Europe discusses local development in southern Albania

TIRANA, April 15 – The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission, Ambassador Helmuth Lohan started a four-day tour in the south of the country where he will take stock of EU-funded assistance.
During his visits to project sites, Ambassador Lohan will give special attention to the local communities in order to find out first hand about the impact of assistance projects in areas ranging from environmental clean-up to gender equality.
Lohan will also meet with business, civil society and academia representatives in the south to discuss with them the benefits and challenges of the integration process after the entry into force of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.
A meeting with the local business community will take place in Vlora where participants will discuss the significance of the entry into force of the SAA and its expected impact on business and the country’s development overall.
In Gjirokastra Lohan will meet with the teaching and student body of the university and with civil society actors to discuss with them the process of European integration, Albania’s state of affairs in the process and opportunities arising for these groups.
In Fier Lohan will visit the now cleaned up site of the nitrate fertilizer plant, owing to a 1.5 million euro EC-funded project. The plant has for a long time been polluting the city and exposing the population to hazardous contamination. The next project to visit is on gender equality and Vocational Education and Training for the Roma community, with a fund of 82,500 Euros, aiming at tackling the issues of poor education and unemployment through empowering women in the community.
In Vlora the ambassador will visit the recently constructed training centre for regional Vocational Education and Training; the Port Police Station and Customs Office which are currently being furnished and equipped to EU standards through a fund of more than 5 million Euros; and the Orikum ring road, currently being constructed through a fund of 500,000 Euros.
In Saranda, Minister of Justice Alibeaj and Ambassador Lohan will inaugurate the Saranda District Court, newly renovated due to a fund of 400,000 Euros. Last but not least, the Head of the EC will visit the site of the Border Crossing Point in Qaf롂ot렭 Konispol where works have just begun with a fund of more than 1 million Euros.