The EU supports young people in their efforts to work and live in Albania

Present at the meeting with young people participating in the European Union's "Rural You" program, held in Shkodër, the EU Ambassador to Albania, Krisstjane Hohmann, said that the EU is financing several important programs for Albanian youth, who have an important role in the country's journey towards a consolidated democracy.

"The European Union", said the ambassador, "has a strategy for the Albanian youth, a strategy that is based on commitment, connection and empowerment".

It is necessary for young people, the EU ambassador said, to create opportunities to stay and work in their country.

In recent years, a large number of young people have left Albania to immigrate to EU countries, in search of opportunities and a better life. According to the data of the Institute of Statistics, 42 thousand 48 Albanian citizens immigrated to EU countries only last year, most of them young people.

The ambassador said that the EU is financing new programs to give opportunities to young Albanians to be trained and employed in their country.

"I really hope", said the ambassador, "that, together with the Albanian government, we will be able to present the youth guarantee scheme, which will mainly deal with the training and professional education of young people as well as their employment. It is very important, she added, that education and vocational training are used as an engine to find opportunities for young people and not as a secondary choice for them.

Young people, said the EU ambassador, it is important not to leave the rural areas of the country and, for this, they should have access to tools and opportunities. The "Rural You" project aims to support young people in rural areas of the country, in order for them to find themselves in their country.

“Ne po lançojmë këtë projekt, i cili”, tha ambasadorja, “ka si qëllim të formëzojë mundësi dhe perspektiva për rininë rurale në Shkodër, Kukës dhe Dibër. Është një projekt, ku të rinj nga zonat rurale kanë ardhur dhe kanë paraqitur idetë e tyre, 14 prej të cilëve tashmë janë të suksesshëm”.

Të rinjtë, pjesëmarrës në projektin “Rural You”, kanë përfituar mbështetje financiare nga BE për ngritjen e bizneseve të tyre në zonat rurale të vendit, të cilat, tha ambasadorja, po shndërrohen në modele edhe për të rinjtë e tjerë.

The EU ambassador in Albania announced that more than 10,000 young Albanians have participated in programs such as Razmus, Razmus plus, the solidarity program and other programs funded by the EU. The ambassador said that the EU will continue to support young Albanians in their journey towards the integration of the country into the EU./VOA