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Free for design: photographs etc. Cross – Border Cooperation Durrës, Kukës, Gjakovë Institute for Public and Private Policies o Published by: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung o Office Tirana o Rr. Abdi Toptani o Torre Drin, Kati i 3-te o Kutia postare 1418 o Tirane, Albania Author: Institute for Public and Private Policies This paper gives an overview on the opportunities and potential for successful cross-border cooperation The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publishing are of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent those of Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s publications cannot be used for commercial purposes without a prior written approval. Table of Content 1.Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 2 2.Cross-border cooperation and its importance .......................................................................................... 4 3.European Union principles ......................................................................................................................... 6 4.Description of selected area ...................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Durres Area ......................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 Kukes Area ........................................................................................................................................ 11 4.3 Gjakova Area ..................................................................................................................................... 15 5.Potentials for cross-border cooperation ................................................................................................. 18 6. Conclusions and recommendations ........................................................................................................ 21 Adresa: Rruga “Ismail Qemali”, Pall.7/1, Apt. 6/b, Shk. 2, tel/fax. 04 2253 671 e-mail: [email protected], website: www.Institutip3.com , Tirane 1. Introduction Albania is pursuing reform policies aiming to strengthen the democracy and enhance economic and social development. European Integration is at the center of the reform policies. The most important reform is Administrative and Territorial Reform (adopted on July 2014) which creates a new model of LGUs at the first level and creates a good base for sharing responsibilities and finances for public services by increasing expectations at the local level. This reform is followed by Decentralization Reform. These reforms are key components of ensuring good governance, strengthen the economy, strengthen communities from a social point of view and help the country in the process of European integration. Albania as a potential candidate country shortly has obtained the candidate country status for EU, therefore on an on-going path of preparing for EU accession and absorption of EU funds. Since the receipt of this status Albania receives funding from all components of the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). So far, the country has benefited from Component I of the IPA (Institutional Construction) and Component II (Cross-Border Cooperation). After obtaining this status Albania, can take assistance from three other components, III, IV and V, respectively, Regional Development, Human Resource Development and Rural Development. Furthermore local government units’ needs to reveal the lessons learned from pre-accession relevant for local government development. Good neighbor relations and regional cooperation are essential elements of the Stabilization and Association Process. The experience so far of benefiting from Component II (Cross-Border Cooperation) are not so much evident as the LGs in Albania were very fragmented and with limited capacity for promoting and implementing cross- border projects in the areas of economic development, agriculture, tourism, education etc., but focusing mostly on cultural activities. Adresa: Rruga “Ismail Qemali”, Pall.7/1, Apt. 6/b, Shk. 2, tel/fax. 04 2253 671 e-mail: [email protected], website: www.Institutip3.com , Tirane Administrative territorial reform will have an impact not only in quality of services to citizens, but also in increasing the territory, as a promoter for LGU development. In a larger territory the local units will be able to use more instruments for enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries. New LGUs should develop authentic local strategies for enhancing cooperation between neighbor countries. Strategies for local development should be concrete and have well defined priorities. Important objective of Albania's foreign policy has been and remains regional policy. Albania, as a regional actor with a weight and an increasingly important role, is interested in a stable region where peace, socio-economic cooperation and cultural prevails, as well as to establish lasting relationships with its neighbors. Also, as part of the fulfillment of international obligations, the Albanian government will be fully committed to strengthening cooperation with international partners in various fields. Strengthening local governance in order to ensure a higher efficiency of local government itself is the vision that follows the principles and standards set out in the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Exactly, new system of local government will lay the foundation for a new platform for national and regional development. Important objective of this cooperation should be the promotion of joint activities to include partners from the border regions and the encouragement of entrepreneurship and investment for neighboring countries.This will help to reduce the level of isolation for these countries and the development of cooperation in various sectors. It is essential that these countries should intensify reforms to achieve sustainable growth and to address the needed challenges to meet the economic criteria and to improve competitiveness. The overall objective of EU financial assistance to Albania is to support its reforms to ensure compliance with EU law. This goal complies fully with the construction of cooperation networks Adresa: Rruga “Ismail Qemali”, Pall.7/1, Apt. 6/b, Shk. 2, tel/fax. 04 2253 671 e-mail: [email protected], website: www.Institutip3.com , Tirane and exchange of experiences for a good neighbor ship. Albania in the context of cross-border cooperation programs offered by the IPA CBC will be able to participate in the IPA Adriatic CBC and IPA CBC Albania-Kosovo. Cross-border cooperation program (CBC) Adriatic IPA aims to strengthen the capacity for sustainable development in the Adriatic area. Cross-border cooperation program (CBC) IPA CBC Albania-Kosovo aims to promote cooperation between people communities and institutions in the bordering areas and to foster the sustainable development, stability and prosperity of these areas in the mutual interest of the citizens of Albania and Kosovo. Now is the right time to get away from bureaucratic obstacles that have existed for years in order well use these funds, influencing in the conditions improvement of the border areas communities. The discussion on such topic in two Albanian cities of Kukes and Durres and Gjakova city in Kosovo, will be very important for getting the discussion on such possibilities and potentials. 1. Cross-border cooperation and its importance Regional cooperation is an important element of the European integration process. Therefore, intensified and successful cross-border cooperation of both Albania and Kosovo, between themselves as well as with their other neighbors is an important element of IPA assistance. Cross-border cooperation is needed to improve local economic development and to foster contacts between people in the bordering areas, involving local and regional authorities, as well as all the relevant stakeholders (socio-economic parties and civil society organizations). Cross- border programs are focused on the local level on either side of a border, helping the local population address issues of common interest. Adresa: Rruga “Ismail Qemali”, Pall.7/1, Apt. 6/b, Shk. 2, tel/fax. 04 2253 671 e-mail: [email protected], website: www.Institutip3.com , Tirane Cross-border cooperation programs represent the framework for rapid economic integration, aiming at reducing the existing differences between the levels of development of the cross- border regions, as well as improving the overall cultural, social and scientific cooperation between the local and regional communities. Involving the representatives from both sides of the border, who will set up a joint program, which is governed by a single set of rules, then good neighborhood relations will be developed. Cross-border cooperation programs are jointly designed by two bordering countries to tackle common problems and exploit shared potentials. Recognizing the need to aid these efforts on the Regional level, the European Commission launched the CBIB – Cross Border Institution Building project in June 2006. The programs are financed by the European Union (EU) within the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). IPA is applicable to Candidate Countries and Potential Candidate Countries as well as to the Member States, which share a cross-border program with those countries. Main three priorities of the
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