• • October 27, 2025
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• • October 30, 2025

The Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania is organized a high-level conference in Tirana, on October 27-30, 2025, titled “Structural Change in the Western Balkans”. The region faces significant challenges due to digitalization, the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and the evolution of transportation technologies. At the same time, industries are under pressure to relocate in response to changing regulations, labor market conditions, and cost structures, developments that can have considerable effects on local economies. For the Western Balkans, structural change presents specific challenges. Structural change refers to the transformation and further development of how a country, an industry, or a market functions. It is reflected in shifts in the relative contributions of sectors such as agriculture, industry, and services to overall economic output. This process is shaped by societal values, historical circumstances, and regional preferences. In the Western Balkans, such changes can have profound impacts, including shifts in labor markets, new demands for skills, and challenges to social cohesion and political stability. Key drivers of structural change in the region include technological progress, demographic shifts, climate change, migration, international competition, and regional geopolitical dynamics. These factors often act simultaneously as both causes and consequences of structural changes, creating complex interdependencies that accelerate transformation. The aim of this conference was to offer a platform for high-level participants from the Western Balkans, Germany, the EU, the United States, and international and regional organizations to discuss structural change in the Western Balkans. This event was part of the “Western Balkans Initiative: Engagement for Progress and Stability” project, kindly supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.