The selected projects were chosen from a pool of 198 proposals, and involve 220 partner institutions across multiple sectors. Beneficiaries include universities, research centers, training institutions, chambers of commerce, and both local and central government bodies.

Eridana Cano, head of Albania’s State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAK), emphasized that the initiatives will further strengthen regional cooperation in line with EU standards.

“We are here to reaffirm a shared vision for the Adriatic region – a space of cooperation where challenges are tackled collectively, where trust and partnership form the foundation of every project, and where no citizen is left behind,” Cano said.

Gilles Kittel, a representative of the European Commission, noted that the projects would support the EU integration pathways of Albania and Montenegro.

“These initiatives serve as tools to enhance the administrative capacities of Albania and Montenegro as part of the pre-accession process. They also help build managerial and technical competencies, while improving communication strategies and delivering tangible benefits for citizens and businesses alike,” Kittel stated.

The projects cover four strategic areas: 10 projects focused on competitiveness and innovation, 16 projects targeting environmental sustainability, 6 projects aimed at mobility and connectivity, 11 projects promoting social inclusion.

This trilateral cooperation marks a renewed commitment to building a greener and more innovative Adriatic region, aiming to strengthen ties, improve quality of life, and foster sustainable development across all three countries.

/j.p/u.sh/

Meanwhile, Albania’s Geosciences Institute reported that another tremor measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit the country two hours later, at 02:42 am on Wednesday early morning.

According to data from the Geosciences Institute, the epicentre of the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 15 km in the coastal Montenegrin town of Ulqin, and some 17 km from the Albanian north-western town of Lezha.

The tremors were felt in several cities across Albania, namely Lezha, Shkodra, Kavaja and Tirana.

/u.sh/

The focus of the discussions during the meeting chaired by North Macedonia were the current security and defense issues of the Balkan region and beyond.

The participants paid special importance to the engagement within this initiative, the implementation of revitalization concept of the Adriatic card, joint engagement in NATO missions for maintaining security and supporting peace, regional cooperation in the field of security and defense as well as the contribution to global security.

While taking the floor in the meeting, Peleshi said that Albania will continue to contribute to stability, security and peace in the region, which are achieved by promoting political dialogue, good neighborliness and addressing hot bilateral or multilateral issues, based on respect of international agreements and legislation, as the Western Balkans region is a key geostrategic factor for NATO and the European Union.

Since the presidency of the USA-Adriatic Charter for the year 2024 will be taken by Albania, Minister Peleshi guaranteed the participating countries that the Ministry of Defense will be fully committed to fulfill all obligations towards this initiative, increase its visibility and importance of the Adriatic Charter, to promote the “Open Door Policy”, as one of the basic principles of this regional commitment.

In this perspective, Minister Peleshi asked the A5 member countries to accept Kosovo’s request to join this initiative with full rights.

On the sidelines of this Ministerial, Peleshi held a bilateral meeting with Celeste Wallander, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. Peleshi acquainted Wallander with the country’s role and contribution to the Alliance, paying special attention to Albania’s role in the Western Balkans region.

Minister Peleshi also held a meeting with the Minister of Defense of Kosovo Ejup Maqedonci, with whom he discussed issues of common interest in the bilateral and regional framework.

The USA-Adriatic Charter (A5) regional initiative is considered one of the most important regional initiatives. Attending this meeting were ministers and representatives of the ministries of defense from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, the USA, as well as Slovenia, Kosovo and Serbia. /m.m/p.s./

Minister Xhaçka thanked the Slovenian presidency for the work done during this year, while emphasizing that Albania remains committed to advancing all the objectives of EUSAIR.

“Albania believes in continuity and given the fact that we widely share the same priorities and that there are no conflicting visions and ideas between us, we guarantee that the initiative will be significantly effective. We will focus on youth and inclusion, culture, tourism, digitalization and we will work to strengthen relations with local and regional authorities and networks and associations in the Adriatic and Ionian region,” she said during a virtual press conference in end of the first day of the forum.

On the second day of the forum will be the transfer of the presidency of ESUAIR from Slovenia to Albania, a presidency which our country starts from June 1, 2021. The direction of this initiative from our country, comes after the successful presidency of Albania of the OSCE during 2020 and at the same time the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation, for the first 6 months of 2021./p.s./