National Conference: European Integration and Civic Engagement for Local Democracy

On March 5th, 2023, we hosted the National Conference: “European Integration and Civic Engagement for Local Democracy”. This event was organized in the framework of the project: “Social Contract 2023: Strengthening Citizen Engagement in Local Governance”, which is supported by Olof Palme International Centre and the Swedish Government and the National Endowment for Democracy. Representatives of the central and local government, diplomatic representatives, civil society organizations from Albania, the Region and Europe, as well as various Agencies that operate in Albania for the strengthening of local democracy participated in the conference.

We wish to express our warm gratitude to all participants, representatives of the central and local government, diplomatic representatives, civil society organizations from Albania, the Region and Europe, as well as various Agencies that operate in Albania for the strengthening of local democracy, which brought an extraordinary contribution to this important event. Thank you for your contribution to the panel, H.E. Mr. Niklas Ström, Swedish Ambassador to Albania; Mrs. Marie Augouy, Program Manager, Local Governance and Regional Development, European Union delegation to Albania, Mr. Johan Schmidt, Manager of the Western Balkans Regional Program, Olof Palme International Center. It was a great pleasure for us to welcome in this conference representatives of the central and local governance, Mrs. Romina Kuko, Deputy Minister of Interior, Chairwoman of the Tirana Municipal Council, Mr. Ferit Ringaj deputy mayor of Puka Municipality, Klevis Kaso deputy mayor of Vlora Municipality, Mrs. Keti Luarasi deputy mayor of Tirana Municipality. Thank you to the agencies and organizations from the region, Mr. Boran Ivanovski, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS), Mrs. Katica Janeva, European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), Mrs. Elira Salihu from Democracry Plus organization, Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Megi Reçi, Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM); Mr. Fatlum Nurja from the Strong Municipalities program, Mrs. Jolanda Trebicka from the Municipalities for Europe program; colleagues of the POP network. Thank you to all our citizens’ groups from Puka, Vlora, Kukes, Tirana, Shkodra, Elbasan, Vau i Dejes, Korça, Durres and Fier which traveled with our partner organizations and became part of such an important event. Young Intellectuals, Hope (IRSH), “New Epoch” center Fier, CSDC Durres, Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC), Vlora Youth Center, Youth Movement for Democracy Puke, Woman in Development Korçë, Another Vision Association, Easy Steps, Center for Youth Progress.

By visiting this link, you can watch the full Conference. By clicking here, you can read the Newsletter.

Thank you for your continuous support and cooperation in promoting local democracy and European integration!