The Letter From The Consulate
No. 149.
Gentofte/Copenhagen, Friday 20. November 2020
Dear reader,
If you want to read the very blunt and interesting interview with EU ambassador to Tirana Luigi Sorece please click on the picture.
Prime Minister Edi Rama had phone conversations on Friday November 13. with European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio. The EC President posted the following on her official Twitter account in regards to the meeting: “Constructive discussion as always with my good friend Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania on how best to move ahead with the enlargement process and the rapid implementation of the EU Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.”
The Albanian Parliament approved on Monday the 2021 state budget, with 84 votes in favor, nine against, and four abstained. The budget focuses on coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Ministry of Health being the main beneficiary with an ALL2.2bln increase and reaching a total of ALL70bln.
In his address at the Assembly, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the budget had been drafted with consideration to strategies and suggestions presented by the experts’ committee dealing with the COVID-19 situation. “If the committee told us we need more tests, we would have bought more. This was our strategy. At the end of the day, there is only one way to judge the situation: how many dead per how many infections. If Albania figures nowhere among the top countries regarding these lists, then the rest is only words. So, we are prepared for the worst possible scenarios,” Rama said.
Albanian roots and Danish soil
Jeromin De Rada manuscripts at the Danish National library
Ambassador Elida Petoshati inspected the original manuscripts by Albanian Arberesh poet and politician Jeromin De Rada (1814 – 1903) kept in the Danish National Library.
The European Union Delegation to Albania informed through a press statement on November 12. that the European Commission has adopted a €103.3mln package to support Albania. The approved program focuses on core issues for EU accession such as the rule of law, fundamental rights and good governance. In addition, assistance is provided to further address the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, commented: “The EU continues to stand by Albania. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, we have made adjustments to the existing funding to help Albania withstand the current social and economic challenges. At the same time, the EU funds aim at supporting the key reforms Albania needs to implement to move forward on its European path.” The program includes actions to strengthen the rule of law and the fight against organized crime and corruption, by improving the capacity of SPAK and NBI, and the independent justice institutions. Funding is also allocated for developing a dynamic land market in Albania, through the establishment of a clear property rights framework. The package also continues supporting improvement of the capacity of public sector to respond to citizens’ and businesses’ needs. Finally, the current package complements other COVID-19 related measures put in place for Albania by the EU, by extending support to businesses and the overall economy”.
That´s all for now,
sincerely,
Hans-Georg Nielsen
Albanian Honorary Consul
