Research question: What is the current progress of Albania in becoming an EU member state? Despite facing numerous challenges, it is essential for Albania to achieve full integration into the European Union.
Albania is striving to become a member of the European Union despite facing economic and political challenges. One major obstacle in achieving this objective is the underdevelopment of Albania’s farming and food sectors, which hinders compliance with EU market standards. Additionally, political stability and trust in the political system are vital for Albania’s path towards EU membership. It should be noted that this issue not only affects Albania but also impacts other candidate countries in the Western Balkans region.
Attitudes towards enlargement have become increasingly negative, making the process of discussing and framing it more difficult for all applicant states. The EU’s conditions and requirements for membership now hold greater influence in domestic politics, placing more pressure on local policymakers to implement reforms prior to joining. In this dynamic, the EU is regarded as a traditional “regime-maker,” while candidate states and SAP states are seen as “regime-takers,” resulting in an unequal power relationship.
O’Brennan (2009) states that all Western Balkan states are currently encountering difficulties in establishing a functional state. The European Union’s acceptance of Albania into its membership is contingent on the country’s capability to implement substantial economic and governmental transformations. To qualify for EU accession, a nation must fulfill the conditions specified in the membership requirements, which encompass compliance with conditions outlined in Article 49 and adherence to principles stated in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on the European Union.The Copenhagen European Council in 1993 and the Madrid European Union in 1995 established requirements for EU membership which remain relevant today. To join the EU, a country must meet three main criteria: political, economic, and acceptance of the Community acquis.
Politically, a country must maintain stable institutions that uphold democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and minority group protection. Economically, it must have a well-functioning market economy capable of handling pressure and market forces within the Union.
In addition to these criteria, accepting the Community acquis is crucial. This means taking on membership responsibilities and aligning with political, economic, and monetary union objectives defined by Agenda Institute (2007).
Furthermore, it is important to recognize that the EU operates as a deeply integrated economic and political entity. Therefore any challenges faced by one member state will impact other members as well.
The European Union (EU) aims to maintain strong relationships among member states, regardless of their diverse backgrounds. It is essential for the EU to guarantee that new members conform to the principles and values shared by the EU and its members. The institutional quality criterion serves as an effective approach in achieving this goal, as mentioned in The Western Balkans Policy Review in 2011.
Elke Theil emphasizes the importance of Albania implementing major economic reforms in her article “European Integration of Albania: Economic Aspects.”
This is the initial step that can be advantageous for their integration into the EU. Additionally, countries that have implemented these changes previously have achieved more success compared to those that did not when they integrated into the EU economy, as indicated by the author. The author emphasizes that by undertaking these measures, Albania will establish trust in both the economy and political sphere. The author asserts that EU membership might be the ultimate goal.
According to Theil (2004), the European journey is ultimately rewarding, despite the obstacles Albania has faced in its efforts to integrate with the European Union since 1990. The European Union’s focus on promoting stability in the Balkan region during the Kosovo war led to renewed attention on Albania. As a result, Albania participated in various pacts and events at EU meetings.
The Stability pact for southeast began in 1999, while the Stability and Association process for the Western Balkan was set up in 2000. Nevertheless, these pacts did not completely resolve various political matters between Albania and the European Union. Furthermore, countries and international organizations such as the United States, Canada, and Japan provided aid to the EU during these endeavors.
Despite the support of organizations like NATO, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank for the pact that includes Albania as a partner (Thiel, 2004), Albania has struggled to reap the benefits of European integration and attract foreign investors. However, with assistance from the European Union, Albania can persist in its endeavors to achieve European Integration.
Despite the lack of implementation or poor execution of numerous reforms in Albania, “The Stabilization Pact” was created to foster stronger connections between the western Balkan nations and the European Union, offering the possibility of EU membership. All western Balkan countries, including Albania, have agreed to these terms.
Both the European Union and the Western Balkans nations have entered into a mutual commitment. The Union offers the chance for accession, a support program to achieve this objective, and favorable access to the EU internal market. In return, the candidates pledge to abide by the Union’s requirements and actively participate in the Stabilization and Association process. Advancements are assessed through yearly evaluation reports.
The Copenhagen criteria, as stated by Theil in 2004, serve as a point of reference. It provides Albania with a beneficial opportunity to sell its goods in the European markets. However, this also presents a challenge for Albania as it could negatively impact the small and underdeveloped farmers as well as the food industry.
Albania is taking small steps towards European integration, but it needs consistent progress in all aspects to meet the standards of the European Union. Although a market economy has been introduced in Albania, it is not functioning as intended. The lack of transparency hampers foreign investors from investing in Albania. This issue concerns European Union nations as they cannot accept a country that is unwilling to make necessary changes. (Theil, 2004)
Albania submitted its application for EU membership in April 2009. The Progress Report of 2009, presented by the Commission of the European Communities (CEC), states that Albania has made notable progress in various areas but still faces institutional development challenges. (Western Balkans Policy Review 2009) However, in another article by John O’Brennan titled “From Stabilization to Consolidation: Albanian State Capacity and Adaptation to European Union Rules,” it is emphasized that the integration of Albania into the European Union is a lengthy process.
Years after the signing of the SAA in 2004, the author characterizes Albania as a “Janus-faced applicant state.” On one hand, the Albanian legislature has acknowledged and agreed to transport and implement the recommendations and requirements of the EU in Albania. On the other hand, the implementation of these EU-mandated policies has been deficient due to numerous issues plaguing Albania, including political polarization and a noticeable absence of political determination.
O’Brennan (2009) points out that the issue of divided Albanian politics is caused by the divide between the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party. This conflicting approach towards European integration has obstructed the implementation of EU-related reforms, which are often overlooked due to local political disputes. As a result, a logical and efficient policy approach is hindered. To make progress, Albania must abandon this contradictory approach and fully embrace the benefits of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Furthermore, necessary reforms need to be undertaken in order to meet European standards. However, it should be acknowledged that overcoming challenges like corruption will not be an easy task.
In an effort to attract more foreign investment in Albania, Prime Minister Sali Berisha has introduced a comprehensive reform that focuses on combating corruption and boosting economic growth. As part of this reform, the corporate tax rate has been reduced from 20% to 10%.
Despite its advantageous weather conditions and close proximity to EU markets, Albania acknowledges the challenges it faces in attracting investors. However, these obstacles can be overcome by improving macro-economic performance, maintaining strong growth, implementing a more efficient regulatory framework, and combating corruption decisively (O’Brennan, 2009). The reforms implemented by Berisha’s administrations have produced positive outcomes. Notably, Albania has received significant support from the European Union, particularly through a monetary fund designated for infrastructure reconstruction.
In recent years, the European Union has shown increased concern for the partnership between Albania and Europe. The EU is working to support and improve Albanian efforts to meet EU standards. However, Albania faces unique and challenging circumstances in its path to EU membership, due to the issues that the EU encountered during previous enlargements with Eastern European countries.
(O’Brennan, 2009) Despite being observed in many other eastern countries, Albania’s ongoing struggle for power between its two major parties is particularly pronounced. Despite being under the scrutiny of the European Union for many years, Albania still deviates significantly from European standards. The fragility of Albania’s political institutions and the presence of ‘state capture’ have hindered the state’s ability to address deep-rooted transition problems.
Despite the challenges, Albania has made progress in aligning with the European Union and addressing its stubborn issues thanks to stronger leadership. (O’Brennan, 2009) This can be attributed to the lasting effects of its communist regime. While other post-communist nations have successfully undergone systematic changes and gradually adopted EU standards, Albania has been stuck in an unproductive cycle of centralization, political influence, and ineffective management. The EU has consistently pointed out that Albania’s public administration is the weakest aspect of its governance system.
“(O’Brennan, 2009) However, the issue with management lies in the prevalence of corruption, nepotism, clientelism, bribery, and political militantism, rather than a focus on meritocracy or career development. Consequently, shifts in government power have caused a significant disruption in administration. This entails the dismissal of all employees hired by the previous political party and their replacement with individuals appointed by the current elected officials. Consequently, there have been extensive changes in the staff and a lack of opportunities for career progression.”
The riskiness of government changes increases, as people who currently have a job are aware that they may be fired when a new elected official takes over. This vulnerability of the staff leads to a higher likelihood of corruption. In recent years, Albania has diligently implemented the European Union’s SAA demands.
Albania acknowledges that adopting EU economic norms is easier than political norms. The reformation of administration in Albania has proven to be difficult, but the country’s leadership’s determination and decisive decision-making are aiding candidate countries’ transformations. These transformations shift focus from vertical power relations and established structures, as well as reliance on clientelistic networks. Instead, there is an emphasis on building civil societies with horizontal structures that prioritize limited government and adherence to the rule of law (O’Brennan, 2009). However, politicization deeply affects the civil service in Albania. Despite challenges, Albania has achieved more positive changes recently compared to the past fifteen years.
The policy brief “Towards EU Integration the Albanian Impasse” published by the Agenda Institute in 2007 highlights that for Albania to advance towards EU membership, it is crucial to implement the necessary reforms demanded by Brussels and give them priority on a political level. This report assesses the European Commission Report and Enlargement Strategy, identifying how well Albanian politics are translating these recommendations into action. Nevertheless, political discord and limited cooperation have been persistent issues in Albania’s past.
The European Union highlights the significance of promoting collaboration between ruling and opposition parties in Albania, as it is essential for addressing the country’s challenges and facilitating its integration into the EU. In 2007, a report was presented by the European Union to the Albanian parliament, emphasizing the importance of this issue.
The report to the parliament indicates that it lacks the necessary resources and capabilities to effectively tackle and solve major issues. The Albanian parliament faces a shortage of staff and funding. Although crucial in leading Albania towards European Union integration, the government is not the only player. Nevertheless, it must oversee communication between the opposition party, interest groups, communities, and civil society during decision-making.
To prioritize the daily needs of Albanian citizens, it is crucial for the European integration process, which involves aligning a country with EU standards. The government has a responsibility to engage all stakeholders and public opinion transparently and honestly. Also, the Albanian government should focus on building administrative capacities according to the Madrid criteria. This can be achieved through a lawful and transparent recruitment process for specialized staff in universities and esteemed institutions. Continuous training programs should be implemented, along with adherence to civil service legislation. Furthermore, it is essential to enforce decisions made by the Civil Service Commission and the Appeals Court. On the economic front, Albania’s integration should align with projected GDP components as it represents the only viable path towards aligning with EU GDP.
The Albanian economy needs to search for ways to diversify itself and the government must implement legal, institutional, and budgetary measures to enhance market infrastructure in order to develop and modernize the country (Agenda Institute, 2007). The Western Balkans Policy Review emphasizes the importance of Albania implementing required changes in both the political and economic sectors. The article further highlights that our political weaknesses will significantly affect Albania’s integration into Europe, as Europe will not be willing to bear the costs of our problems.
According to the Western Balkans Policy Review (2011), it is crucial for the political dialogue, which is a significant priority for the European Partnership, to regain momentum. Additionally, Albania’s economic criteria are another important consideration. There has been notable improvement in Albania’s economic performance, particularly through the government’s focus on privatization. State ownership in the energy and telecommunication sectors has decreased as part of this objective.
The tax administration reform has improved tax compliance and reduced the informal economy in Albania. The country experienced the impact of the global economic crisis, which tested its macroeconomic stability. However, this has laid the groundwork for future economic growth. The author suggests that Albania must meet the Copenhagen criteria.
This will contribute to making the European Union more homogeneous both economically and politically (Western Balkans Policy Review, 2011). The citizens of Albania also share this perspective. According to Albanian public opinion, 92 percent of the population supports Albania’s membership in the European Union. Dr. Tufa highlighted that Albanians have always aspired to be part of the European family, as they identify with it.
The CES survey data and various surveys conducted by Gallup Europe support Dr. Tufa’s opinion and that of the Albanian elite (Ciburi-Kocibelli, 2012). These findings also indicate that Albania is in favor of joining the European Union, suggesting that many Albanians believe EU membership will help remedy current domestic issues.
One of the indications that Albania has made progress and is ready to become a part of the European Union is their mature approach towards visa liberalization. Albanian citizens who travel to any European Union country have had no incidents so far. According to Ciburri-Kocibelli (2012), the majority of Albanians have responsibly taken advantage of visa-free travel, possibly influenced by the negative experiences of neighboring countries and the Albanian government’s awareness campaigns on free movement. This demonstrates the strong understanding of the Albanian people for implementing international law within the European family. With the willingness and hard work of the Albanian people, integration into the European Union should happen in the near future.
In summary, the desire for integration with the European Union is evident from the perspectives of the European Union itself, scholars, and the people of Albania. Joining the EU requires meeting three criteria: political stability and adherence to democratic institutions, the rule of law, human rights, and minority protection; a functioning market economy capable of handling pressure and market forces within the Union; and acceptance of the Community acquis and its obligations, including alignment with political, economic, and monetary union goals. However, achieving these criteria presents a significant challenge for the Albanian government. It is their responsibility to develop an economy that meets EU standards and act as a bridge between opposition parties, communities, and interest groups.
