Merita Toska

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the awareness, perceptions, and expectations of households and business communities regarding the green transition process in Albania. Although Albania is making efforts at the policy and institutional levels to transition towards a modern, climate-neutral, and resource-efficient economy, it is essential to understand the community’s perspective on this process. The study examines the complex relationship between Albania’s shift towards sustainability and adaptability, explicitly emphasising the overall awareness and attitudes towards this pivotal shift among households and business communities. Employing a comprehensive socio-economic survey targeting households and businesses occupying prefabricated buildings in three areas of Tirana, the research seeks to gauge the depth of awareness and readiness of these stakeholders regarding energy-efficient solutions. Central to the investigation is exploring perceptions and attitudes, including the willingness to invest in and pay for such solutions. Shedding light on these factors provides valuable insights into the socio-economic dynamics that shape Albania's path towards sustainability and resilience amid the imperatives of a green transition.

Keywords: Albania, green transition, community perceptions, energy efficiency

Merita Toska [merita_toska@universitetipolis.edu.al], Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development
Elona Karafili [elona_karafili@universitetipolis.edu.al], POLIS University Bylis 12 Str., Tirana: Albania
Kejt Dhrami [kejt_dhrami@co-plan.org], Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development
Fiona Imami [fiona_imami@universitetipolis.edu.al], POLIS University Bylis 12 Str., Tirana: Albania
Ogerta Gjiknuri [ogerta_gjitknuri@co-plan.org], POLIS University Bylis 12 Str., Tirana: Albania

Citation

APA: Toska, M., Karafili, E., Dhrami, K., Imami, F., & Gjiknuri, O. (2025). Community perspectives on green transition in Albania: a socio-economic survey of households and businesses in prefabricated buildings. Europa XXI, 49, 5. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.5
MLA: Toska, Merita, et al. "Community perspectives on green transition in Albania: a socio-economic survey of households and businesses in prefabricated buildings". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 5. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.5
Chicago: Toska, Merita, Karafili, Elona, Dhrami, Kejt, Imami, Fiona, and Gjiknuri, Ogerta. "Community perspectives on green transition in Albania: a socio-economic survey of households and businesses in prefabricated buildings". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 5. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.5
Harvard: Toska, M., Karafili, E., Dhrami, K., Imami, F., & Gjiknuri, O. 2025. "Community perspectives on green transition in Albania: a socio-economic survey of households and businesses in prefabricated buildings". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 5. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.5

Abstract

Just Green Transitions (JGT) have become a central pillar of the European Union’s response to climate change, seeking to reconcile its environmental ambition with social and spatial justice. While extensively debated within Member States, less attention has been paid to how this policy paradigm unfolds in candidate and neighbouring countries. This editorial introduces a thematic issue that critically examines the translation of JGT principles into governance arrangements, instruments and practices in the Western Balkan Region, a particularly fertile context in which to explore opportunities, tensions and limits. It situates the thematic issue within broader debates on Europeanisation, spatial justice, and sustainability transitions, outlining the conceptual framework and key challenges shaping JGT in the region. It argues that understanding how green transitions are negotiated under conditions of structural disadvantage and political fragmentation is essential to assessing whether Europe’s green transition can also be just beyond the EU borders.

This issue and its contribution are framed in the research project European HORIZON – WIDERA 2021-ACCESS-02-01, Foster Research Excellence for Green Transition in the Western Balkans – GreenFORCE Twinning of the Western Balkans, grant number: 101059411.

Keywords: Just Green Transitions, European Union, Western Balkan Region, European Green Deal, Europeanisation

Giancarlo Cotella [giancarlo.cotella@polito.it], Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino 39 Viale Mattioli, 10125 Turin: Italy
Marjan Nikolov [info@cea.org], Center for Economic Analyses Bul. Jane Sandanski 63/3; 1000 Skopje: North Macedonia
Merita Toska [merita_toska@universitetipolis.edu.al], Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development
Zora Živanović [zora.zivanovic@gef.bg.ac.rs], Department for Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 3/III, 11000 Belgrade: Serbia

Citation

APA: Cotella, G., Nikolov, M., Toska, M., & Živanović, Z. (2025). Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region. Europa XXI, 49, 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
MLA: Cotella, Giancarlo, et al. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
Chicago: Cotella, Giancarlo, Nikolov, Marjan, Toska, Merita, and Živanović, Zora. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12
Harvard: Cotella, G., Nikolov, M., Toska, M., & Živanović, Z. 2025. "Editorial: Unfolding Just Green Transitions in the Western Balkan Region". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 5-19. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.12

Abstract

Deemed instrumental in reducing GHG emissions in the upcoming decades, the transition towards electric mobility constitutes a well-articulated objective in multiple governance levels. The ability to reach the established goals for transport decarbonisation and climate change mitigation is broadly determined by consumer behaviour; therefore, understanding consumer preferences is fundamental. This study aims to explore consumer awareness, perceptions, preferences and public support for electric mobility in Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Information on the consumer's readiness to use electric vehicles, the eventual knowledge gap on the topic, the potential role of the government and the perceived barriers and concerns are gathered by making use of exploratory sequential mixed-method research, which combines insights from interviews with the primary data of a questionnaire-based survey conducted using the snowball non-probabilistic sampling technique. Electric mobility is emerging in the selected countries, and multiple uncertainties act as barriers to EV penetration. Findings suggest low awareness and knowledge of electric mobility and electric vehicles. Nevertheless, there is a positive attitude towards electric mobility, while costs, limited infrastructure, and frail confidence are restraints to their actual behaviour (switching to electric mobility, including EVs, e-bikes, and other alternatives). Public authorities can build confidence around e-mobility through incentivisation schemes, investments in public, accessible, affordable charging infrastructure, and adjustments in the regulatory framework. 

Keywords: electric mobility, consumer preferences, Western Balkans, decarbonisation, transport

Elona Karafili [elona_karafili@universitetipolis.edu.al], POLIS University Bylis 12 Str., Tirana: Albania
Flora Krasniqi [flora_krasniqi@universitetipolis.edu.al], POLIS University / Bylis 12 Str., Tirana: Albania
Merita Toska [merita_toska@universitetipolis.edu.al], Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development

Citation

APA: Karafili, E., Krasniqi, F., & Toska, M. (2025). The challenging transition to electric mobility. Consumer perceptions and preferences in selected Western Balkans countries. Europa XXI, 49, 6. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.6
MLA: Karafili, Elona, et al. "The challenging transition to electric mobility. Consumer perceptions and preferences in selected Western Balkans countries". Europa XXI, vol. 49, 2025, pp. 6. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.6
Chicago: Karafili, Elona, Krasniqi, Flora, and Toska, Merita. "The challenging transition to electric mobility. Consumer perceptions and preferences in selected Western Balkans countries". Europa XXI 49 (2025): 6. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.6
Harvard: Karafili, E., Krasniqi, F., & Toska, M. 2025. "The challenging transition to electric mobility. Consumer perceptions and preferences in selected Western Balkans countries". Europa XXI, vol. 49, pp. 6. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2025.49.6