The Italian government, through the Italian Development Cooperation Agency (AICS), is ploughing some EUR 260 million into Albania and the region, particularly in areas such as the rule of law and economy.
AICS presented its annual report in Tirana on Tuesday (19 July) in the presence of Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Bucci, Director of the AICS Office in Tirana, Stefania Vizzaccaro, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, Deputy Minister of Justice Adea Pirdeni, and Gianluigi Pratola, representing the High Council of the Italian Magistrate.
Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Bucci expressed his support for the opening of negotiations for Albania’s EU membership while declaring: “Today, more than ever, it is important to strongly support some essential values that guide the work of the Italian Government: respect for human rights, peaceful and civilized coexistence of peoples and sustainable development,” he said.
He added that “With the presentation of the Annual Report of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the Western Balkans, the entire Sistema Italia joins forces and commits, in cooperation with state partners and the international community, to a perspective of sustainable development of our communities, which are close not only by geographical point of view but above all from the human and institutional point of view.”
Vizzaccaro stated: “The cooperation strategy in the Western Balkans has two main elements that are two sides of the same coin. First the protection and appreciation of local identities in Albania and the Western Balkans. Second, the promotion of diversities as a source of wealth, peaceful exchanges between communities and the essential European values of human rights and respect, which are essential elements for the sustainability of development processes.”
Kumbaro emphasized: “Italy for Albania is much more than a partner. It is the mutual cooperation that does not remain only in institutions and closed halls but culturally and quite naturally goes directly to working people.”
Out of the total commitment of EUR 260 million, EUR 188 million is in soft loans and EUR 50 million in grants. Another EUR 20 million will be realized through debt conversion funds which will all be implemented across the environment, justice, energy, agriculture, human rights, and rural development.
Albania and Italy have long historical ties. The former is home to a large Albanian diaspora and the Arbreshe community largely located in the south who are descended from Albanian refugees who fled the Ottomans between the 14th and 18th centuries.
According to recent data from INSTAT, Albania is also home to many Italian citizens, the highest number out of all other European countries.
