“Trade & Economic Integration of the Western Balkan countries in the European Union”

SHERATON TIRANA, HOTEL AND TOWERS

12-13 December, 2003

December 12, 2003

8:30 – 9:00 Registration of participants

9:00 – 9:30 Scope of the Conference,

Mr. Selim Belortaja, ACIT Executive Director

Welcoming remarks

Mr. Genc Ruli, President of ISB (Institute for Contemporary Studies)

Key addresses

Mr. Arben Malaj, Minister of Economy

Mr. Harry Birnholz, USAID

Mr. Ismail Beka, Manager of Economic Programs, GTZ Tirana

9:30 – 9:40 Short break

9:40 - 12:30

Session 1: “Regional integration: motivations and expected impacts”.

Moderator: Prof. Genc Ruli, ISB President

Key speakers

Prof. Milica Uvalic, University of Perugia, Italy

“Trade integration in Southeast Europe"

Per Magnus Wijkman, Adjunct Professor, University of Göteborg, Sweden

“A Free trade Area in South East Europe? Problems and Prospects”

Mr. Martin Dimitrov, Institute for Market Economics, Bulgaria

“Trade liberalization: The case of Bulgaria”

Discussions

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

Dr. Selami Xhepa and Msc Mimoza Agolli, ACIT, Albania

“Albania’s foreign trade through a Gravity approach”

Mr. Muhamet Sadiku, RIINVEST, Kosovo

“Specifics of trade liberalization in the case of Kosovo”

Discussions

Lunch time: 12:30 – 14:00

Key note speaker: Prof. Ermelinda Meksi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for European Integration

Afternoon proceedings

14:00 – 17:30

Session 2: “EU integration and adjustment processes during transition”

Moderator: Artan Hoxha, Research Director, ISB

Key speakers

Prof. Vladimir Gligorov and Mario Holzner, Vienna Institute for International Trade (WIIW)

“Prospects for Further (South-) Eastern EU Enlargement: from Divergence to Convergence?”

Mr. Ardian Harri, Ministry of Finance

“Theoretical and empirical aspects of the economic integration and trade liberalization”

Discussions

15:30 – 16:00 Coffee break

Prof. Vladimir Grečić, Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade

“Stable population movements as a factor of economic stabilization and integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union”

MBA Valbona Kuko, Director, European Integration Department; Minister of State for European Integration

“Stabilization and Association Process in Albania and Institutional Framework;”

Discussions

19:00 – 21:00

Cocktail offered by the Minister of Economy, Mr. Malaj

December 13, 2003

9:30 – 12:30

Session 3: “Policies and instruments to foster regional and European integration”

Moderator: Mr. Ilir Ciko, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy.

Ms. Adriana Civici, Ministry of Economy, Albania

“Albanian chairmanship of the Working Group for the Trade Liberalization and Facilitation for the countries of the South East Europe”

Mr. Ilir Ciko and Ms. Evis Sulka, Ministry of Economy

“Albanian trade policies towards the globalization and regionalization”

Ms. Etti Maria Winter, researcher at IAMO (Institute for Agricultural Development in Middle and Eastern Europe), Germany

"Experiences with a Partial Equilibrium Model for Croatia: Analysis of the impacts of an EU-Association on Croatia's Agri-Food Sector."

Discussions

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break

Prof. Dr. Elfrida Zefi, University of Korça, Albania

“Albania in transition and the regional integration processes”

Aida Gugu LL.M, ACIT

“Main features of Stabilization and Association agreements, the differences with Europe Agreements”

Mr. Ilir Rrembeci, RDA

“Private sector perspectives on the framework of these new initiatives”

12:30 – 13:00

Concluding remarks of the conference