Helmuth Lohan becomes new European Commission Delegation head in Tirana

TIRANA, Sept. 12 – Ambassador Helmuth Lohan, 59, is the new head of the EC Delegation office in Tirana. Lohan is an economist by training. He joined the European Commission in 1978. His first assignments were in the Commission’s economics department. Later on, Mr.Lohan worked on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as spokesman for the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, and as Economic Counsellor in the European Commission’s Delegation in Moscow. In the past years, Mr. Lohan has worked as Head of Unit for Regional Programs in the Enlargement Directorate General of the European Commission in Brussels.
Mr. Lohan is German by origin. He is married and has two children.
Lohan’s arrival comes at a delicate and interesting moment in the tiny Balkan country. Albania signed in June 12 the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, which is considered as a first step toward full membership. Earlier this month the deal was ratified by the European Parliament. Now all member countries should ratify it before it comes into power. Albania should, however, fulfill hundreds of pages of duties to comply with standards of the EU member countries and requirements, a process that may take at least ten years.
Lohan also comes at a critical political timing in the country. Though not directly involved in the political affairs the EC delegation office in Tirana has always been a key player in the country’s politics. The recent mediation, together with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, between the two main political parties to resume reforms on the electoral law was a significant case. EC delegation office is also a direct monitor of the country’s integration efforts and the direct negotiator in the process