The instrument for Pre-accession assistance (IPA), Albanian case through the enlargement process

• Author: Lorela Simoni
• Pages: 9-20

Vo

l. 4 N

o

.

3

N

ovember, 201

8

I

SSN 2410-391

8

A

cces online at www.ii

p

ccl.or

g

9

A

cademic Journal o

f

Business,

A

dministration, Law and Social Sciences

II

PCCL Publishin

g

, Graz-

A

ustria

The instrument for Pre-accession assistance (IPA), Albanian case through the

enlargement process

L

o

r

ela

S

i

m

o

n

i

Abstract

This paper analyses the general framework of the IPA as a main fi nancial instrument provided

by the European Union for Western Balkans Countries + Turkey, which are the candidate

countries toward the EU accession. This study is focused on the way that Albania has benefi ted

and it’s going to profi t by this instrument. Also, this paper comprises the main fi elds of the

concentration of European Union assistance under IPA I and IPA II in Albania. In order to

create a general view about this instrument my analysis also focuses in the impact of reforms in

the daily life of Albanian citizen, which is by the fi nancial support Albania has been receiving

by EC for transforming the most crucial sectors. Also this paper lays down the lessons learned

through IPA I and IPA II.

Keywords: Accession, IPA, candidate countries, Albania.

Introduction

In 2003, the Thessaloniki European Council a rmed that following the progress and

e orts of the Western Balkan countries (WB), the accession of these countries within

the European Union (EU) would soon become a reality. However, the Council stressed

that compliance and adaptation of European values and standards constitutes the

main challenge toward accession. Progress of each country towards the EU will

depend on its own merits in meeting the Copenhagen criteria and the conditions

set for the SAP and confi rmed in the fi nal declaration of the November 2000 Zagreb

summit.1 Based on EU requirement and accomplishment of Albanian government to

fulfi ll the criteria, since 2004, Albania participates in the Western Balkans Stabilisation

and Association Process and concluded the Stabilisation and Association Agreement

(SAA) with the EU in 2006.The objectives of this Stabilisation and Association

Agreements are (a) to support the e orts of Albania to strengthen democracy and

the rule of law, (b) to contribute to political, economic and institutional stability in

Albania, as well as to the stabilisation of the region, (c) to provide an appropriate

framework for political dialogue, allowing the development of close political relations

between the Parties, (d) to support the e orts of Albania to develop its economic and

international cooperation, also through the approximation of its legislation to that

of the Community, (e) to support the e orts of Albania to complete the transition

into a functioning market economy, to promote harmonious economic relations and

develop gradually a free trade area between the Community and Albania, (f) to foster

regional cooperation in all the fi elds covered by this Agreement.2 The SAA entered



1

h p://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_PRES-03-163_en.htm.



2

h p://ec.europa.eu/world/agreements/prepareCreateTreatiesWorkspace/treatiesGeneralData.do?

step=0&redirect=true&treatyId=7564.