Albania to benefit Euro 650 mln in enlargement assistance

“This renewed assistance will help support those countries with a European perspective to implement reforms that will directly impact citizens, help them move forward on their path to the EU and build bridges with their neighbours,” said EU’s Stefan Fule.
TIRANA, Sept. 30 – Albania will benefit around 650 million euros in EU financial assistance in the next seven years through the new Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) mainly to carry out reforms as the country prepares for Union membership after it was granted the candidate status in mid-2014.
“This renewed assistance is very good news for the enlargement region. It will help support those countries with a European perspective to implement reforms that will directly impact citizens, help them move forward on their path to the EU and build bridges with their neighbours”, said European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule.
Financial assistance will target strategic priorities for the countries wishing to join the EU as well as strengthening regional and territorial cooperation and investments. Key areas include governance and public administration reform, rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as support to economic growth and competitiveness.
The majority of funding in the 2014- 2020 period, some 320 million euros, will go to reforms in preparation for Union membership such as democracy and governance and rule of law and fundamental rights.
Governance and the rule of law have been identified in the Commission’s progress reports on Albania as well as in Council conclusions as key challenges Albania will have to address on its way to accession.
In the ‘socio-economic and regional development’ group, environment, transport, energy and competitiveness and innovation are expected to benefit 168 million euros in EU funding.
Employment, social policies, education, promotion of gender equality, and human resources development will be supported by Euro 69 million while agriculture and rural development with Euro 92 million.
At 649.5 million euros for the 2014- 2020, Albania’s funding will be higher compared to Montenegro’s 270 million euros, and Kosovo’s 645.5 million euros, but lower compared to Macedonia’s 664 million euros, Serbia’s 1.5 billion euros, and Turkey’s 3 billion euros.
Albania became a candidate country following the Brussels European Council of June 2014. The country became a potential candidate country for EU accession following the Thessaloniki European Council of June 2003. On 18 February 2008 the Council adopted a new European partnership with Albania. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the country was signed on 12 June 2006 and entered into force on 1 April 2009. It supersedes the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related aspects, which entered into force in December 2006. The EU-Albania visa facilitation agreement entered into force in January 2008 while the readmission agreement entered into force in 2006.