TIRANA, June 21/ATA/ Head of the European Union delegation in Tirana, Ambassador Luigi Soreca said today during an event in Kamza that, “Today, we launch the EU-backed water sector programme. There is a 25.5 million euros grant and is co-financed by Germany and Switzerland”.
“This is a very important moment in the history of modern Albania. This programme, which is the largest single programme co-financed by the EU in Albania, in addition to the funding that has been made for reconstruction after the earthquake, is very important for 3 reasons”, he said.
“First and foremost, this programme brings drinking water and better sanitary, hygienic and environmental conditions for many citizens in Albania.
Secondly, this programme is an example of how the EU works, building partnerships, in this case with our friends Germany, Switzerland and EU member states. So we have come together in order to address the whole water and wastewater sector going beyond an individual, or single project. The programme has the ambition to give a radical impact to the Albanian sector.
Third, this programme will help Albania to move closer to the EU, supporting the approximation with EU standards and EU legislation, in the field of water and wastewaters, i.e. drinking water and of wastewater “, stressed Soreca.
“The EU is launching a strategy with the objective of zero pollution and the water programme we are launching today has exactly this objective. 1/3 of the investments are focused on the collection and treatment of wastewater”, he said.
“During the last 10 years, the EU has given Albania 210 million euros for projects. So these have been donations, for the environment, for the climate, for the environmental standards and we will give another 60 million euros over the next 7 years, according to the IPAIII programme for the circular economy for the protection of biodiversity and for the water sector ” , said Soreca./j.p/p.s./
