Saturday, May 18, 2019

European integration process and the expected decision on the opening of negotiations was the focus of the third course of the School of Political Studies. The training took place on 17-19 May 2019 in Durres, with the presence of the best national and international lecturers. Mr. Nils Muiznieks, President of the Association of Council of Europe's School of Political Studies, held a presentation on populism in Europe as a threat to democracy and human rights. The discussions also addressed the challenges of citizens' confidence in their political elites and the failure of European lefts to offer inspirational alternatives to European anxiety over the economic crisis, refugees and immigrants. Mr. Muiznieks paid a visit to Albania at the invitation of the Academy of Political Studies within the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe.

The international security expert, Alexis Vahlas, was invited to the course with a view to addressing the new challenges facing the EU: Islamic radicalization, rising Russian influence and immigration waves. The discussion with the participants gave a clearer picture of the EU's internal problems as well as the possible measures to cope with these new risks, which have an impact on the wave of populism and the further closure of the EU.

Mr. Gledis Gjipali, director of the European Movement in Albania, presented Albania's road to the EU and the pre-accession mechanism together with further steps in opening negotiations with the European Union.

The presentation of the expert of economy, Mr. Adrian Civici focused on the model of capitalism development in post-socialist countries, comparing them with the model built in Albania, in order to have a competitive economy with the economies of other European Union countries.