Together for Albania: EU to host international donors’ conference for Albania to help with reconstruction after earthquake, Brussel - Hoofdinhoud

The international donors’ conference, “Together for Albania”, organised by the European Union, is taking place today (17 February) in Brussels to support reconstruction efforts after the earthquake that struck Albania at the end of November.

The EU, its Member States, the Western Balkan partners, representatives from other countries, as well as from international organisations and international financial institutions, including the UN and the World Bank, are participating.

The conference is chaired by the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, in the presence of H.E. Mr Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania. A presentation of the post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) precedes the opening of the pledging session. The event will be followed by a press conference.

Please click the image below and follow the web-streaming of the conference starting Monday 17th of February at 14.30

On 26 November 2019, an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 hit Albania, causing destruction of public and private infrastructure, hitting thousands of households and resulting in 51 fatalities, about 1,000 injured, and about 14,000 people temporarily displaced. Thousands of buildings have been seriously damaged, including schools and health care facilities.

The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism was activated at the request of the Albanian government after the earthquake and as a result, search and rescue teams were immediately deployed to Albania. In-kind assistance and structural engineers were mobilised through the mechanism as well as bilaterally by EU Member States and partners from the region. EU Civil Protection Team was in Albania from 27 November to 20 December and coordinated the international response.

The Commission announced an initial €15 million grant for reconstruction of priority public buildings at its first meeting in December.

#Together4Albania

Post-disaster needs assessment

The European Union, the United Nations, the World Bank and the Government of Albania carried out a post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA). The needs assessment report is as a key guiding tool for the donors’ conference and will serve as a basis for the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

Click on the image to read the report

Media advisory: registration for journalists who want to attend the conference

All journalists, including those holding a European Commission accreditation badge, who want to attend the conference will need to register at this link by 10 February 16.00 CET.

All the details are available on this media advisory.

Photo gallery

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  EU response through the Civil Protection Mechanism
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  Visit of Commissioner Lenarčič to Albania following the earthquake

Video gallery

Together for Albania

School in Durres

Lac Hospital

Family in Lac

Visit in Kruja

Practical information

When

Monday 17 February 2020, 13.00 (CET)

Where

Brussels

Belgium

Topic

EU enlargement

Agenda

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  13.00 - 14.30 (Europe/Brussels)

  Registration and welcome coffee

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  14.30 - 15.00

  Opening and welcome

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    Welcoming remarks by President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
  • - 

    Statement by Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama
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    Statement by President of the European Council, Charles Michel

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  15.00 - 15.10

  Video about the earthquake and initial emergency response

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    Introduced by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič

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  15.10 - 16.00

  Presentation of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment

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    Presentation of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment - National PDNA Coordinator, Milva Ekonomi
  • - 

    Presentation of the financial mechanisms for channelling the reconstruction funding - Minister for Reconstruction, Arben Ahmetaj
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    Statement by the United Nations - Mirjana Spoljaric, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Assistant Administrator of UNDP, and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS
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    Statement by the World Bank - Linda Van Gelder, Regional Director for the Western Balkans
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    Statement by the European Union - Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi

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  16.00 - 16.30

  Coffee break

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  16.30 - 18.30

  Pledging session

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    Statement by Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi
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    Statement by other invited countries and organisations

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  18.30 - 18.40

  Closing remarks and conclusions - Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi

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  18.45 - 19.00

  Press conference

  Download the agenda