The EU hosts the International Donors’ Conference for Albania on Monday

The European Union will organise the International Donors’ Conference on Monday, 17 February 2020 in Brussels to support the reconstruction efforts in Albania after the earthquake that struck the country on 26 November 2019. Hosted by the Commission, the Conference will gather the EU and its Member States, the Western Balkan partners, representatives from other countries, as well as from international organisations and civil society. President Ursula von der Leyen will open the Conference at 14:30 together with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama and President of the European Council, Charles Michel. This will be followed first by a presentation by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, of the initial emergency response and then the ‘Post-Disaster Needs Assessment’, carried out by the EU, UN, World Bank and the Government of Albania that will serve as a basis for the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi,will open and close the pledging session, which will start at 16:30. President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Rama will have a press point at the Berlaymont (VIP corner) at approximately 18:45. EbS will follow the conference and retransmit most of it live. Photos will also be available. More information, including the full agenda, the needs assessment report and our video campaign are available on our dedicated website where the whole Conference will be web streamed.