In a statement after a regular cabinet meeting, Muzhaqi also noted that with efforts are underway to increase filters and control over online content that children and young people access.

Answering to reporters about measures regarding children’s security and the plans to ban TikTok platform in Albania, the State Minister said that she had proposed more sport activities, afterschool programs, arts and craft activities to help kids and young people to spend afterschool idle hours in a more productive manner.

“By engaging in sports and cultural activities, they will have the opportunity to leave their tablets aside and will be able to spend time productively,” Muzhaqi said.

She emphasized the importance of sports, cultural and crafts activities to engage and educate children spend time in a more productive way and stay away from harmful content of the social media and the technology.

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During the joint press conference with Prime Minister Edi Rama in Brussels, Ropke said that the legal basis for this step is ready.

According to Ropke, during the plenary session yesterday there was approved a resolution for the next legislative term.

“This resolution of our committee means that our approach to integrate candidate countries as quickly and gradually as possible is desirable. We call on other EU institutions to follow our example”, he said.

He also announced that there is another opinion that was approved yesterday for the membership of the countries of the Western Balkans. “We emphasized there the important function that the Joint Consultative Committees will have”, stated Ropke.

According to him, while the pace of integration may be slow, the process should be results-oriented, reliable and based on merit, and we should not take our eyes and attention away from this very important moment.

Ropke gave support to the civil society which he described engaged in the initiatives to accelerate integration in the EU.

Regarding Albania, Ropke said that there were 18 members from trade unions, employers’ organizations and civil society, who worked on two very important opinions together with their members on the future of EU cohesion policy, as well as other important issues. /a.f/p.s./

Albanian Assembly announced that nine MPs and young people from the Advanced Leadership in Politics Institute in Albania took part in the discussion.

Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Youth Club Erisa Xhixho took stock of the Club’s activity and pledged to forward legal amendments directly impacting young people. She also voiced readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with IRI on any youth programme.

The session also highlighted importance of engaging young people in the decision-making process and their role in building stable democracy. Lawmakers and young people tabled their ideas to improve youth policies and create better education and employment opportunities.

John Fluharty, IRI Resident Program Director welcomed commitment of Albanian parliament members and pledged IRI support for various projects designed to empower young people in politics. He emphasised importance for open and continued dialogue between young people and political representatives.

The findings of the latest IRI survey on the Western Balkans were also released at today’s session. Presenting the findings, Fluharty stated that citizens need their representatives in Parliament to explain the political parties’ plans on employment and economy at both local and national level, saying that addressing these issues is key to enhancing public trust in democratic institutions.

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“We discussed the situation in Kosovo, where I expressed concern about the Banjska incident, which was an attempt to apply the Crimean scenario and following Russia’s efforts to destabilize the region, a scenario which has extended to Bosnia and is threatening the Montenegro”, wrote Basha.

According to him, the situation in the Middle East is another concern for the world today. “The risk of the expansion of the conflict has somehow drawn attention from the war in Ukraine, so Russia is benefiting”, continued Basha.

“I had the opportunity to discuss with the Ukrainian delegation about the resolution that is being discussed in the Council of Europe on the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is being awaited with special interest due to the extraordinary damage caused by Russian aggression”, wrote Basha.

According to him, one of the other issues of interest, starting from the recent developments in our region, was the discussion about the multiple crises of the war at the gate of Europe and the possible scenarios for the consequences they have for the international order. /r.e/p.s./

Margariti informed that during the meeting they discussed to advance some important issues related to Lake Ohrid, the fight against trafficking in cultural heritage sites and the intensification of joint activities.

“It is high time to turn the agreements signed on paper into concrete initiatives,” Margariti said.

From 2019, the Albanian part of the Lake Ohrid region is part of the UNESCO world heritage list.

Since 2014, Albania has been part of an EU-funded project with North Macedonia aimed at improving cross-border cooperation within the management for the protection of natural and cultural heritage in Lake Ohrid./p.s./