December 9, 2022
On December 9, 2022, the Center for European Studies at EPOKA University launched the Jean Monnet Module “EU Integration of Western Balkans: Patterns and Issues”(WB-EUPath) with the First Graduate Seminar on “Albania and its path towards EU: issues at stake and opportunities ahead” by Dr. Sokol Dedja, career diplomat and expert for European Integration Affairs.
Firstly, Dr. Jubjana Vila, Head of the Center for European Studies and Project Coordinator, delivered the welcoming remarks and introduced the project background, objectives, activities and outputs.
Afterwards, the guest speaker Dr. Sokol Dedja provided the audience with a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding the Albanian path toward the European Union. Dr. Dedja focused on the transformative power of the EU accession criteria through the impetus for political and economic developments. However, the guest speaker revealed that there is a wave of skepticism from the EU’s side accompanying this transformative effect that has pushed for a more demanding and technical accession process for the country. In addition, Dr. Dedja discussed about the cost of EU integration focusing on economic challenges and consequences that might come with the need to compete in a common European market. The expert concluded by implying that ahead there is a journey of overcoming challenges for Albania. Following his speech, Dr. Dedja engaged in a discussion with the participants who shared their different perspectives and questions on the topic.
We would like to thank Dr. Sokol Dedja for his time and contribution and the audience for the active participation in the activity!
