Government Allocates EU Money For Infrastructure Projects

TIRANA, Aug 25 – The government said last week that it was going to invest some 81.2 million Euros which was received from the European Union.
The EU has set aside 212 million Euros for Albania for the 2007-2009 period.
This year’s money will be spent for the reform of the institutions and the inter-border cooperation (70.9 million and 10.3 million respectively). Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that most of the money would be spent on big road projects, including, possibly, the main project where Rreshen-Kalimash links the Durres port to Kosova. Rural roads and water supply systems would be other areas of investment, according to the premier. Berisha said that between 14.2 to 18 million Euros would be spent for the reform of such agencies as ERT, ERE, AMF; and 28 to 35 million for large infrastructure projects.
The rest of the funds in the grant will be earmarked for projects that will tackle institutional development and strengthening of the free market.
Albania has one of the least developed road infrastructures in Europe, a drawback when trying to attract much needed foreign investments.