TIRANA, May 8 /ATA/ – The European Union’s Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, said on Friday that the “EU4Municipalities II” programme would focus on improving local services and infrastructure while placing citizens at the centre of Albania’s European integration process.
Speaking at the launch of the project in the coastal city of Durrës, Gonzato described the initiative as a practical programme delivering direct benefits at the local level.
“Albania’s European journey must be experienced in every municipality. Local government must be an active actor in this process,” Gonzato said.
He said even relatively small amounts of funding could bring tangible improvements to citizens’ daily lives and stressed that smaller municipalities would be prioritised under the programme.
“No municipality will be left behind,” he said, adding that all municipalities would have access to the programme and benefit from a shared knowledge centre.
Gonzato also highlighted the importance of inter-municipal cooperation and Albania’s territorial-administrative reform, urging local institutions to exchange experiences and better address citizens’ needs.
“Learn from one another and think carefully about how to address local needs and create opportunities for young Albanians to stay in the country or return,” he said.
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