“The days of Puglia in Albania”, strengthens bilateral cooperation between Albania and Italy

TIRANA, Dec. 13-14 – A four-days event addressed the dynamics of regional cooperation and focused on the potential of further common programs between Albania and the southern Italian region of Puglia. Among the main participants was the Minister for the Mediterranean, Silvia Godelli. The highest administrative representative, the president of the Puglia region, Nichi Vendola greeted the activity as a two-dimensional event, that “does not only conclude a year of cooperation but also explores its future.”
Vendola said that the European integration of the Western Balkans is a key step in creating a future Europe and that the collaboration of the region of Puglia with Albania has always been an exemplary step in that direction. The first day was dedicated to important panel discussions on energy and transportation where Ministers of the Economy and Transportation, respectively Genc Ruli and Lulzim Basha, held keynote speeches. The energy debate held in the morning session, addressed alternative ways of energy, such as solar and eolic ones, developed in the region of Puglia as part of their New Energy Plan. The afternoon session addressed the challenges of the 8th Corridor. In the same day Minister of Health, Makism Cikuli gave a press conference on the potential of collaboration in the field of medicine.
One of the most important aspects of the cooperation between the two countries has been the cultural dimension. As part of the support that the Puglia region is giving for the reconstruction of the National Museum of Albania, according to European standards for museums, an exhibition of the famous photos of the Alinari brothers was promoted in the halls of the museum.
The exhibition entitled “The Mediterranean of the photographers” is realized as a joint effort of ANSAN and represents Italian history from the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. The larger Alinari archive is located in Florence. The first day was finalized with the press conference of CERATONIA (Conservation of Endemic Rarities and Trans-border Organism for Nature of Italy and Albania), the Mediterranean Universities Community (CUM) and the experimental research centre for agriculture “Basile Caramia”.
The second day was dedicated to the presentation of the most important activities in the context of the Interreg Program. It also brought the experience of Discussion Circles and INFOPOINT EUROPA as two successful practices of the ‘Bibliodocinn” project. The seminar on Friday addressed the food safety standards and the agricultural cooperation possibilities between Albania and Puglia. On Saturday the topic of the discussion was fisheries.