The Palace of Culture, named after the first conductor from Mat, has been completely transformed today, offering new services to 5,000 community members. The reconstructed building has already been equipped with new ballet and music halls, an art gallery, and a conference hall. The facade of the building has been completely renovated as well. The municipality hopes to revitalize Burrel’s cultural and artistic life by providing a fresh appearance and services at the Palace of Culture.

The ICTe-Mat: Innovation and Culture to Empower Mat project also aimed to establish a youth center focused on technology and innovation. Since its opening, the robotics, design, and coding courses have been popular among enthusiastic young people and children eager to learn about technology.

Dea Basha, a 17-year-old with a passion for technology, expresses how the training sessions at the ICTe-Mat Innovation Center have significantly impacted her personal growth. Engaging in 3D design, scratch coding, and robotics workshops has enabled her to acquire new skills and enhance her creativity in the field of technology. Furthermore, the collaborative nature of this platform has provided her with the opportunity to work on innovative projects in a stimulating environment. The entire project of the Municipality of Mati utilized a total of 238,000.00 euros, with 199,920.00 euros coming from the European Union. The budget was allocated for various purposes, including the reconstruction of the Palace of Culture, the establishment and equipping of the ICT Center, ICT skills training, workshops focusing on youth and European integration, as well as the training and employment of two municipal employees. Additionally, the staff of the municipality in Burrel received training during the project implementation. Elson Reçi, the director of the Directorate of Public Services and project coordinator for the Municipality of Mati, provided a comprehensive overview of how “EU for Municipalities” has contributed to enhancing local capacity. The “EU for Municipalities” project has not only invested in reconstructed facilities like the innovation center, art gallery, and ballet hall but has also provided a wide array of services aimed at enhancing the infrastructure and capabilities of local institutions. These services encompass training sessions for municipal staff, which play a crucial role in their professional and personal growth, consequently benefiting the institutional progress of the municipality.

The training sessions cover various aspects such as enhancing communication skills, time management, teamwork, and collaboration, along with sessions focusing on developing intercultural interaction skills. Through the provision of technical assistance and training in key areas, the “EU for Municipalities” project has significantly contributed to bolstering capacities and project management at the local level,” says Reçi. We are optimistic that the modernized Palace of Culture and the establishment of the Technology and Innovation Center will help to improve social and economic conditions, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for the residents of Mat Municipality.

Project: EU for Municipalities

Publication Ref: EU4M – 35 (LOT 3)

NALAS Branch in Albania, on behalf of “EU for Municipalities” project intends to award contracts for “Supply of equipment and furniture for municipalities supported by EU4M project.”, with financial assistance of the European Union.

The deadline for submission of applications is 25/07/2024 at 14:00 by registered mail or in person to: Dega NALAS në Shqipëri, Rr. “Donika Kastrioti”, Ndërtesa Tekno-Project , 14th floor, Apt. 3/1, Tirana, Albania.

The simplified tender procedure and the additional information about the tender are provided below:

• Simplified Tender Dossier
• Financial Offer
• Legal Entity Form
• Financial Identification Form

Prepared by experts from the “Municipalities for Europe” Project, drawing on the experience of the “EU for Municipalities” Project, the manual offers comprehensive guidance on EU grants. It covers the preparation of concept notes, the full proposal format based on the PCM/Logical Framework approach, and step-by-step budget preparation with accompanying examples. The manual also includes valuable advice from municipalities that have benefited from EU funds and insights from specialized training sessions on writing successful project proposals, reflecting the knowledge gained over the last five years through the “Municipalities for Europe” and “EU for Municipalities” projects.

You can download the manual here.

For more information, download/read the catalog here.

Project:                      “EU for Municipalities”

Publication Ref:        EU4M – 35

NALAS Branch in Albania, on behalf of “EU for Municipalities” project intends to award contracts for “Supply of equipment and furniture for municipalities supported by EU4M project.”, with financial assistance of the European Union.

The deadline for submission of applications is 05/07/2024 at 14:00 by registered mail or in person to: Dega NALAS në Shqipëri, Rr. “Donika Kastrioti”, Ndërtesa Tekno-Project , 14th floor, Apt. 3/1, Tirana, Albania.

The simplified tender procedure and the additional information about the tender are provided below.

• Simplified Tender Dossier
• Financial Offer
• Legal Entity Form
• Financial Identification Form

Project:                      “EU for Municipalities”

Publication Ref:        EU4M – 34

NALAS Branch in Albania, on behalf of “EU for Municipalities” project intends to award a contract for “External Evaluator for the EU4Municipalities Project”, with financial assistance of the European Union.

The simplified tender procedure and the additional information about the tender are available at www.eu4municipalities.al.

The deadline for submission of applications is 24.06.2024, at 16:00 by registered mail or in person to: Dega NALAS në Shqipëri, Rr. “Donika Kastrioti”, Ndërtesa Tekno-Project , 14th floor, Apt. 3/1, Tirana, Albania.

The simplified tender procedure and the additional information about the tender are provided below.

• Terms of Reference
• Simplified Tender Dossier
• Financial Offer
• Legal Entity Form
• Financial Identification Form

Project Title:                  “EU4Municipalities”

Subject of the contract:   Production of a promotional video on the finalization of “EU for Municipalities” project

Contracting Authority:     NALAS, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe, Branch in Albania

Maximum budget:           EUR 8.000,00 (VAT excluded)

Deadline for application: 03.06.2024 at 14:00 (local time)

“EU for Municipalities” is seeking the services of a media production company to develop a short promotional video with a duration of 6 minutes, to showcase the impact of the 19 projects funded by “EU for Municipalities” on the local communities in terms of improved infrastructure, improved local services and improved lives.

The tender procedure documents and the additional information about the tender are provided below:

• Terms of Reference
• Simplified Tender Dossier
• Financial Offer
• Legal Entity Form
• Financial Identification Form

“Upon assuming the director role in 2014, I found the center’s entrance locked, staff members waiting outside, and the internal conditions in a state of disrepair. Today, the center has modern and welcoming spaces for 77 regular attendees. Through competitions, we can engage all of the municipality’s and administrative units’ children between the ages of 6 and 15,” says Manushaqe proudly, recalling her efforts over the years to help organize the Children’s Cultural Center.

After being named one of the winners of the “EU for Municipalities” Grant Scheme, which is financed by the European Union, the Patos Municipality’s project “Improving Services and Culture Related to Children” made the revival of the center a reality.

With a total budget of 54,657.27 euros, the European Union contributed 49,191.54 euros, allowing the Municipality of Patos to carry out the complete reconstruction of the Children’s Cultural Center.

The Municipality of Patos places a strong emphasis on the well-being and safety of children, as well as the future of our nation. Investing in better conditions for them is crucial for the future. With the assistance of the “EU for Municipalities” project, we have been able to upgrade infrastructure,

provide musical instruments that were previously lacking, and introduce four new services to ensure children can make the most of their free time,” emphasizes Fation Duro, Mayor of Patos Municipality .

As a result of the project, the center now has new musical instruments, such as a violin, two guitars, two pianos, and a harmonica.

The reconstruction also involved a reimagining of the center’s facilities, which are now able to accommodate children in contemporary conditions. Presently, the center features a new electrical system, three classrooms, and a dance studio with wooden floors.

Irisi Xhelaj of the European Integration Unit in the municipality, emphasizes the transformative effects of the “EU for Municipalities” project. Not only has it given rise to a facility where children in Patos can engage in productive activities, but it has also had a profound impact that surpasses initial projections.

Over the years, it has become clear that this center has been instrumental in shaping the futures of gifted children who go on to excel in artistic secondary schools and the Academy of Fine Arts. With the recent renovations, we look forward to witnessing the emergence of new talents who will uphold this longstanding tradition.

The European Union Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato visited the market during Europe Week 2024 to observe ongoing transformational works.

The construction of the market in the “Zinxhira” neighbourhood is a valuable social contribution to the Roma community. The Roma market project is funded by the EU through the EU4Municipalities grant scheme.

Marie Augouy, the Program Manager for Regional and Local Government at the European Union Delegation, highlighted the significance of municipalities’ preparedness to receive EU funds while Albania prepares to join the EU. Augouy announced that the European Union will continue to support the Albanian municipalities through infrastructure investment and capacity building. “The European Union supports and will continue to support Albanian municipalities through investments in infrastructure, but also through capacity building, where human resources are an important chain,” said Augouy.

During his speech, Puka Mayor Rrok Dodaj emphasized the importance of improving the skills of the municipal staff. Furthermore, he urged the European Union to continue investing in Puka, particularly for its goal of becoming a popular tourist destination.

Referring to the EU investment of about 200,000 Euros in the Municipality of Puka, according to Adelina Farrici, the Executive Director of the Association for Local Autonomy, the municipality of Puka “has a shared vision among its leadership. The current administration has continued the previous administration’s goal of investing in youth. This vision aims to provide young people with improved resources and opportunities to help prepare them for a brighter future. These investments were made possible thanks to this vision,” said Farrici.

Elton Stafa, the Team Leader of the EU4 Municipalities grant scheme, underlined the importance of enhancing local-level capacities despite the challenges. He pointed out that the #EUMunicipalities program is most valuable when considering the benefits it provides to young people and the community.

The “Municipality for Youth” project aims to enhance young people’s skills in entrepreneurship, sports, and communication.