New EU Information Centre opens in Tirana

TIRANA, Nov 25 – The new European Union information Center was inaugurated in Tirana.
Located in the former Bllok area for easy access, the new Center has been set up by the EU to bring the Union and Albania’s integration process closer to the citizens.
The Center will provide materials on the EU and integration, internet access, reading corners, all free of charge.
To improve understanding and enrich debate on the integration process, the Center will also host informative events with civil society actors.
The establishment of the EU Information Center will help the Delegation of the European Commission to Albania provide more information to the Albanian public on the European Union and Albania’s integration process.
Knowledge and understanding are essential if the country’s EU integration is to be a democratic and successful process enjoying the informed support of the population.
Apart from providing the opportunity for direct consultation on integration issues with the Center staff, publications in hard copy and electronic version, access to the internet, and a comfortable reading corner, the Center will cooperate with other actors and offer its premises for seminars, lectures, roundtables and conferences on EU matters.
The Center will thereby complement the current efforts of civil society actors to raise the understanding of Albania’s integration process, the benefits, steps, requirements and challenges.
Pierre Mirel, Director of the Directorate for Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo issues in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement, said that “integration into the EU is a matter for society as a whole, not simply the ruling elites. The conditions for membership, the required reforms and the functioning of the European Union and its policies regard all citizens of a potential candidate country. Informed citizens are instrumental for successful EU integration. And that is what we are investing in – Albania’s successful integration.”
Similar services to those of the Center are also available at EU Info Points already established in seven university towns in Albania (Tiran묠Elbasan, Shkod첬 Durr쳬 Vlor묠Gjirokast첬 Kor諩. All together, the Center and the Info Points will reach Albanian citizens throughout the country, will facilitate the flow of information and increase the scope of debate on European matters.