The other project consists in assessing the compliance with the criteria set out in the framework of the “Payment aspects of financial inclusion”. By complying with the criteria from the involved stakeholders, it aims to increase the number of households and enterprises (mainly the small ones) that have a bank account or a payments account to conduct various transactions. In addition to the above, for a broader review of the remittances across all its dimensions, the Bank of Albania commits today in the framework of this meeting to produce a dedicated publication, which will be presented every June, a period which coincides with the International Day of Family Remittances, 16 June. Last but not least, considering the coordination among state authorities as very important, as well as the constant communication with the private sector, we are signing today the Memorandum of Understanding. It is aimed at raising the awareness, facilitating dialogue and fostering effective cooperation between the parties on issues related to remittances from the Albanian diaspora, contributing to economic development. The joint engagement we are initiating today is the first necessary step of a development platform for the empowerment and effective use of remittances. In conclusion, I would like to underline once again that it is time that we show more care, appreciation and gratitude to tens of thousands of Albanians abroad, who, through sacrifice, continue to contribute to the welfare of our nation, sending a part of their savings to their families back home.
The paradox of the Eurozone The Eurozone paradox is that the best possible members of the club are the countries that are so stable themselves in monetary and economic terms that they don’t need “to buy in stability and credibility”. Such countries have fewer and fewer reasons to adopt the euro. Conversely, the more a country begs to have the euro, the bigger the problem it will represent. This explains why almost no one is conducting a euro debate in Sweden, even though it does not have a derogation and many would like to see it in the Eurozone. Canonically, the same goes for us: either we can continue to stabilise ourselves, in which case we don’t need the euro, or we will destabilise ourselves, but in that case we will potentially harm others in the euro club and Eurozone membership will be a hindrance in bad times. There’s no story in our case The Baltic states took the euro as a geopolitical and security safeguard and paid an economic price for permanently fixing their currencies to it. Slovenia wanted to cut itself off from the Western Balkans. Slovakia wanted to seal the reforms of former Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda. Germany gained unification in exchange for the euro. The southern countries (Italy, France, and Spain) gained the stability of the German mark because they were unable to create such a currency at home.