Diaspora Summit, Minister Jaupaj Diaspora Essential for the Green Transition and European Integration

On the third day of the 4th Diaspora Summit, the focus was on the role of the Albanian diaspora in addressing environmental challenges and accelerating the green transition in Albania. Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj described the diaspora as a strategic partner in the country’s European integration process and sustainable development.
During the panel discussion, titled “The Albanian Diaspora as a Supporting Partner for European Integration and Sustainable Development,” the minister emphasized Chapter 27 of the negotiations with the European Union. He considers this chapter to be one of the most complex and costly due to the areas it covers, including water quality, waste management, climate change, and nature protection. He stated that Albania faces a substantial workload: around 400 legal and sub-legal acts are expected to be adopted within a year and a half by 29 institutions to align legislation with EU standards.
During this process, the minister emphasized that the private sector must play an important role alongside public investments, especially in advancing the green transformation. He emphasized the Albanian diaspora’s contribution to introducing modern models in areas such as the circular economy, recycling, and sustainable management.
One of the concrete initiatives presented was the “Create and Circulate” program, which aims to engage businesses from the diaspora in developing the green economy. He also emphasized the importance of protected areas, which account for around 22% of the country’s territory and represent significant potential for sustainable tourism development.
In this context, the minister presented the “Mountain Package” initiative, which aims to promote ecotourism and encourage investment in mountainous areas. He noted that nature-based tourism is becoming increasingly important, evidenced by the growing number of visitors to the country’s inland areas, including national parks and mountainous regions.
Regarding energy, it was noted that Albania ranks among the countries with the highest use of renewable energy, with nearly all energy production coming from hydropower and solar sources. Wind energy projects are also under development.
In conclusion, Minister Jaupaj emphasized that a key challenge is the shortage of experts in certain environmental fields, underscoring the importance of involving Albanian professionals from the diaspora in this process.