Swedish development cooperation with Albania to continue in next 3 years

TIRANA, May 12 – Sweden pledges continuous assistance to Albania along its effort of integration into the European Union.
The volume of Swedish aid to Albania in 2009-2012 will be approximately SEK 90 million per annum.
The overarching goal of Swedish development cooperation with Albania in 2009-2012 is a stronger democratic state, long-term sustainable development, and improved opportunities for achieving EU membership.
In the space of just over 15 years, Albania has evolved from a totalitarian, centrally planned regime into a young democracy with a market economy. Economic growth has been fairly substantial, but since the social and political system has not progressed at the same pace, much remains to be done before the country becomes a modern state based on the EU’s fundamental democratic principles.
Swedish support is to focus on two sectors: a) democratic governance and human rights, and b) natural resources and environment. The choice of sectors is based on a needs assessment, on Albania’s own priorities, on the activities of other donors cooperating with Albania, and on Sweden’s comparative advantages. The development programme is expected to improve Albania’s chances of implementing reforms and ensuring sustainable, equitable development in the country.
In order to strengthen the impact and improve the results of Swedish-financed action, Swedish initiatives are to include a dialogue aimed both at ensuring an open discourse between the country’s policymakers and its citizens on the subject of Albania’s long-term reform commitments, and at ensuring greater gender equality and the increased participation of women in public life.