Despite Albania still being one of Europe’s poorest countries, it has had good economic growth since 1998 and some foreign companies have made direct investments there.
Another positive trend is that fewer people are emigrating. However, tens of thousands of families still depend on money sent by relatives who are working abroad.
Many Albanians are also moving away from the rural areas, where small-scale farming provides only enough food for daily needs, to the capital Tirana, which is the centre of the growth.
Albanians keen on EU and Nato
Engaging with the EU means a lot to Albanians, as does the fact that the country has recently been accepted as a member of Nato. One key issue for the EU is that the country’s political leadership continues to reform laws and the civil service. Albania aims to become a constitutional state, but legal proceedings in both criminal cases and civil law cases – such as those that concern right of possession – progress slowly.
Violent clan society
The weak state institutions are the principal reason for the difficulty in respecting many of the human rights. According to the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ latest human rights report, Albania continues to be a country characterized by violence and dominated by clans, despite its progress. The prisons are overcrowded, and corruption is widespread and often linked to organized crime. Many crime syndicates are involved in smuggling hard drugs and trafficking.
Unemployment at 14 per cent
The poverty is worst in the rural areas and in the northern part of the country. Many families have a low standard of living and unreliable access to electricity and drinking water. The sewage system is poor and the roads are deficient.
According to official statistics, unemployment was at 14 per cent in 2008. However, it is worth noting that many of those in employment work in the informal sector. Small-scale farming is another common source of income.
Government fighting corruption
There are many positive things to note regarding democratization and civil and political rights. The multi-party system has been introduced. There is good respect for freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.
The general safety level has also improved. The government is putting much effort into reforming the judicial system and combating the corruption that still exists.
Sweden’s focus areas in Albania
- Democracy and good governance
- Respect for human rights
- Natural resources and care of the environment
- Social development and security
Other links:
- What does non-governmental organization Transparency International (TI) do when it examines companies’ and others’ perceptions of corruption?
- The United Nations Development Programme measures human development and every year produces the Human Development Index (HDI) which is published in the Human Development Report (HDR). We support this work.
- What does the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch say about Albania?
