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NATO and Albania actively cooperate in a range of areas, with a particular emphasis on defence and security sector reform, as well as support for wider democratic and institutional reform. The country joined the Membership Action Plan (MAP) in 1999 and aspires to join the Alliance. In April 2008, Albania was invited to start accession talks with the Alliance.
NATO Allies signed accession protocols with Albania on 9 July 2008 and the ratification process is ongoing. During the period leading up to accession, NATO will be involving Albania in Alliance activities to the greatest extent possible, and will continue to provide support and assistance, including through the Membership Action Plan.
Beyond the focus on reform, another important area of cooperation is the country’s support for NATO-led operations. Albania began contributing to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in 2003. The country also contributed to the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1996 until its replacement by the European Union’s Operation Althea in 2007. Albania hosted a logistics support command to facilitate Allied peacekeeping operations in the Kosovo theatre, which became a regional military headquarters, NATO HQ Tirana, in 2002.
In the MAP framework, Albania sets out its reform plans and timelines in its Annual National Programme (ANP). Key areas include political, military and security-sector reforms. Important priorities are efforts to meet democratic standards, support for reducing corruption and fighting organized crime, judicial reform, improving public administration and promoting good-neighbourly relations. NATO Allies provide feedback on the envisaged reforms and evaluate their implementation.
More…NATO-Albania relations date back to 1992, when Albania joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (later renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997). Relations expanded when Albania joined the Partnership for Peace in 1994. Albania played an important role in supporting Allied efforts to end the humanitarian tragedy in Kosovo and secure the peace after the air campaign. Bilateral cooperation has developed progressively in light of the country’s membership aspirations and its participation in the Membership Action Plan since April 1999. Political and public support for accession to NATO has always been very high (supported by well over 95 per cent of the population). In April 2008, Albania was invited to start accession talks with the Alliance. NATO Allies signed accession protocols with Albania on 9 July 2008 and the ratification process is ongoing.
NATO HQ Tirana, which was established in 2002 to contribute to the command and control of KFOR, also provides advice, assistance and support to the Albanian government in its defence reforms efforts.
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