A new fellowship scheme in support of Albania towards the EU Approximation Process was launched today.  35 Fellows, members of Albanian Diaspora, will provide their contribution through technical expertise to: 1) perform institutional liaison functions between Albanian and European Institutions as relevant; 2) conduct sectoral research/studies according to the needs and priorities of the Albanian institutions; 3) contribute to Benchmarking where AL stands vis-à-vis commitments in the global and regional frameworks (SDG, EU accession, etc.).

The new scheme was launched in the event held at the Center for Openness and Dialogue premises in Tirana. In this event participated the State Minister for Diaspora, Mr. Pandeli Majko; IOM Albania Head of Office, Ms. Alma Jani; Chief Negotiator for EU Integration, Mr. Zef Mazi and the representatives from the Diaspora Engagement Institutions. The selected fellows, the Team Leader, Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation and IOM representatives participated remotely in the event. Until now are engaged more than 20 professionals and over 50% of them are females.

“This engagement comes as confirmation of the significant potential of professional expertise of Albanian diaspora. Diaspora is a piece of Albania, welcomed and already part of Europe; it is now the time for their home country to welcome the expertise and training that they have obtained in the EU Member States and beyond, where they live and work, for advancing the process of EU approximation of Albania” highlighted Ms. Jani during the event.

While Minister Majko in his speech stated that “Albania's EU integration process will have the official assistance from IOM Albania through the experts selected. This adds value for the Albanian administration in a process that, from a professional point of view, will not be easy at all”.

The Chief Negotiator for EU Integration, Mr. Mazi, stated during the event that “the focus of the work of Diaspora experts in the Albanian institutions where they will be engaged, will be of strategic importance towards European integration of the Country and sectoral approach as a whole.”

The new  fellowship scheme is launched under the programme “Engage the Albanian Diaspora to the Social and Economic Development of Albania”, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by IOM in cooperation with the State Minister for Diaspora,  the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finances and Economy and other line ministries as relevant, and in close coordination with the Italian Embassy in Tirana and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.