Wednesday, December 14, 2022

The kick-off event of the project “Pathway towards an efficient use of local natural resources” took place on December 14, 2022 in Kurbin. The purpose of this activity was to present the project objectives and also the findings of the survey conducted over the last 3 months in the municipalities of Kurbin and Suhareka with the aim of assessing the situation of energy consumption as well as the awareness of the actors different on "green transformation".

Over 30 local authorities in Kurbin and Suharekë, representatives from local institutions, business, civil society and the media, as well as representatives from the IPA Joint Technical Secretariat, based in Lezhë, participated at the event.

The delegation from Suharekë municipality that visited Kurbini for this event was received in a meeting by the mayor of the municipality Mrs. Majlinda Cara, who stressed again the willingness to cooperate and exchange the best experiences on both sides of the border.

The activity was welcomed by:
• Mr. Erjon Tase, Director, Academy of Political Studies;
• Mr. Eduart Kurti, vice mayor of Kurbin Municipality;
• Mr. Berat Kabashi, Senior Official of Suhareka Municipality;
• Mrs. Leonora Kryeziu, Director of the Institute for Political Studies of Prishtina,
who emphasized the importance of this project and the commitment of local authorities to contribute and cooperate in the realization of its objectives.

The presentations of two experts, who assessed the current situation of energy use, Mr. Erind Kraja and Mr. Avni Sfishta, provided a set of recommendations for the further intervention of project activities on energy efficiency measures and sustainable energy use in these regions.

Some of the recommendations resulting from the survey were:

• increasing the knowledge and awareness of local government representatives and other relevant factors on renewable energy and energy efficiency;

• determination of efficient energy measures in institutions depending on municipalities and municipalities, but also private businesses;

• creation of local programs and financial incentives that can be undertaken by the local government to stimulate businesses that use efficient measures and reduce environmental pollution.


This activity served also to identify local actors, who will cooperate in the coming months for the implementation of the project in the two cross-border regions. Local media followed the activity in order to further promote the objectives to the general public.

The program "The path towards the efficient use of local natural resources", is financed by the IPA II Cross-Border Program of the European Union Albania - Kosovo, the 3rd call for applications, and is implemented by the Academy of Political Studies (APS), the Institute for Political Studies of Pristina (PIPS), Municipality of Kurbin and Municipality of Suhareka.