Albania's Participation in This Week's Berlin Process Highlights
Berlin Process: Civil society, green agenda, and regional cooperation highlights (Oct 8-11)
October 16th, 2024During the week of October 9–11, several activities have taken place within the Berlin Process framework. The Civil Society & Think Tank Forum was the main event, as an integral part of the Berlin Process, involving civil society and aiming people to contribute with their ideas, in order to advance cooperation and integration in the Western Balkans.
The event was mostly focused on disinformation, EU enlargement, environment and sustainable economic development, protection of the climate and energy, gender and diversity, reconciliation and the debate on the common regional market. The Republic of Albania was represented by Mr. Bora Muzhaqi, Minister of State for Youth and Children, Ms. Eriselda Sefa, Mayor of Lushnja and Mr. Armand Skapi, Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
The Berlin Process is a platform created in 2014 to increase cooperation between the Western Balkans and the Berlin Process host countries, as well as the EU. High official representatives of the Western Balkan Six (WB6) and their peers in Berlin Process host countries meet at least once a year at the Summit and preparatory Ministerial meetings.
On 8 and 9 October, the Parliamentary dimension of the Berlin Process took place, focusing on Green Agenda, regional market, enlargement and reforms of the EU, the future of regional cooperation and connectivity in the Western Balkans. The Albanian Parliament was represented by the Chairperson of the European Affairs Commission, Ms. Jorida Tabaku and the member of this Commission Mr. Blendi Klosi and Mr. Lavdrim Krrashi. The Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Albania have maintained bilateral relations since 1987. Germany has been supporting Albania carrying out reforms and strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law, but mostly through the Stability Pact established for the Western Balkans. The German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) implemented the EU project “Consolidation of the Justice System in Albania” (EURALIUS) in conjunction with partner institutions.
As this event constituted the first ministerial meeting on the Green Agenda for the WB, on the sidelines of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, the participants signed the Hamburg Declaration, therefore confirming their commitment to climate protection and sustainability.
References:
- - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Z7arXp8GEeQKXLPyT2qeCxQRCTNHTXkUPcVVBETBu6m5rgsu2wCo35qhzD8LYzcbl&id=100064850854493
- - https://www.berlinprocess.de/
- - https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/albania/229546