A Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was carried out to help prepare the conference and ensure that Albania receives effective assistance. The report was drafted by the European Commission, the UN, the World Bank and Albania’s authorities. According to the report, around 220,000 people were affected by the earthquake. The reconstruction is estimated to take about five years and cost approximately EUR one billion.

The conference, which was organized by the European Commission, brought together the EU member states and just under a hundred delegations representing third countries and international financial institutions.

Minister Jacek Czaputowicz pledged EUR 2.7 million from Poland’s budget for the reconstruction of Albania, which makes Poland one of the biggest EU donors for Albania’s recovery. This contribution testifies to Poland’s friendship and solidarity with Albania, our ally in NATO. It also shows that Poland continues to support the Western Balkans. Poland’s active engagement in the region was also visible during our presidency of the Berlin Process last year.

Poland strongly supports the Western Balkans’ European perspective. We firmly believe that the EU enlargement policy is the best means to ensure stability, security and prosperity both in the Western Balkans and in the whole Europe.

MFA Press Office

photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA