TIRANA, Feb. 9 – Sweden will support Albania in the next five years in key reforms towards economic development, strengthened democracy and a better environment in line with the country’s EU integration agenda. The deal was signed this week in Tirana by Albanian deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi and Chargà© d’Affaires of the Swedish Embassy, Johan Ndisi.
The development cooperation deal will be implemented until 2020, and provides the framework for Swedish development cooperation with Albania, which in 2016 amounts to approximately 7.5 million euro. The Swedish strategy guiding the cooperation identifies three key areas of support: economic development to promote EU-integration; human rights, democratic governance and gender equality; and environment and climate.
“Sweden has strongly supported the Albanian government in its efforts to strengthen democratic governance, institutional reforms oriented toward European standards, the implementation of fundamental human rights and conditions for a long-term sustainable growth protecting Albania’s natural resources,” said deputy PM Peleshi.
Sweden’s Chargà© d’Affaires Johan Ndisi said “the development cooperation will support Albania in addressing key challenges and undertake reforms that will help the country move forward in the European integration process.”
Sweden supports Albania with about 80 million SEK (€8.4 mln) per year and has provided aid for 15 years through Sida, the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency. Recent years’ development efforts have focused on democratic governance and human rights and natural resources and environment.
