The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, based on parliamentary democracy. The United Kingdom consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, who has been in this position since 1952.

The United Kingdom has an area of 242,495 square kilometers and a population of 66.6 million. The capital of the country is London with a population of 10.3 million. Other important cities in the country are Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Lydia, Birmingham, etc.

The British Parliament consists of two rooms, the House of Lords, with about 800 members and House of Commons with 650 members. The country’s prime minister is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in parliament. The Prime Minister elects the members of his cabinet, who are formally appointed by the Queen. The United Kingdom is considered the fifth-largest economy in the world, referring to GDP.

The United Kingdom is a Permanent Member of the Security Council since its first session in 1946, is an EU member, but based on the June 2016 referendum results; currently status of BREXIT negotiations and internal political developments, UK will leave this organization within December 2020. The UK is one of the most active NATO members, also a member of the Commonwealth, G7, G20, OECD, WTO etc.

OVERVIEW

With changes in the early 1990s in Eastern Europe and especially with the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, Great Britain has significantly increased its role and engagement in the Western Balkans region. Together with the United States and other European countries, the UK has a special contribution to the peace and stability of the BP region.

Great Britain has been one of the first countries to contribute to the establishment of the rule of law, respect of human rights and the establishment of clear rules of the market economy in Albania after the 1990s. Clearly determined to support the country’s aspiration for Euro-Atlantic integration into NATO and the EU, the UK remains one of the special allies in this regard.

The London Summit in July 2018, was another indication of the role and attention of UK towards the WB region. Once again, this Summit reaffirmed the engagement of the UK in terms of increasing political, economic, diplomatic and security presence in the WB countries. This Summit was a test of what Prime Minister May repeated in several occasions that “. . . by leaving the EU, the UK does not leave Europe,” but its approach to Europe and especially to the Western Balkans will take on a new dimension.

BILATERAL RELATIONS

The diplomatic relations between Albania and Great Britain were established on November 8, 1921. The British government recognized the Albanian government after November 29, 1944, but the British mission left in April 1946 due to the limitations that the Albanian government of the time regarding the movement of members of this mission. The incident of the Corfu Channel, in May 1946, marks the final termination of these relations. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored on May 29, 1991, through a joint communiqué of both parties.

On 9 November 2021 it was celebrated the Centenary Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between our countries. During 2021 we have had an intensified political dialogue and high-level visits, including the visits of UK Home Secretary, Mrs. Priti Pattel (July 9, 2021) and Justice Minister, Mrs Etilda Gjonaj in UK (25-26 July 2021); the visit of Parliamentary under Secretary of State for European Neighborhood and the Americas Mrs. Wendy Morton MP, (11 – 13 October 2021) and the official visit of Interior Minister, Mr.Bledi Çuçi, in London (28-30 November 2021); Visit of PM Special Envoy for Western Balkan, Sir Stuart Peach, in Tirana (10 January 2022).

Both countries conduct regular political consultations and the last diplomatic consultations took place on June 28, 2019, in London.

Great Britain has consistently supported our country’s membership in NATO and the EU. Through its numerous co-operation programs, it has a special contribution to strengthening the security and rule of law in the country (financing projects supporting the judicial system and British assistance under the PAMECA III program), the qualification of Albanian youth in prestigious British universities, as well as in the British military high schools.

Exchange of high-level visits, excellent functioning of parliamentary diplomacy (Albania’s Friends Group was one of the first groups of friendship created in the British Parliament after the 2017 general elections), annual exercises of the armed forces of Albanian and UK are clear indicators of a solid cooperation relationship based on the general principles governing the relations between states and the Euro-Atlantic orientation of the two countries.

Co-operation between the two countries has expanded in the areas of border control, the fight against organized crime, including trafficking in human beings and illegal immigration.

We have an extension of the legal framework for bilateral cooperation during 2021, including the signing of the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement (signed on 05.02.2021 and entered into force on 03.05.2021); Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (signed in London, on 26.07.2021) and the Readmission Agreement (signed in Tirana, on 08.07.2021).

Bilateral co-operation in the field of defense is at very good levels. Conducting periodic military maneuvers, joint exercises on Albanian territory, the number of scholarships provided by the British for the education of our Army, including the Royal Navy College, are strong indicators of intensifying relations in this regard. Another indicator of strengthening co-operation in the field of defense is the opening 2 years ago of the British Armed Forces Office in Tirana.

Albania as a new Non-Permanent Member of the UNSC (2022-2023) will cooperate strongly with the UK for specific security issues that will occupy the SC agenda in the upcoming years.