural interaction. After the fall of the Iron curtain, deep isolation continued to mark the relations between the two countries. The situation changed only after the outbreak of the Kosovo War and the establishment of the UNMIK administration in 1999, with the signing of a series of economic and free trade agreements. After the independence of Kosovo in 2008, one can speak for the first time in history of relations between two separate and sovereign Albanian dominated states. As such, these relations are experiencing a new evolving economic and political dimension.

More...

TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/1)

Author(s): Sokol Lleshi,Dritan Sulçebe / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; Trade Cooperation; Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA)

Serbia and Albania are the two largest countries of the Western Balkans and in the same time they exert a major political influence in the region. As such, the relations between these two countries are instrumental for the stability and the future integration of the region into the EU. In this context, the trade relationship between Serbia and Albania will play a crucial role to the further consolidation of the fragile political ties between both countries. There is an understanding that an increased trade inflow, based on the existing trade patterns between Albania and Serbia could provide a momentum and an impetus in the potential economic development and growth. However, structural reforms of the economy are a complementary and necessary aspect of making both economies more competitive, stable and reciprocally advantageous. As a result, the degree of economic interdependence between Albania and Serbia would be based on firmer grounds. The awareness and the willingness of the political elite in normalizing the relations between Albania and Serbia can be buttressed or checked by the potential for economic interdependence.

More...

TOURISM COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/02)

Author(s): Sokol Lleshi,Dritan Sulçebe / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; Tourism Cooperation; Regional Cooperation; Albanian-Serbian Relations

Tourism is a powerful tool to bring different countries together.By better knowing one another,people of different cultures and backgrounds will find it much harder to generate feelings of hatred and animosity against each other. Thus, the consolidation of interaction in the area of tourism between Serbia and Albania is very important for the further stabilization of the relations between the countries, since it will not only trigger better economic prospects but it will also positively change the perception that both nations have towards each other.Both Albania and Serbia have concentrated in the last decade to promote a better image of their respective countries by branding themselves as attractive tourist destinations of the Southeastern Europe region.

More...

TRANSPORT LINKAGES BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/03)

Author(s): Sokol Lleshi / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; European Union; South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO)

Being for quite a long time on the periphery of empires and characterized as a backward region, what is now termed as Western Balkans, manifests existing drawbacks in terms of connectivity with the broader European network of routes, railways, and ports.Despite various differences in terms of infrastructure development and investment, most of the Western Balkan region lags behind compared to other regions or countries in the European Union. Nonetheless,there exist concrete efforts and organizations that encompass projects, policies and initiatives to ameliorate the infrastructural conditions in Western Balkans and enhance the transport cooperation and interdependence among countries within the region and their links with broader transport networks in European Union.

More...

ENERGY COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/04)

Author(s): Sokol Lleshi,Dritan Sulçebe / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkan; Energy Union; Energy Cooperation

The energy sector constitutes one of the most strategic sectors of the economy, which is part of the EU policy recently framed as Energy Union. The Western Balkan is considered an important area for the diversification of the energy production and transmission in Europe. This region increases the chances that the EU attains energy security. It has been a long term concern of the EU to reduce the energy dependency from external countries such as Russia. On the other hand, as in the case of most EU policies, the Energy Union and the relevant acquis on energy aim to initiate market reforms in the energy sector, to reduce the monopoly position of firms and state subsidies, and enhance cooperation on energy trade and exchange between countries as well as aim towards a coal-free energy production in a sustainable environment mostly based on renewable energy.

More...

REGIONAL COOPERATION (Policy Brief 2016/05)

Author(s): Sokol Lleshi / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; European Integration

Since the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003, which constituted a land mark event in showing the commitment of the EU towards the European integration of the Western Balkans,high level initiatives such as the Berlin Process have emphasized a new pathway towards EU accession for the countries of the Western Balkans. The context of the so-called enlargement fatigue and the shift from the regalia principle to a more encompassing policy of connectivity and regional cooperation has provided a novel path of development and a different opportunity for the Western Balkan countries. On the other hand, this particular region has experienced political instability, ethnic conflict and tumultuous transitions to democracy and market economy.In this respect, an improvement in intra-regional cooperation by furthering the ‘Connectivity Agenda’of the EU and fulfilling the SEE 2020 strategy increases the chances of congruence between the regional market and democratic institutions of the Western Balkans with the EU market and institutions.

More...

FINANCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/06)

Author(s): Elena Pici / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkan; Financial Cooperation

The economic dimension of regional cooperation is a key pillar for achieving an interconnected and developed Western Balkan region.With this regard, strategic policy documents of Western Balkan countries, compiled in collaboration with EU Institutions, underline the objective of establishing a unified regional market in the Balkans.The South East Europe Strategy(SEE 2020), the central platform of economic cooperation in the Western Balkans, focuses on several shared projects in the areas of trade,tourism, transport and energy in order to foster the formation of the regional market.

More...

Albania and Serbia: Perceptions and Reality

Author(s): Andi Balla,Filip Ejdus,Megi Llubani / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; Cooperation; Conflict; European Union; Media Monitoring

The aim of this paper is to modestly contribute to the development and sustainability of relations between Albania and Serbia, by shedding light on current relations in the political, economic and cultural realms and potentials for future improvements. The initiative therefore aims to overpass often wrong perceptions that impede normal political, economic and cultural relations between the two countries. The paper is divided into five parts: Initially we draw attention to the historical background of relations between Albania and Serbia during the past twenty years; the second part is dedicated to the methodology adopted for the study; the third chapter deals with quantitative findings from media monitoring in both Albania and Serbia, and the fourth chapter focuses on qualitative findings retrieved from interviews both in Tirana and Belgrade; finally the paper ends with respective conclusions and recommendations that might serve to the future improvement of relations and, subsequently, perceptions on both sides.

More...

0.00 €

ECONOMIC Cooperation between Albania and Serbia

Author(s): Elena Pici / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans; Economic Cooperation; Integration Process

The economic dimension of regional cooperation is a key pillar for achieving an interconnected and developed Western Balkan region. Due to the prolonged economic transition, the high unemployment, especially among the youngsters, and the consideration of WB6 countries as non-functioning market economies, the economic cooperation and integration pillar has in fact topped the agenda of the ‘Berlin Process’ and has consequently received the largest allocation of funds, when compared with the other two –diplomatic and soft- pillars.

More...

Series:Policy Briefs - Regional Cooperation

Albanian Greek relations from the eyes of the Albanian public – perceptions 2013

Albania and Kosovo. In quest of a Common Future

TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/1)

TOURISM COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/02)

TRANSPORT LINKAGES BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/03)

ENERGY COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/04)

REGIONAL COOPERATION (Policy Brief 2016/05)

FINANCIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND SERBIA (Policy Brief 2016/06)

Albania and Serbia: Perceptions and Reality

ECONOMIC Cooperation between Albania and Serbia