Albania and Croatia are NATO member countries and bilateral relations are based on a cooperation that is constantly intensifying in all areas of mutual interest. Integration into the European Union is a major priority of our foreign policy and Croatia, as a friendly country, fully supports Albania in this process, based on the European Partnership document, signed between the two governments.
Albania, known as a country that has played and plays a constructive and moderate role in the region, considers Croatia an important partner not only bilaterally, but also regionally, evaluating it as an important actor for the developments in the Balkans. Western. The future of the region is European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Albania appreciates Croatia’s support in terms of European integration and believes that this will continue for the next phase: the opening of membership negotiations.
Strengthening economic cooperation and increasing commercial exchanges remains a challenge for the future. Energy, tourism, transport, agriculture, culture and art are some of the important areas of this cooperation.
History of bilateral relations
Albania recognized the new state of Croatia on 21.01.1992 and our two countries established diplomatic relations on 25.08.1992.
Relations between Albania and Croatia are considered excellent and there is no open issue between them. An intense political dialogue takes place between the parties, regarding the relations between the two countries, the situation in the region and beyond. High-level and very high-level visits, as well as diplomatic consultations, are frequent and constructive.
Croatia is an important ally for Albania in the region, with which attitudes and positions on regional issues and beyond are on the same line. Croatia has been a fellow traveler in the NATO membership process and, between the two countries, a close cooperation develops within the framework of reforms in the field of defense and national security.
Croatia’s accession to the EU, on July 1, 2013, is a major achievement and historic event for the entire region. Albania is interested in further expanding cooperation and benefiting from the Croatian experience in the framework of European integration and especially in the preparation of the negotiation process.
There is an ever-increasing interest from both sides for the intensification of economic cooperation, trade exchanges, cultural, educational cooperation, etc. About 42 agreements have been signed with Croatia.
Relying on foreign policy, on cooperation and mutual support during the joint efforts for membership in NATO, on the attitude towards Kosovo and its citizens as a whole, but also on the new political balances in the region, the place it occupies and the role it plays and from history of relations and its positioning in the region, Croatia is a NATO ally for Albania in the region, and relations with it can be transformed into preferential relations.
Economic cooperation
Relations with Croatia occupy an important place in Albania’s regional politics. We intend to intensify the political dialogue with this country at all levels, both in the framework of bilateral relations and in the framework of regional cooperation initiatives.
Croatia is one of the most important countries in the Balkan region, especially because it is the axis that connects Tirana with Europe via the land route. There are all possibilities and work must be done to intensify stronger economic and commercial relations as well as to encourage investments in the exchange of goods between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Albania, the increase of commercial activities, taking into account the growing role of the sector private, to intensify the cooperation between the Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Albania, to promote their products at local and international fairs and to inform the business community about the opportunities that exist in their countries relevant.
Albania and Croatia are part of several strategic projects for the region, such as the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor, also known as the Blue Corridor, the IAP (Ionian-Adriatic) Pipeline, and they also have increased cooperation in the field of tourism and in other areas with common interest.
Statistical data show that the trade volume between the two countries during 2014 was 46.33 million Euros. According to the National Registration Center, there is a growing number of Croatian companies that invest or have their physical presence in Albania, in areas such as industry, construction of tourist villages, marketing and trade, consulting, information technology, etc., such as other Croatian investments in our country are also welcome. Croatian direct investments in Albania for 2013 touch the figure of 13.87 million Euros.
Also, private Albanian companies have continuously increased their interest in the Croatian market, targeting a new market that is already part of the European Union.
Signed agreements
1. Treaty on friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, signed on 10.05.1993, ratified by law no. 7737, dated 21.07.1993.
2. Agreement on economic cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 10.05.1993, entered into force on 16.04.1994, approved by decision no. 278, dated 14.06.1993.
3. Agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia on the promotion and protection of investments, signed on 10.05.1993, entered into force on 16.04.1994, approved by decision no. 279, dated 14.06.1993.
4. Cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia in the field of the fight against terrorism, illegal drug trafficking and organized crime, signed on 14.12.1993, entered into force on 14.07.1998.
5. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the abolition of diplomatic and service visas, signed on 01.03.1994, approved on 12.01.1995, temporarily applied from the dates of signature, entered into force on 03.08.1995 .
6. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for international road transport, signed on 02.12.1994, is temporarily implemented from 05.12.1994.
7. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the elimination of double taxation in relation to capital income taxes, signed on 02.12.1994, ratified by law no. 7937, dated 24.05.1995.
8. Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 02.12.1994, entered into force on the date of signing, ratified by law no. 7987, dated 13.09.1995.
9. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on cooperation in the field of tourism, signed on 01.02.1994, entered into force on 16.02.2006, approved by decision no. 143, dated 05.04.1994.
10. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Croatia amending the maritime transport agreement signed on 02.12.1994, entered into force on 22.01.2007.
11. Agreement on educational, cultural and scientific cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 01.02.1994, entered into force on 25.05.1995.
12. Protocol on cooperation in the field of higher education between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia for the school years 1994-1997, signed on 02.12.1994, entered into force on the date of signing .
13. Cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, signed on 26.06.1995, entered into force on the date of signing.
14. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for air services, signed on 02.08.1995, entered into force on 23.06.2005.
15. Consular Convention between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, signed on 14.09.1996.
16. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine, signed on 23.04.1998.
17. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on cooperation in the field of plant protection, signed on 18.08.1999.
18. Cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 18.08.1999, entered into force on the date of signing.
19. Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of Agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Administration of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 29.01.2007.
20. Protocol on cooperation in the field of education between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Ministry of Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia for the academic years 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, signed on 26.03.2001, entered into force on the date of signing.
21. Free trade agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, signed on 27.09.2002, entered into force on 01.06.2004.
22. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of Croatia on mutual customs cooperation, signed on 27.10.2003, entered into force on 01.06.2004.
23. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on cooperation in the field of health and medicine, signed on 27.10.2003, entered into force on 06.09.2007.
24. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on readmission of persons whose stay is illegal, signed on 28.01.2003, entered into force on 15.06.2005.
25. Memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of environmental protection between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 17.06.2004, entered into force on 29.08.2006.
26. The protocol of cooperation in the field of integration between the Ministries of Integration, signed on 31.05.2004, entered into force on the date of signing.
27. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Croatia and the office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Albania, signed on 30.03.2005, entered into force on the date of signing.
28. Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of Agriculture between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Administration of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 29.01.2007.
29. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the mutual protection of classified information, signed on 19.12.2008, entered into force on 16.07.2009.
30. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia “On the gainful employment of family members of diplomatic missions and consular posts”, signed on 10.02.2009, entered into force on 01.09.2009.
31. Protocol between the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia on the implementation of the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the readmission of persons whose stay is illegal”, signed on 10.02.2009, entered into force on the date of signature.
32. Additional protocol between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on amendments to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the promotion and mutual protection of investments, signed on 10.02.2009, entered into effective on 01.07.2013.
33. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the amendments to the bilateral economic agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 10.02.2009, will enter into force on the date of accession of Croatia in the EU. (07.01.2013)
34. Memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of protection from natural and technological disasters between the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies in the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Albania and the National Directorate of Protection and Rescue of the Republic of Croatia, signed on 23.02.2010, entered into force on the date of signature.
35. The cultural cooperation program between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, signed on 27.02.2010, entered into force on the date of signing.
36. Cooperation agreement between the two diplomatic academies of the MFA of the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, signed on 29.03.2010, entered into force on the date of signing.
37. Protocol of the third session of the joint Albanian-Croatian intergovernmental committee on commercial and economic cooperation, signed on 06.12.2010.
38. Cooperation plan between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Albania and the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Croatia in the field of medicine and health for the years 2010-13, signed on 03.12.2010.
39. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for the settlement of the debt of the Republic of Albania vis-à-vis the Republic of Croatia”, signed on 06.03.2012 by the Croatian side, while it was signed by the Albanian side on 10.04.2012 , according to Article 8, enters into force on 02.08.2012.
40. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on mutual assistance in case of major disasters and accidents”, signed on 07.10.2011, entered into force on 28.09.2012.
41. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on mutual recognition of driving licenses”, signed on 23.01.2012.
42. Protocol between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia “On changes to the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters”, signed on 30.11. 2013.
43. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia “On police cooperation”, signed on 20.01.2014.
44. Agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the European Partnership”, signed in Zagreb, on 21.03.2014, entered into force on 17.11.2014.
45. Protocol of the Fourth Session of the Albanian-Croatian Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Commercial and Economic Cooperation, signed on 05.05.2015.
