The European Union Delegation to Albania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Mayors of Albanian Municipalities, marked today the launch of a new initiative to support municipalities in the process of strengthening their governing skills in relation to the European integration. Municipalities for Europe, with a fund of about 800,000 Euros, will create 61 local European Offices (EU Corners) across the country over the next two years, helping local authorities and Albanian citizens with information on the EU, policies and its programs.
'We congratulate the 61 Albanian mayors, who have already appointed their staff members to coordinate issues related to the EU. In the coming weeks each municipality in Albania will have its own EU Corner, 'said Mario Mariani, Head of Co-operation at the EU Delegation in Albania. 'On its EU accession path, Albania can only benefit from the involvement of local government. If involved directly, local administrations and citizens can learn more, grasp the opportunities and face the challenges that European integration process embraces. The EU corners will contribute in bringing Albania, its citizens and the European Union closer to one another, 'said Mariani.
The EU pays more and more attention to the role that local government plays in the context of the country's European integration process. Municipalities for Europe have a focus on capacity building for local administrations, assisting in the establishment of the EU Corners in each of the 61 municipalities of Albania.
Municipalities for Europe kicks off within the framework of the European Week of Local Democracy which promotes and nurtures democratic participation at the grassroots level of society. The start of the project was accompanied by an open debate between the City Mayor of Lushnja and a youth group.
Context
The “Municipalities for Europe” project, being the first of its kind funded by the EU and being implemented in Albania, is an initiative aimed at empowering the Albanian government's governance skills in relation to European integration and assisting local authorities and Albanian citizens with information on the European Union, its policies and programs. To achieve this goal, the project will assist all municipalities in Albania through the creation of local EU offices (EU Corners); increasing knowledge about the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and other relevant EU funds for Albanian municipalities and citizens; increasing the skills of interested parties/stakeholders in the field, to benefit from IPA funds or other EU funds, eligible for Albanian municipalities or citizens, through training on project proposals drafting/design, proposal writing of and completion of application files/application procedures; increasing knowledge and understanding of EU policies, objectives, priorities, institutions and programs, and clarifying the myths and misconceptions about the EU accession process.
The project is fully endorsed by the Albanian central and local government, formally expressed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding signed on December 5, 2016 in the city of Durres.
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