An event entitled “Connecting Rivers to the Coastal Areas and Seas” was held today, marking an important milestone in Albania’s efforts to strengthen marine and coastal environmental governance in line with European Union standards.

The event brought together high-level representatives of Albanian institutions, international partners, coastal municipalities, academia, and environmental experts, highlighting that effective marine governance is essential not only for environmental protection, but also for economic resilience, biodiversity conservation and the well-being of coastal communities.

Organised within the framework of the EU and Austria funded EU4Rivers project, the event also marked the official launch of its new Marine Component, supporting Albania in implementing the recently adopted Law on Marine Strategy and advancing reforms under EU Chapter 27 (Environment and Climate Change).

Opening remarks were delivered by Mr Silvio Gonzato, EU Ambassador to Albania, Mr Martin Schaller, Deputy Ambassador of Austria to Albania, and Mr Sofjan Jaupaj, Minister of Environment.

EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato said: “Protecting the marine environment is not only about nature – it is an investment in people and the economy. With the adoption of the Law on the Marine Environment Protection Strategy, Albania has taken an important step on its EU path. The real challenge now is implementation. Through EU4Rivers, we are supporting Albania in turning legislation into concrete results, from cleaner waters and safer food to sustainable jobs and thriving coastal communities.”

Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj

“Our rivers, seas and nature cannot be the result of anyone’s responsibility, new standards must be set at every step. And we will set these standards together, which is why I am happy the launch of this component of EU4Rivers project comes at the same time as the coordinated plan against plastic in the territory, that the Albanian Government is preparing”.

Deputy Ambassador of Austria Martin Schaller said:

“Austria is proud to support Albania in strengthening marine and coastal governance through EU4Rivers. This work is about building long-term capacity: strengthening the link between institutions and science, improving monitoring, and fostering cross-sectoral cooperation. The ‘source-to-sea’ approach helps turn evidence and expertise into concrete measures that protect ecosystems and support sustainable development for present and future generations.”

The Marine Component expands EU4Rivers from river basin management to a comprehensive “source-to-sea” approach, recognising the interconnection between inland waters, coastal areas and marine ecosystems. The project will support Albania to translate the Law on Marine Strategy into concrete implementation measures aligned with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. 

Discussions focused on strengthening scientific knowledge, improving monitoring systems, enhancing institutional coordination, and clarifying roles and responsibilities among national authorities and coastal municipalities. Participants concluded with a shared understanding of next steps and a renewed commitment to work together towards a robust marine assessment and governance framework for Albania.

The EU4Rivers project (2023–2028) is funded by the European Union with EUR 8.5 million and co-funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of International Partnerships Austria with EUR 1.9 million and implemented by ADA, in close cooperation with the Agency for Management of Water resources (AMBU) and Ministry of Environment of Albania.