Network of Young Parliamentarians meeting with Albania's Delegation to the OSCE PA, Tirana, 27 October 2023COPENHAGEN, 30 October 2023 – The OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians concluded a two-day visit to Albania on Saturday, during which young OSCE PA members engaged in a series of meetings with parliamentarians, government officials, youth-led civil society organizations, and students.
Accompanied by OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, a group of ten young parliamentarians from Austria, Armenia, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, and Norway held a series of high-level meetings, including meetings with Igli Hasani, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs; Bora Muzhaqi, the Minister of State for Youth and Children of Albania; and Keti Luarasi, the Vice Mayor of Tirana. The Network also had the opportunity to meet with leaders of five traditional religious communities in Albania and to learn about the work of the Interreligious Council of Albania. The visit was hosted by a delegation of Albania to OSCE PA and focused on a wide range of topics, including youth participation in politics, Albania’s EU accession prospects, emerging security challenges, and the role of the OSCE in the region.
“Albania has made significant progress in promoting the youth agenda by providing a platform for meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes, forward-looking policies, and capacity-building initiatives for young people,” said David Stogmuller (Austria), Chair of the Network. “Young people can be a potent force in Albania’s journey toward the European Union, and I encourage authorities to continue engaging them in political processes.”
During the meeting with the Delegation of Albania to OSCE PA, they discussed regional inter-parliamentary co-operation, regional security challenges, and best practices for youth engagement. The Network also had the chance to meet with the recently established Young Parliamentarians Group in the Parliament of Albania. “We were excited to learn about the formation of this informal group in the Parliament,” said Lilja Rannveig Sigurgeirsdóttir (Iceland), Vice-Chair of the Network. “We hope to expand our co-operation with this group in the near future and collaborate on the promotion of youth policies.”
While in Albania, the group also visited the European University of Tirana, where they met with a group of political science students and, along with OSCE PA Secretary General Montella, conducted an open lecture entitled “Engaging the Future: OSCE Parliamentarians and the Next Generation of Youth Leaders.”
“Despite several significant challenges, such as rapid population decline, youth emigration, and declining trust in political institutions, young people in Albania are motivated to build a sustainable future in the country and the region, and they deserve the opportunity to do so,” said Aleksander Stokkebo (Norway), Vice-Chair of the Network.
Young Parliamentarians also met with Regional Youth Cooperation Office Secretary General Albert Hani and visited the OSCE Presence in Albania. “The Presence in Albania serves as a shining example of how the OSCE can make a real difference on the ground and improve the lives of the end-users of OSCE work – the people, including youth,” said OSCE PA Secretary General Montella. “I am pleased that our youngest members had the opportunity to learn about the outstanding work carried out by the Mission.”
For more information on the OSCE PA’s work on youth issues, please visit the web page of the Special Representative on Youth Engagement.
For photos of the visit to Albania, please click here.
