Europe helps Tirana absorb EU funds

TIRANA, March 29 – A 1 million euro EC-funded project was launched last week by the European Commission aiming at enhancing the capacities of Albania’s central administration to manage EU funds, specifically those under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), which amounts to more than 200 million Euros for the 2008-2010 period.
That project will run until July 2010 and another 1.5 million Euros have already been earmarked for the continuation of assistance in this area.
Decentralized management of IPA funds is fostered by the European Commission for two main reasons. First, as a sign of local ownership of assistance. Second, decentralized management of IPA funds allows the beneficiary countries to groom themselves to successfully carry primary responsibility of membership, management of the so-called Structural and Cohesion Funds that EU Member States receive to better integrate their poorer regions and infrastructure.
Efficient and transparent management of these funds relies heavily on a well-trained, professional and adequate administration as well as a clear legal framework. Albania’s administrative capacities in this respect are at an infant stage and the project “Preparation of the Albanian Authorities for the EU’s Decentralized Implementation System (DIS)” is already taking measures to improve the situation. An overall evaluation of the current state of affairs has been conducted and recommendations have been drawn up. The recommendations will guide the experts’ work with the Albanian authorities to tackle the gaps in the legislative framework for decentralized management, in the organizational set up as well as in staff numbers, qualifications and profiles.
Alongside the work for the necessary legislative and organizational set up, various trainings will be conducted for each of the operating units of decentralized management. Also, activities meant to transfer the know-how and best practices of other countries will be organized. In order for these activities to serve their intended purpose, to enhance Albania’s administrative capacities to manage EU financial assistance for the many years to come, employment stability in the sector is absolutely essential.
“All of the efforts and funds in this field, as well as in other areas where the EC is intervening, can easily go in vain if stability in the public sector is not assured, if the people we invest in today are not there tomorrow to make that investment beneficial for Albania. I therefore encourage all parties in this project, all parties in Albania’s integration process to join efforts and do their part to make this a long-term successful and sustainable Endeavour,” said head of the European Commission Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Helmuth Lohan.