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Europe
Albania |
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Last reviewed: 20 January 2011 |
Country information
Albania relations with UK
The British Embassy in Tirana works with international and local partners to implement projects that facilitate Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objectives and strategic priorities. The following funds are available:
The Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) - previously known as Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) is the FCO's most important Programme Budget, and is divided into strands which reflect the UK's Department Strategic Objectives (DSOs). The purpose of SPF is to promote action on global issues in areas of strategic importance to the UK.
SPF "Reuniting Europe" – to extend the success of enlargement by supporting countries through the EU integration process, particularly in the fields of improved governance and economic growth. This is one of the SPF strands under which Albania qualifies for funding as a priority country.
UK assistance in Albania
Funds for financial year 2010-11
| Strategic Programme Fund (SPF) | Objective | Value |
| SPF Re-uniting Europe (RE) Programme Two different projects |
Increase transparency, effectiveness, and accountability of the Albanian High Court | £160,000 |
| Chevening Programme (Scholarships) Four Scholars in Academic year 2010-11 |
Promote the UK’s longer-term political, economic and commercial interests and support diplomacy and goodwill through offering study in the UK to potential leaders, decision makers etc. | £75,000 plus |
| Chevening Programme (Fellowships) Number not yet known |
Promote the UK’s longer-term political, economic and commercial interests and support diplomacy and goodwill .through offering study in the UK to potential leaders, decision makers etc | NYK |
Relations with Neighbours
Albania has good relations with all her neighbours.
In March/April 1999, around 480,000 Kosovar refugees entered Albania during the Kosovo crisis. Albania was a staunch supporter of NATO military action and around 9,000 troops were deployed in Albania before crossing into Kosovo. Albania supports the international community's policy towards Kosovo.
Albania has consistently supported the international community's position on the Balkans, including in Kosovo. The Albanian government took a decisive stance in the 2001 crisis in Macedonia by strongly condemning the actions of ethnic Albanian rebels, whilst emphasising the need for all communities in Macedonia to enjoy equal rights.
Relations with EU
Albania has actively pursued closer relations with the EU. EU membership is the key element of Albania's foreign policy. Albania signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU on 12 June 2006, and formally applied for EU membership in April 2009. During the first quarter of 2010, the Albanian government completed the European Commission’s (EC’s) questionnaire for prospective Member States, which was submitted to Brussels on 15 April 2010 and referred to the EC for an opinion (avis). The avis, published in November 2010, set 12 “key priorities” for further reform in Albania.
EU Assistance
PAMECA III - Police Assistance Mission of the European Community to Albania
PAMECA III will run from 2008-2011 and will build upon the work of previous EU funded policing projects, in order to meet the assessed needs of the Albanian State Police as the key beneficiary and will also generate improvements for secondary beneficiaries (Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, General Prosecutors Office etc).
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is the Community's financial instrument for the pre-accession process for the period 2007-2013. Assistance is provided on the basis of the European Partnerships.
Its main aim is to support institution-building and the rule of law, human rights, including the fundamental freedoms, minority rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, both administrative and economic reforms, economic and social development, reconciliation and reconstruction, and regional and cross-border cooperation.
NATO
Albania has been a member of NATO since April 2009. It continues to contribute to international military operations, including in Afghanistan, and in recent times, has also contributed troops to operations in Bosnia and Herzegovinaand Iraq.
Visits
Inward
- OSCE funded parliamentary visit to observe 2010 UK election
- Albanian MPs Arta Dade, Viktor Gumi, Ditmir Bushati, Mesila Doda, Gent Strazimiri and Ermonela Felaj visited London as guests of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 16-17 March 2010
- Ilir Meta, then-Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, attended the International Afghanistan Conference in London on 28 January 2010. As Leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), met Caroline Flint, then-Minister for Europe on 12 March 2009.
Outward
- Baroness Taylor, then-Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, visited Tirana on 22 and 23 April 2009 and met senior officials including the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
- Vernon Coaker, then- Minister of State visited Tirana on 16-18 February 2009. He had meetings with top officials, including the President Bamir Topi to discuss UK’s support for Albania in its fight against organised crime.
