Strengthening Structural Reform Processes in Albania through FISR2 Learning Support
As part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks” (FISR2), we are happy to share the reflection, prepared by Eva Doda, Director of the Directorate of Macroeconomic Analysis and Fiscal Sustainability at Albania’s Ministry of Finance. It describes what the project’s country-specific learning opportunities meant for the Albanian team and how these learning moments supported clearer processes, stronger coordination, and more consistent progress in delivering structural reforms. Through targeted learning initiatives, the Albanian team applied practical tools and benefited from peer learning. This helped improve how reforms are costed, assessed, implemented, and reported, and supported the preparation of required work under the Economic Reform Programme (ERP) and the Reform Agenda.
"Being part of the FISR2 project has been a genuinely valuable experience for our institution, particularly in the preparation of Chapter 5 of the ERP. The process was characterized by close and continuous cooperation with the CEF, creating a structured and highly productive framework for technical support, peer learning, and institutional coordination. This partnership has not only strengthened the analytical quality of Chapter 5, but has also helped ensure its strong alignment with EU economic governance requirements.
Our cooperation formally began in June 2025 with a joint coordination workshop involving CEF and the relevant line ministries. This initial engagement was essential in establishing a shared methodological understanding, clarifying the objectives and structure of Chapter 5, and identifying the key reforms to be developed under the Reform Agenda. Equally important, the workshop fostered strong inter-institutional coordination and enabled early alignment between national reform priorities and EU policy expectations.
Building on this foundation, collaboration with CEF continued through regular technical exchanges and targeted expert support. During this phase, selected reforms were further elaborated and refined, with particular emphasis on strengthening analytical justifications, ensuring data consistency, and improving the assessment of fiscal and macroeconomic impacts. This hands-on and iterative approach significantly increased our confidence in the robustness and credibility of the proposed measures.
A key milestone in the process was the on-site visit of CEF experts to the Ministry in December 2025, which marked the final stage of work on Chapter 5. The visit provided practical, hands-on assistance for finalizing the chapter, validating analytical content, and resolving remaining technical issues in direct cooperation with responsible teams. This intensive support proved decisive in completing the chapter on time and at a high technical standard.
Overall, our participation in FISR2 project and cooperation with CEF throughout last year has been extremely beneficial. It has contributed to strengthened institutional capacity, improved analytical practices, and the delivery of a more coherent, evidence-based, and credible Chapter 5. We see this experience as a strong example of the value of regional cooperation and peer-supported reform, and as a meaningful contribution to Albania’s economic reform efforts and its dialogue with the European Commission."