In a social media post, Hoxha said the talent, creativity, energy and determination of young people were essential to building a stronger, more prosperous and increasingly European Albania.

“Young people are not simply beneficiaries of progress, but active contributors and co-creators of a more democratic, dynamic and forward-looking society,” he said.

Hoxha highlighted the “EU and You – Europe Starts at Home” initiative, which has brought together young people across Albania for discussions on their aspirations, ambitions and concerns. The initiative will resume after the summer break and expand to other cities, he said.

He also pointed to a new merit-based recruitment process for Albania’s foreign service, aimed at attracting top professionals and investing in competence, professionalism and excellence.

As Albania advances towards EU membership, Hoxha said, young people would play an increasingly important role in shaping the country’s future, adding that integration was about more than institutions, legislation and negotiations.

“Europe is not simply the destination we seek to reach. Above all, it is the standard we must build at home, every day,” Hoxha said.

“Their future is Albania’s future. Their future is Europe’s future,” he added.

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Hohmann said that in the past four months in Albania she has had the chance to meet with many young Albanians who have the same potential as their peers in the EU.

“I have been in Albania for four months and had the chance to meet with many young Albanians. They have the same potential as their peers in the EU,” the EU Ambassador said via the social media.

Hohmann pledged EU’s continued support for  Albanian youth to build a brighter future in their country.

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In a post on the social media, the U.S. Embassy noted that 32 years ago, Albanian students and youth protested against one of the cruellest communist regimes in Europe and initiated its demise, becoming the protagonists of a pivotal moment in Albanian history.

“On December 8, we honor the courage of those students who demanded political change and democracy for their country,” the Embassy said.

The Embassy underlined that “youth today continue to shape the future of the country and the United States stands side-by-side with the Albanian people as you take the next step of your democratic journey to become a member of the European Union.”

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Since 2009, with a decision taken by the Albanian Parliament, December 8th is commemorated as a national holiday in honor of all students involved in the events of  December 1990 and all Albanian youth.

On December 8, 1990, students and university lecturers in Tirana started to protest against the communist system, and the movement rapidly lead to more massive protests and quickly to regime change.

Under the popular slogans used at the time: “We want an Albania like Europe,” students called for establishment of the Western values, the rule of law, Albania’s integration into Europe and political pluralism as the foundations of a free and democratic society.

Albanians had endured a harsh communist dictatorship for almost half-a-century that had presided over one of the poorest and most isolated countries in Europe, if not the world and the Youth Movement in 1990 was the only peaceful movement to change Albania’s history.

December 8 was declared National Youth Day in 2009 and has been commemorated ever since as marking a new start in the country’s history.

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