This Working Paper aims to document and analyze the progress Albania has achieved in implementing the commitments taken in the framework of the so-called Berlin Process as stated in Vienna Summit in August 2015, and the challenges ahead to the upcoming Summit of Paris of July 4th 2016. The Berlin Conference held in August 2014 was the starting point of the official coming to existence of the “Berlin Process”. Initially planned as a one-off event called by Chancellor Merkel, this process took an existence by itself to become today one of the most important regional cooperation platforms, equipped of a budget of EUR 1 billion until end of 2018. Its objectives are to enhance joint regional economic governance – in the framework of the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries – by laying the foundations for higher and sustainable growth. The process aims to contribute to the reinforcement of a sound economic environment and reliable political, legal and societal structures in these countries. This Working Paper aims to document and analyze the progress of the Albanian Government in achieving the: a) necessary alignment to the standards of legislation and reforms (soft measures) needed and agreed upon in Vienna Summit; and, b) in implementing the related measures with regard to infrastructure projects. In drafting this Working Paper, Cooperation and Development Institute has hold several meetings and interviews with the main relevant institutions involved in the process (i.e. the Strategic Planning and Development Unit – part of the Department for Development, Financing and Foreign Aid at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Energy and Industry, WBIF, etc.). Moreover, an extensive research and analysis of information from other public sources has been carried out, namely: a) official declarations and joint statements, public speeches, political statements, and press releases of the main EU and WB6 institutional actors; b) specialized economic media; c) national strategic documents and annuals reports of different institutions/structures in charge of implementing sector-based policies.
