Albania has made progress in socio-economic development during 2014. Economic development and EU integration have been amongst the main priorities of the government’s program. In June 2014, the EU Foreign Ministers approved the report of European Commission to give the candidate status to Albania.

Albania continues to be affected by the global economic crisis in many ways as lowering of the GDP’s economic growth, significant reduction of remittances, high inflation rate, more unfavorable loans, etc. However, compared to other countries in the region, Albania has suffered less negative impacts of the crisis. Some of the factors that have so far prevented negative impacts of the crisis in Albania are: a consolidated banking system, growth of the export volume, foreign investments, increased number of active businesses, facilitation of the business from fiscal barriers, etc.

In the field of social dialogue, the activity of the National Labour Council (NLC) has continued. The re-composition of NLC, at the end of 2013, from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, with a new composition of the Council, aligned with the representation criteria as defined by ILO standards, is not approved completely by the social partners, and especially trade unions. Bipartite social dialogue remains weak, especially in the private sector. Trade Unions have enhanced their activity for employees’ protection and collective agreements, but have not managed to overcome the rift between them.