NRC 3 Workshop: The European integration process in Albania – opportunities for the involvement of civil society and youth in the negotiations process for social policies, tourism, education, and youth, Divjakë, 6 November 2025

On November 6, 2026, the European Movement in Albania and Partners Albania held the latest workshop within the framework of the National Resource Centre for Civil Society (NRC), an initiative of Partners Albania for Change and Development supported by the European Union.

The main focus of the activity was to identify opportunities for the involvement of civil society, activists, and young people working in the fields of employment, social inclusion, education, and youth in the negotiation process, and to promote information on the opportunities and developments related to the negotiations on Cluster 3.

The event opened with a welcome address by Xhoana Zeqo, Project Manager at Partners Albania for Change and Development, who presented the purpose and activities of the NRC, which aims to foster civic mobilization and active participation in public life by civil society actors, with a special focus on inclusion of communities beyond Tirana. She stressed the importance of such initiatives for civil society, institutions, and local communities, so that they are informed and involved in discussion and decision-making at this important stage of the integration process: the negotiation of chapters with the EU. Zeqo said the activity aims to play two main roles: providing a space for information, and fostering dialogue among local institutions, civil society, youth, and interest groups.

Nirvana Deliu, Project Director at the European Movement in Albania, focused on the findings and conclusions of the EU’s annual report covering the 33 chapters, concentrating on the Commission’s assessments of the level of preparation and progress for the fundamentals chapters and the other clusters. She also presented the EU roadmap for closing the chapters by the end of 2027, with a focus on Cluster 3 and its respective chapters. Deliu stressed that civil society and other stakeholders can engage in the established public consultation structures, using online participation opportunities as well as the activities of the NRC, to convey their suggestions and concerns.

Migena Kalthi, EU expert, offered a detailed overview of the negotiation process and 2020 Enlargement Methodology, as well as information on the content of the chapters related to education, youth, employment, and social protection, but also environment and agriculture. She explained how the negotiation process works and what is expected from civil society actors, experts, and other stakeholders. Kalthi outlined the funding opportunities (focused on grants) the EU offers to Albania and the opportunities for participation targeting civil society, young people, and local government, giving concrete examples of successful projects implemented in Albania.

After the presentations, the event continued with an interactive discussion among participants, which highlighted some of the main challenges faced by local non-state actors. In particular, the lack of information and updates limits opportunities especially for young people to get involved. The need for more cooperation and networking, as well as for regular meetings, was also underlined.

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National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania is a platform of information and service provision which contributes to the strengthening of civil society’s capacities to be more effective, transparent, accountable and independent actors and to the creation of an enabling environment for the civil society, participatory democracy and the integration process of Albania into the European Union. The initiative is financed by the European Union, and is implemented by Partners Albania in partnership with the Albanian Center for Population and Development (ACPD) and the European Movement in Albania (EMA).

Find more on: www.resourcecentre.al