Cooperation and Development Institute and CIFE, in the framework of the Berlin Process Series and in cooperation with CFA / ÖFZ, IAI and BiEPAG (Balkans in Europe Policy Advisors Group), with the support of the German Foreign Office / Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and Erasmus +, organized in Tirana on September 14, the Roundtable “Post Paris, Post Brexit – Perspectives for the Western Balkans”.
The roundtable took place as follow-on to the Reflection Forum “The Western Balkans in the European Union: new perspectives on integration?” organized by CIFE, the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) and CFA/ÖFZ in Paris on 30-31 May 2016 and the “Civil Society Forum Paris of the Western Balkans Summit Series” coordinated by the European Fund for the Balkans, ERSTE Foundation and others, held in Paris on 3-4 July 2016.
The roundtable brought together experts, representatives of CSOs, Albanian national institutions, different Embassies and Media, interested in discussing and exchanging opinions regarding the Berlin Process. Representatives from Albanian central Institutions, CSOs, Media, Embassies and other international organizations, and regional organizations active in the promotion of EU integration of the WB6, discussed on the enlargement perspectives after BREXIT and Paris Summit of July 2016. They highlighted the contributions achieved so far within the Berlin Process, i.e RYCO, CSOs engagement in the process, as well as discussed on important topics to be addressed by the current Italian Presidency of the Berlin Process, i.e role of SMEs in the economic development of the region, P2P and local governance projects. The participants concluded on the importance of using tools and mechanisms educating and promoting EU integration values in a context of enlargement fatigue and security concerns.
