TIRANA, Sept 14 /ATA/ Today in Tirana, the Union of Student Councils and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Albania, in cooperation with the project “Support for Integration into the European Union” (EUIS), organised the round‑table discussion “Albania and Croatia: Youth building a shared European future.”
The discussion “Albania and Croatia: Youth building a shared European future” began with welcoming remarks from the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Albania, Zlatko Kramarić, and the President of the Union of Student Councils, Valbona Halitaj. The session continued with presentations from Vanja Gavran, adviser at the Croatian Embassy in Albania, and Andreja Tonč, expert with the EUIS project.
At the Tirana round‑table, students and young professionals had the opportunity to discuss the advantages of EU accession, drawing on Croatia’s experience as the most recent country in the region to complete the accession process. The discussion also highlighted Croatia’s support for Albania on its path towards European integration.
The round‑table devoted particular attention to opportunities for young people, including education, mobility, and employment. Discussions also covered access to European projects and current funding opportunities, alongside personal development and active engagement in European society.
“You are the generation that will complete this transition. This is both a privilege and a responsibility — the two always go together. You did not create the problems of the past, but you have inherited the responsibility to build something better,” underlined Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić in his remarks.
“And I am convinced that one day, when you look back on this period, you will not simply say: We became members of the European Union. You will be able to say something far more important: We helped change our society,” added Ambassador Zlatko Kramarić.
The Tirana round‑table forms part of a broader programme of activities scheduled this month in Kukës, Berat, Pogradec and Shkodër. These initiatives respond to a priority consistently highlighted in the European Commission’s annual reports on Albania: the need to step up public information and citizen awareness about the accession process.
By engaging young people in discussions across different Albanian cities, the European agenda is made more accessible to local communities. This approach helps citizens grasp integration not only through the lens of negotiating chapters but also by recognising its impact on everyday life.
The “Support for Integration into the European Union” (EUIS) project is financed by the European Union and implemented by DAI, Abkons and WeGlobal. Its purpose is to assist Albanian institutions throughout the EU membership process, strengthening administrative capacity and alignment with European standards.
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