On Monday, 28 April, 16.00–18.15 (Registration at 15.45),
followed by a Reception
at the Résidence Palace (Maelbeek Room),
155 Rue de la Loi, 1040 Brussels
Albania has just been invited to become a member of NATO, and is likely to acquire soon the status of candidate to join the EU. A new drive in the country is helping to make substantial headway with the EU bid : for the first time, government and opposition have agreed to join forces and work together to this end. But while Albania does not raise any major security concern, the country has to struggle against its negative image as a sanctuary for organised crime, corruption and illegal trafficking.
These recent developments will be assessed and discussed by a panel, including Artur Kuko, Ambassador of Albania to NATO, Michael Leigh, Director-General of DG Enlargement in the European Commission, Edi Rama, Mayor of Tirana, leader of Albania’s Socialist Party and a well-known artist and performer, and Erion Veliaj from the European Stability Initiative (ESI), who headed the MJAFT movement 2003-2007. Following the debate, Gerald Knaus, ESI Chairman, will introduce the film The Albanian Renaissance, which will be screened at the end of the Dialogue. This documentary has been co-produced by 3SAT, ORF and the TV production company pre-TV in cooperation with the ESI. The Dialogue will be chaired by Lidija Topic, Senior Adviser at the European Policy Centre.
European Policy Centre
Résidence Palace
Bloc C - 4th floor
155 Rue de la Loi
1040 Brussels
Tel : 02 231 03 40
Fax : 02 231 07 04 - 02 230 74 72