www.eeas.europa.eu EU and Albania signed today a Financing Agreement totalling €64 million
to support key reforms in the areas of rule of law and human rights, and improve infrastructure.
This will be complemented by another agreement to be signed later this year with a value of
€17 million. Over the course of the next three years, the Albanian authorities will be able to
benefit from EU assistance within the framework of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance
(IPA) 2013 to support their efforts for improvements in strategic areas. More specifically, the
funding will target six important areas: justice and home affairs, public administration reform,
transport, environment and climate change, employment and social inclusion, and agriculture
and rural development. Identified as a result of continuous dialogue with the government, civil
society and other donors, these areas of intervention target Albania’s EU integration priorities
and economic development. The total amount provided by the EU to Albania since 1991
amounts to more than €1.4 billion, thus making it by far the biggest partner of the country.
€16 million will be devoted to the justice and home affairs sector to strengthen the rule of law, support the independence, efficiency and accountability of judicial institutions, and enhance the fight against organised crime. The public administration reform will benefit from €9 million. €2 million will be invested in the transport sector, with the objective of establishing a unified road network connecting rural communities to the main national and regional transport lines. €8 million will be dedicated to environment and climate change to strengthen biodiversity protection and prepare selected Albanian local governments for the reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal of waste. Considering that vulnerable groups are usually hit the hardest by times of crisis, the EU has earmarked €6.5 million for employment and social inclusion to support the advisory services provided to small and medium enterprises, as well as vocational education. €36 million will be devoted to the agriculture and rural development sector, and to improve water supply systems, while another €4 million will be dedicated to other horizontal activities, such as the protection of cultural and natural heritage of the Lake Ohrid cross-border region.
Following the signature ceremony, held today in the presence of Minister of European Integration Klajda Gjosha, the Head of EU Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Ettore Sequi pointed out that: “We expect our assistance to yield tangible results and to provide effective support to the country in delivering on EU-related reforms”. “Addressing the five key priorities, notably implementing public administration and justice reforms, making further determined efforts in the fight against corruption and organised crime, taking effective measures to reinforce protection of human rights and implement property rights, is of a fundamental importance”, added Ambassador Sequi, “not only for Albania’s obligations during the accession process, but also for its ability to attract foreign investments and for the quality of governance enjoyed by Albanian citizens”.
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