SERBIA AND ALBANIA - TOWARDS EUROPEAN FUTURE

The bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding between Albania and Serbia are of strategic importance for the stability of the region as well as European integration of the Western Balkans. One of the main obstacles standing in the way of normal and fruitful relations between two countries is the lack of knowledge about each other and the lack of opportunities for more intensive cooperation as illustrated by the recent analysis of mutual perceptions in Serbia and Albania done by the European Movement in Serbia and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

However, according to the research results general public of Serbia and Albania still unequivocally values normalization of relations between the two states both from the aspect of regional and international relations, as well as position of these two countries therein.

Therefore, the Forum for International Relations of the European Movement in Serbia and Friedrich Ebert Foundation have organized the International Conference “Serbia and Albania – Towards European Future”, with the intention to foster public discussion on Serbian-Albanian relations and possibilities for the development of mechanisms and modalities that could improve them, following the will of their citizens.

The conference will be held on May 17, 2016, in Belgrade, gathering representatives of relevant state institutions, regional organizations, civil society organizations, academics from Serbia and Albania, diplomatic corps, media and interested public.

Goal

Organization of the international conference to improve bilateral relations, as well as the overall political climate in the Western Balkans, by focusing on four key topics in Serbian-Albanian relations: bilateral and multilateral arrangements and open issues between Serbia and Albania; the role of civil society in promoting Serbian-Albanian joint projects; the role of media in designing mutual perceptions; and youth cooperation between Serbia and Albania.

Activities: