Albania's EU Membership, Survey: 43% of businesses aren't aware of the costs

Screenshot from the study in Albanian, made by GIZ 

 Albania's membership in the European Union is still at a crossroads as a long process that it is not clear how long it will take. But the static attitude of being part of this family raises the question of how the business will face a completely new operating environment. A study by the Albanian Center for Competition and International Trade (ACIT) conducted with the support of the project "Support for Accession Negotiations in the Economic Chapters of European Legislation", funded by the German Government, implemented by GIZ sheds light on some of the most important issues related to business and EU membership.

According to the survey, 43% of businesses do not know if they will be able to afford the costs of membership, while 19% are convinced that they will not be able to afford them. Only 38% of businesses surveyed are convinced that they can afford the costs.

Preparation time for EU membership is considered necessary for businesses and most of them, at least 59% think that it will take you 4-7 years while 26% more than 8 years. A minority of 8 percent account for 1-3 years and less than a year 7% of businesses.

In terms of long-term benefits and whether they will exceed costs only 45% are convinced that yes, while 38% do not know and 17% do not think they will be exceeded.

Membership and time for this process is another survey question where 48% of businesses said that this will happen within 2030 while 25% within 2040, 27% predict that this will happen after 2040 or never.

In this context, in terms of problems that hinder Albania, businesses have listed as the main reason the weak institutions (34%), political culture (32%), poor economy and standards 30% and discrimination against Albania 4%.

In the case of membership, businesses see that the sectors that would benefit the most would be tourism with 33% and agriculture with 31%. Then come industrial production with 28% and services with 8%.

Among the main benefits of membership, businesses estimate that protection and legal certainty are the main ones with 34%, followed by an increase in turnover and exports by 31%, an increase in product quality by 24%, and an 11% reduction in production costs.

The main costs of membership with the highest level are those of compliance with EU regulations and standards with 47%, while the second is the pressure and competition of European products with 28% and investments in new technologies with 16%.

Information on the process and the European Union itself is largely provided by the European partners of the companies and then by the traditional media. The state is fourth in terms of information channels.

ACIT conducted the survey with a sample of 188 businesses through in-depth interviews. These businesses operate in 7 regions and belong to different sectors and have a different number of employees and annual turnover.