Download Albania - Europa.eu

Albania
Bilateral relations in agriculture
Main Country Indicators 2013
Albania
2
Total area (km )
2
GDP (current USD)
GDP per capita (current USD)
EU28
28 750
218 727
4 385 992
2.7
18.2
506.7
101.2
92.6
120
12.9 billion
94.7 billion
17.3 trillion
4 652
31 036
34 240
Population (mio)
Population density (per km )
All Western
1
Balkan countries
Sources: Eurostat, World Bank
1
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo* (*This
designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo
Declaration of Independence)
Economic importance of agriculture (2011)
Albania
2
Agricultural land (km )
EU28
12 010
1 878 817
Agricultural land as proportion of land area (%)
43.8
44.3
Arable land as % of land area
22.7
25.6
2.7
2.8
41.5 **
5*
21.8 ***
1.6 *
Permanent cropland (% of land area)
Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)
Agriculture, value added (% of GDP)
Sources: World Bank * year 2012, ** year 2010, *** year 2013
Trade Statistics
EU28 exports of agricultural products to Albania (2013): EUR 333 million
EU28 imports of agricultural products from Albania (2013): EUR 45 million
More statistical information
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/trade-analysis/statistics/outside-eu/albania_en.pdf
Latest update November 2014
Agriculture and Rural Development in Albania
Agriculture is one of the main sectors of the Albanian economy, generating approximately 17.7% of the
country's GDP, and providing employment to around 55% of the total employed.
Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) is 1.16 mio ha, which is 40.5% of the total land area of the country.
About half of the UAA is arable land (567 000 ha), 43% is permanent grassland (505 300 ha) and 8%
(91 350 ha) is land under permanent crops.
Agricultural production has increased at an average rate of 3-3.5% since 2003. The increase in yields has
been substantial for grapes, potatoes, milk from cattle and goats, eggs, fruits and fodder. Fruit
production (including grapes) increased by 70% between 2000 and 2008, animal production by 21% and
arable crops by 10% (even though wheat areas decreased markedly). The production of vegetables has
increased notably, particularly in greenhouses.
The most predominant problems are: migration from rural areas, very limited size of holdings (average
of 1.2 ha - compared to 14 ha in EU-28), poor marketing of products, underdeveloped irrigation and
drainage systems, low technological level, weak organisation of farmers and low level of development
of the processing industry. In general there is low interest for investment in agricultural activities.
EU agricultural trade with Albania
The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) put into contractual provisions the preferences
granted under the Autonomous Trade Measures applied since 2000, by which most Albanian
agricultural products had duty and quota free access to the EU. The exceptions were: live bovine
animals and meat of bovine animals, sugar and wine (for sugar and wine tariff quotas were agreed).
Regarding imports from the EU, the two sides agreed on:

Elimination of the customs tariffs for the products defined as non-sensitive

Gradual liberalization for the mid sensitive products in the transition period lasting until 2010

Constant customs protection for the highly sensitive products, and duty free quotas for common
wheat and wine.
In spite of the favorable treatment Albania has a significant trade deficit in agricultural products with
the EU, which in the recent years is being decreasing.
In 2013, the product groups accounting for the largest share of agricultural and food imports (in value)
of Albania were: Preparation of cereals, flour, starch or milk, fruits and nuts, live animals and fats and
oils.
Out of Albania's total agricultural and food exports, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, raw hides and skins
and other animal products were the chapters with the largest value.
The country remains a net importer of agricultural and food products.
EU-Albania relations
Albania participates in the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) and in 2006 signed a Stabilization
and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU that entered into force in April 2009. In 2009 Albania
submitted its formal application for EU membership. In its 2013 progress report, the Commission
recommended that Albania be granted EU candidate status, on the understanding that Albania
continues to take action in the fight against organised crime and corruption. In June 2014 the country
received candidate status.
As a potential candidate country Albania received assistance under components I (Transition assistance
and Institution Building) and II (Cross Border Cooperation). The Multi-Annual Indicative Planning
Document (MIPD) 2011-2013 for Albania under IPA allocates to Albania a total amount of
EUR 288.8 million. Of this amount 89% was directed to projects under IPA component I Transition
Assistance and Institution Building; the rest funded Cross Border Cooperation projects.
General information about EU-trade with Western Balkans can be found here:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/regions/western-balkans/