TIRANA, March 6 /ATA/ The Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavský, participated on Thursday in the conference “SYNERGY 2025 – Synergy Between Local Government and Regional Integration.”
In his speech, Hasani emphasized that “EU integration, in many ways, is the untold story of local governance.”
“Municipalities often bear heavy burdens. Their role in this process is far from invisible. Municipalities are the foundation upon which successful integration is built, a key part of the larger puzzle,” he added.
Meanwhile, Minister Lipavský stated, “Tirana has become a hub for regional and European cooperation.”
Referring to the conference, he said that “this organization is a testament to the importance and synergy of cooperation and integration.”
He emphasized that initiatives such as the Visegrad Fund and the Western Balkans Fund are crucial for our future.
Before addressing the mayors and other participants of the SYNERGY Conference, the Western Balkans Fund presented Minister Lipavský with a medal as a token of appreciation.
For three consecutive days, from March 5-7, Tirana becomes the capital of regional cooperation between communities and local government units in the Western Balkans.
Titled “SYNERGY 2025 – Synergy Between Local Government for Regional Integration,” this event brings to Albania the Ministers of Local Government or Public Administration from the Western Balkans, as well as 60 mayors or representatives from municipalities in the region and Visegrad countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia).
Throughout the three days, the conference, held at the “Maritim Plaza Hotel,” will address the challenges of cooperation in the fields of economy, innovation, sustainable development, environment, integration reforms, and more.
An essential element of this format will be fostering cooperation with civil society and revitalizing municipalities across the region.
SYNERGY 2025 is an event organized by the Western Balkans Fund, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Albania, the International Visegrad Fund, the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA), and the Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South East Europe (NALAS).
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