EU ACCESSION EU ACCESSION COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION

S NETWORKS NETWORKOhrid, 21-22 September 2006Ohrid, 21-22 September 2006

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES USED FOR EUROPEAN USED FOR EUROPEAN

INTEGRATIONINTEGRATION Ministry of European Integration Ministry of European Integration Sector of Documentation and Communication Sector of Documentation and Communication

with the Publicwith the Public

Line MinistriesLine Ministries Integration UnitsIntegration Units

RELIABLE SOURCES OF RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND THEIR INFORMATION AND THEIR

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIESSector of Documentation and Communication with Sector of Documentation and Communication with

the Public:the Public: disseminate and stimulate research in the field of disseminate and stimulate research in the field of

European integrationEuropean integration enable that the information on EU and its enable that the information on EU and its

policies be tangible to the publicpolicies be tangible to the publicIntegration UnitsIntegration Units disseminate specialized information to the public disseminate specialized information to the public

on on relevantrelevant fields fields

RELIABLE SOURCES OF RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND THEIR INFORMATION AND THEIR

ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES Many people, especially students come to visit Many people, especially students come to visit

the Sector of Documentation and Communication the Sector of Documentation and Communication with the Public and take information about EU in with the Public and take information about EU in general, the Albanian experience in the process general, the Albanian experience in the process of European integration and also consult with the of European integration and also consult with the library of this Sector.library of this Sector.

From June to September 2006 about 50 people From June to September 2006 about 50 people from public administration, academics and public from public administration, academics and public in general have come to this Sector for in general have come to this Sector for information. information.

OTHER ACTIVITIES REGARDING OTHER ACTIVITIES REGARDING PUBLIC INFORMATIONPUBLIC INFORMATION

After the signing of the SAA between the After the signing of the SAA between the European Communities and their Member States European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Albaniaand the Republic of Albania, with the request of , with the request of the business community which is the first to be the business community which is the first to be faced with the implementation of the Agreement, faced with the implementation of the Agreement, the Ministry of European Integration has the Ministry of European Integration has prepared a booklet “On business”.prepared a booklet “On business”.

Its aim is to inform these stakeholders regarding Its aim is to inform these stakeholders regarding the SAA and Interim Agreement, liberalization of the SAA and Interim Agreement, liberalization of trade and reduction of customs tariffs. trade and reduction of customs tariffs.

With the request of the business community, 5 With the request of the business community, 5 seminars were held in different cities of Albania, seminars were held in different cities of Albania, to promote the booklet. to promote the booklet.

ORGANISATION OF THE ORGANISATION OF THE EUROPEAN WEEKEUROPEAN WEEK

On 2-8 May 2006, MEI has organized “The On 2-8 May 2006, MEI has organized “The European Week”. European Week”.

62 students from different cities of Albania took 62 students from different cities of Albania took part in the competition “Knowledge on EU and part in the competition “Knowledge on EU and integration process” organized by the Ministry. integration process” organized by the Ministry.

OTHER RELIABLE SOURCES OF OTHER RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATIONINFORMATION

Delegation of the European Commission in Delegation of the European Commission in AlbaniaAlbania: :

disseminate information on the EU,disseminate information on the EU, inform the Albanian general public, decision inform the Albanian general public, decision

makers about the integration process, EU makers about the integration process, EU

institutions and its policies.institutions and its policies.

MEDIAMEDIA

Media is an active participant in the field of Media is an active participant in the field of information activity:information activity:

After the signing of the SAA media played a After the signing of the SAA media played a major role through TV, radio and newspapers.major role through TV, radio and newspapers.

TV broadcasted programs which explain the TV broadcasted programs which explain the process of European Integration, the obligations process of European Integration, the obligations and the benefits of Albania from the SAA, the and the benefits of Albania from the SAA, the process of approximation of Albanian legislation process of approximation of Albanian legislation with with acquis communautaire. acquis communautaire.

Internet, leaflets, publications, play a great role Internet, leaflets, publications, play a great role to improve the general knowledge of public on to improve the general knowledge of public on EU enlargement. EU enlargement.

SURVEYSURVEY

Ministry of European Integration in the frame of Ministry of European Integration in the frame of the Information and Communication Strategy in the Information and Communication Strategy in cooperation with the GTZ is preparing cooperation with the GTZ is preparing questionnaires for a broad survey.questionnaires for a broad survey.

It shall be addressed to public administration, It shall be addressed to public administration, business community, civil society and media. business community, civil society and media.

It shall identify in right time the problems of the It shall identify in right time the problems of the implementation of the SAA.implementation of the SAA.

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS Albanian people are optimistic about our country’s Albanian people are optimistic about our country’s

accession to the European Union. Their only doubt accession to the European Union. Their only doubt is how long it will take the process of integration is how long it will take the process of integration and membership. and membership.

The most informed group about the integration The most informed group about the integration process are the students and public administration. process are the students and public administration.

The most unaware groups are the elderly and the The most unaware groups are the elderly and the unemployed. unemployed.

Much more efforts are needed to reach these Much more efforts are needed to reach these groups.groups.

Explain to them what opportunities the EU offers.Explain to them what opportunities the EU offers. It will be necessary to orientate them in the right It will be necessary to orientate them in the right

and simple way. and simple way.