Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s Urban Renaissance program has fulfilled its original mission, announcing a new stage of urban development during the presentation of the “Urban Renaissance 2.0” initiative.
Rama described the new program as the beginning of a fresh phase of national development, arguing that the original Urban Renaissance initiative successfully transformed cities and their main public spaces.
He recalled that following the latest elections, he had described his party’s 83 parliamentary seats as both a blessing and a major responsibility, stressing that the new mandate requires a higher level of ambition.
According to the Prime Minister, expectations have now risen significantly, making it necessary to move beyond the achievements of the first Urban Renaissance program. He also touched on the issue of unemployment, saying that while official figures show positive trends, they should not be a reason for complacency.
“This program is one of the instruments that will support this new beginning, based on the understanding that the Urban Renaissance, as we have known it, has completed its mission. Now we must move forward.
Before addressing some of the points I have prepared, I want to return to what the minister said about unemployment. The figures are real, but it would be a serious mistake to treat them as a reason for self-satisfaction. Instead, we must acknowledge the concerns of those who ask what kind of jobs are being created and whether people are being fairly compensated.
The Urban Renaissance marked our emergence from a long period of decline and deterioration that affected every corner of the country. If the central square is the face of a city, then our city squares once reflected neglect and abandonment, including Skanderbeg Square at the time.
Our goal was to reverse that decline and restore cities as places where people can enjoy a better social life. Squares, roads, street lighting, schools, kindergartens, water supply and sewage systems—all these elements became part of the Urban Renaissance. People began to believe that Albania could be beautiful not only in its mountains or along its coastline, but also in its cities, presenting a welcoming image to both residents and visitors,” Rama said.
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