Overview

Albania is participating in the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). The Stabilisation and Association Agreement of Albania with EU was signed on June 12, 2006. 

• Albanian is composed of 12 administrative regions
• The total length of Albanian border line is 720 km. 
• Borders of Albania with EU countries include the borders with Italy (through Adriatic Sea) and Greece.
• Borders with Western Balkan countries include those with Montenegro, Serbia (including Kosovo under the UNSCR 1244) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Lessons learned

In the past, Albania has been participating in a number of Neighbourhood Programmes such as: CARDS Regional Programme, the New Adriatic Neighbourhood Programme and INTERREG III programme.
The Neighbourhood Programmes have focussed on enhancing:

1. Sustainable Spatial Development for the cross-border regions;
2. Promotion of cross-border cooperation between public institutions and businesses;
3. Creation of viable cross–border contacts at different levels and sectors of activity through people–to–people type actions;
4. Cross–border infrastructures; Economic Development and Employment and Quality of Life/Environment.

The way of future - IPA CBC 2007-2009

The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) will support Albania to fulfil the requirements of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The following two IPA components which apply to Albania: (I) the Transition Assistance and Institution Building Component and (II) the Cross-Border Cooperation Component.

Under IPA CBC the following components will be supported:

• participation of Albania within IPA CBC Adriatic Programme;
• IPA CBC Greece - Albania
• IPA CBC, cooperation of Albania with Western Balkan neighbouring countries: the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia (including Kosovo under the UNSCR 1244) and Montenegro.

Main objectives of IPA CBC programmes will be:

1. development of cross-border economic and social activities
2. address common challenges in the field of environment, public health,
3. prevention and fight against organised crime and ensure efficient and secure borders;
4. promotion of legal and administrative cooperation and
5. promotion of local "people to people" type actions

The CBIB project will support establishment of the operating structures and preparation of the cross-border programmes for each border.