The Forum for International Relations of the European Movement in Serbia (EMinS) and the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) launched the project Joint Centre for Albania-Serbia Relations. The activities of the Centre in 2016 and 2017 were supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tirana, and the activities of the Centre in 2018, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tirana.
The cooperation between Serbia and Albania has a strategic importance for the European integration of the Western Balkans. The bilateral initiatives, which are of great importance for regional cooperation, have so far been in the shadow. Main obstacles to the establishment of normal and fruitful relations between Albania and Serbia include the lack of knowledge about each other and the lack of opportunity for contact and mutual cooperation. Bearing all this in mind, the Albanian Institute for International Studies initiated the establishment of a joint centre that would encourage interaction between experts, journalists, researchers, artists and decision-makers of the two countries.
This project will offer a new approach for the improvement of Serbian-Albanian relations inspired by the civil society, and provide new opportunities for mutual contact and cooperation, as well as for the improvement of the knowledge of citizens from these two countries about each other. Furthermore, the project will help young people to fight against mutual prejudice, open the space for cooperation between the media, foster the creation of new media coverage that will bring the citizens closer to the everyday life in these two countries, and engage decision makers at different levels to contribute to better cooperation between Serbia and Albania through active policies.
Project goals are:
- Creation of bilateral mechanisms and safe spaces for improvement of relations between Albania and Serbia through various opportunities for discussion, cooperation, social interaction, and working towards common goals;
- Empowerment of actors including youth, civil society representatives, business community, cultural workers and media, to contribute to the improvement of relations between the two countries in the various spheres;
- Feeding and maintenance of informed and constructive public debate in regard to bilateral relations between Albania and Serbia as well as regional cooperation.
Activities of the Centre
in 2019:
- European Youth Academy in Tirana
- Tirana Forum
in 2018:
- European Academy for Journalists in Tirana
- Cultural event in the Hague
- Open Forum in the Hague
in 2017:
- European Youth Academy in Tirana
- Cultural event in Belgrade
- Exchange of young researchers
- Tirana Forum
in 2016:
- Durres Forum
- European Youth Academy in Tirana
- Research fellowships for young researchers
- Journalist exchange
Target group of the project: youth, media representatives, representatives from the civil society, cultural and business community, as well as political actors and decision-makers.
Project duration:
September 2019 – January 2020
September 2018 – January 2019
January – December 2017
February – December 2016
Activities:
2020
- New Methodology for Running EU Accession Negotiations, dr Vladimir Međak, Tirana Observatory, March 24, 2020
2019
2018
- Cultural event in the Hague: Movie screening “Honeymoons” (Albanian-Serbian Co-production), January 29, 2019
- Open Forum in the Hague: “Albania-Serbia relations: the way forward for regional stability and integration”, January 29, 2019
- European Academy for Journalists in Tirana, September 18-20, 2018
2017
- Tirana Forum: “Albania and Serbia towards a common future in the European Union”, October 26-28, 2018
- Cultural event in Belgrade: “Unknown literature of Albania”, May 26, 2017
- European Youth Academy in Tirana, April 23-27, 2017; Blog: Tirana – tako blizu, a tako daleko
- European Youth Academy in Tirana, April 23-27, 2017; Blog: Put u Tiranu
2016
- Journalist exchange – RTS journalists in Tirana
- Exchange of young researches from Serbia and Albania
- European Youth Academy in Tirana, September 26-28, 2016
- Durres Forum “Albania and Serbia towards a common future in the European Union”, May 6-7, 2016
Documents:
- The Albania-Serbia Trade Exchange and its Potentials, Prof. Dr Predrag Bjelić and Prof. Dr Radmila Dragutinović Mitrović
- Joint Centre for Albania-Serbia Relations, AIIS Report