International European Day at the University of Shkodra

On May 7, 2018, on the occasion of the European International Day, an important meeting was held at the University of Shkodra between the Head of the EU Delegation to Albania, Romana Vlahutin and the Rector of the University of Shkodra, prof.dr. Adem Bekteshi. The focus was precisely the integration of Albania into the EU, which according to Ms. Vlahutin, should be initiated mainly by education and by young people. Also, the EU ambassador emphasizes that Albanians deserve Europe, so we must work together to bring European standards closer to Albania. Her message is clear: "We should never get tired of asking for these standards to be applied." The Rector noted that the University of Shkodra has already started integrating into the EU Higher Education system for pedagogues and students. The number of USH lecturers holding lectures at European Universities and the number of foreign university lecturers who lectured in USH has increased. Also a significant number of USH students has developed mobility at European Universities.

The meeting then continued on the pedestrian street of ​​Shkodra with students from the University of Shkodra, where there also participated: the ambassador of France - Ms. Cristina Vasak, the ambassador of Italy - Mr. Alberto Cutillo, the ambassador of Spain - Mr.Vicente Canelles Montero, the ambassador of Greece - Ms. Eleni Sourani, ambassador of Sweden - Johan Ndisi, the ambassador of Croatia - Ms. Sanja Bujas Juraga, the ambassador of Romania - Mircea Perpelea, as well as the Town Mayor of Shkodra - Voltana Ademi.

After calling Shkodra a European city and Albanians European people, the ambassador of the European Union delegation, Ms. Vlahutin, said that this process should be supported, not only by foreigners but also by citizens, because the road to the European Union and Albania passes through inclusion and active participation, especially of Albanian youth, where the most active part should be students. Justice reform, which according to Mrs. Vlahutin is the most difficult, but the most important, would not reach the point that is now, if Albania would not receive the positive recommendation for opening membership negotiations for many years.

All ambassadors, being inspired by the day of Europe as an important day of peace and union in Europe, expressed their readiness to help Albania integrate into the EU, although Albania is already part of European projects. All countries have had their hard journey to EU entry, so this journey is a challenge for Albania as well. Then the meeting continued with ambassadors' conversation with students whose questions about the European integration were responded by the ambassadors present at the meeting.

The meeting ended with free talks between the ambassadors and the students present at the meeting.