TIRANA, May 8 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama stated on Friday that digitalization at the level of local government continues to represent one of the weakest components of public administration, during the ceremony marking the launch of Phase II of the “EU4Municipalities” project, held at the Children’s Cultural Center in Durrës.
In attendance of the event was the European Union Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, the Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Albania Thilo Schroeter, the Minister of State for Local Governance Ervin Demo, as well as the Mayor of Durrës, Emiriana Sako.
The “EU4Municipalities” project, funded by the European Union through a €10 million fund and with an additional €1 million contribution from Germany, aims to directly support municipalities in improving public services and infrastructure, as well as strengthening their institutional capacities.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Edi Rama focused particularly on the challenges of digitalization at the local level, emphasizing that there is a significant gap compared to the central level of public services.
“There is a significant and unjustified gap between digitalization at the central level and the delivery of public services at the local level,” stated Edi Rama.
Rama emphasized that the reasons behind this gap are multiple and need to be addressed through coordinated efforts with the European Union and German partners.
“We will find a solution to tackle this digitalization challenge,” stated the Prime Minister.
Rama urged mayors to approach the project not merely as a funding mechanism, but as an opportunity to strengthen human resources and develop more resilient institutional structures at the local level.
“Make the most of this project by using it not merely as a funding opportunity, but as a chance to develop experience and strengthen human capital, in order to better prepare within the municipalities the small nuclei you have begun establishing to implement projects and manage funding from the European Union. In this regard, this project is indispensable,” declared the Prime Minister.
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