The 6th edition of Tirana Connectivity Forum was organized by Cooperation and Development Institute in Tirana, in cooperation with the three German political foundations Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Hanns Seidel Foundation and Regional Cooperation Council under the auspices of the German Presidency of the Council of the EU and media partner Euronews Albania.
As the tittle of this years’ edition envisages, the subject of the main discussions was the global pandemic and its effects on connectivity.
The forum began with the welcome note from Mr. Ardian Hackaj, TCF Coordinator and Director of Research at Cooperation and Development Institute, who introduced the challenges of having this forum under the extraordinary conditions of a global pandemic and the switch from physical connectivity to digital connectivity.
The forum was greeted from the representatives of the three German political foundations Stine Klapper, Head of Office Friedrich Ebert Foundation Albania, Dr. Tobias Rüttershoff, Head of Albanian Office of Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Dr. Klaus Fiesinger, Regional Director for Southeastern Europe of Hanns Seidel Foundation as well as from H.E Peter Zingraf, German Ambassador to Albania.
*The Welcome Note of TCF2020 can now be consulted at our YouTube channel.
Among the key speakers of the first day of forum was the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Mr. Olivér Várhelyi who highlighted the benefits of improving the connectivity in the Western Balkans, as well as between the region and the European Union, and also about EU investments in infrastructure projects in the region.
“The EU remains committed to development of connectivity between the EU enlargement and neighborhood regions, to support and foster stability, security and better conditions for economic development,” said Commissioner Várhelyi during his keynote speech.
According to Várhelyi, the upcoming Economic and Investment Plan of the EU will boost investments in the area of connectivity in the region. He also argues that “the EU remains committed to development of connectivity between the EU enlargement and neighborhood regions, to support and foster stability, security and better conditions for economic development”.
*The Keynote Speech of Commissioner Várhelyi can now be reviewed here.
The first day of the forum continued with the panel discussing “Connectivity in South-East Europe 6: Fall 2020” with the Director of the Permanent Secretariat of Transport Community Mr. Matej Zakošnjek and REA National Coordinator in Albania, Ms. Odeta Barbullushi.
The panel focused on the deceleration of economic activity and its direct impact on the current on-going Connectivity Agenda infrastructure projects and the implementation of reform measures. Mr. Zakonjsek discussed about the impact of Covid19 on transport connectivity in SEE6, and about the Transport Permanent Secretariat vision for the future, while Ms. Barbullushi discussed about the role of regional cooperation and especially of the Berlin process, achievements the contribution of Albanian government on connectivity agenda.
Mr. Zakošnjek also underlined that the transport connectivity of the Western Balkans should be turned into an essential value, not just a technical thing.
“Western Balkans need to connect, build and rehabilitate transport infrastructure based on forward-looking transport policy, with the main aim and focus to a seamless integration of the Western Balkans transport markets into the EU,” said Matej Zakošnjek.
*This panel is now available on our YouTube channel.
The second panel of TCF2020 “Winners and Losers of Covid-19 in South-East Europe 6”, discussed about the long term impact of Covid-19 such as the disruption of value chains, deceleration of public and private investment, rupture of public administration work, decrease in remittances; increased unemployment and heavy blows to tourism industry.
This panel saw the participation of Prof. Michele Geraci, former Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Ministry of Economic Development of the Italian Government, Ms. Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Mr. Nenad Đurđević, Senior Adviser to the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and to the Chairman of the Western Balkan 6 Chamber Investment Forum.
Prof. Geraci discussed on the place that the Western Balkans Region economy(ies) into the overall global shifts following the pandemic’s impact and the global geopolitical developments pointing out its weaknesses and strengths.
Ms. Bregu covered in her intervention the role of foreign direct investments (FDI) to the Western Balkans, the economic support that the region has received from the EU since the beginning of the economic crisis due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the new Economic and Investment Plan which is to be presented in October.
“The FDI in the region should serve the economic development in the digital innovation, and in agriculture as well. The legal framework, a better one, will always help the investors in the region. That is why we are working on one investment framework for the whole region. This can make the region more attractive and even more solid to face the challenges”, she argued.
Lastly, Mr. Đurđević on SEE6 sectors and companies that were singled out (positively or negatively) during this time period, and on their future.
*The whole panel discussions can now be consulted here.
