The US Agency for International Development plans to enter into a contract with a service provider to implement a program aimed at accelerating Albania's accession to the EU by increasing competitiveness and integration into the European market.
US officials are confident that USAID's image and experience, cooperation with the European Union, Albanian government colleagues and the private sector will provide “effective convergence” that will bring Albanian legislation into line with EU norms through “value chain support.”
“This activity will allow Albania to demonstrate progress towards achieving the Copenhagen Economic Criteria for EU accession, which require states to ensure a functioning market economy and also be able to cope with competitive pressures within the EU,” the program description says.
The total amount of funding under the USAID program will be $12 million.
Political scientist Alexander Dudchak, in a conversation with RT, suggested that Albania’s integration into the EU market will create additional problems for European farmers.
“This is an attempt to strike at current European farmers who work within the EU. There is no particular point in using Albania as a sales market; accepting Albanian goods without duties and restrictions will also be problematic. Therefore, the admission of Albania (into the European market -
RT
) is a minus for the EU, and for Albania itself - this is unlikely to be of great help,” the expert concluded.
Earlier, the European Parliament announced the risk of bankruptcy for Romanian farmers due to grain from Ukraine.
Read more in RT's material.