In Thessaloniki, on 19 and 20 June 2003 the European Council reiterated its determination to fully and effectively support the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. It endorsed the conclusions of 16 June 2003 for the Western Balkan countries including the annex “The Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans: Towards European integration”, which introduce the European Partnerships as a means to materialize the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association process.

 

- The European Partnership identifies the priorities and specific needs of a country with the view to encourage the necessary measures to achieve European standards. It is set up based on the recommendations of the annual reports of the European Commission, CTF meetings, Joint Committees and the EC/Albania working parties.

 

- The European Partnership is an instrument of a political, economic, institutional, and monetary and human resources nature;

 

- The European Partnership is a list of criteria on the basis of which progress is measured, and serves as a guide for the financial support provided by the European Union.

 

- The European Partnership is an evolving document that is updated according to the fulfilment of the commitments undertaken by the parties and the new challenges of the European Integration process..

 

 

 

 

The objectives of the European Partnership focus on accelerating the fulfilment of the criteria for SAA implementation. These criteria include:

 

- strengthening of the democratic institutions, observance and protection of human rights and minorities through consolidation of the rule of law;

- establishment of an appropriate framework for regional stability and political dialogue between parties;

- fulfilment of the standards aiming at progressive establishment of a free and effective trade area between parties;

- increase of the economic development and prosperity to enable the transition from central planning  to the market economy;

- intensification of the  cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs with the view to establish an area of freedom, security and justice;

- commitment to and strengthening of the regional cooperation;

- capacity of the  government institutions to cope with the obligations deriving from the future accession in the EU.

 

 

In early 2004, the Commission presented its first European Partnership with Albania. It was adopted by the Council on 14 June 2004. The Commission considers the updating of this first Partnership on the basis of the ascertainment presented in the 2005 Progress Report on Albania, and on 9 November 2005 proposed to the Council the second Partnership with Albania.

 

The renewed 2007 European Partnership is based on the provisions of the Council Regulation (EC) No 533/2004 of 22 March 2004 and takes into consideration the new developments described in the 2007 Progress Report. It ranks the short-and medium-term priorities for the country’s preparations towards European Integration.