The EU and the Municipality of Përmet inaugurated 3 new Youth and Recreation centres in Përmet municipality. Total cost of the renovations was over 210,000 EUR, of which the EU has provided over 90% of the funds. The first location was the newly renovated Youth Centre in Permet city, which will offer 7 public services to over 100 youngsters in the area. The centre will host leisure, educative and awareness raising activities as well as a career counselling office, supporting youth creativity, talent and economic empowerment. The EU provided €162,000 from a total cost of €180,000 of the renovation. These works are part of the EU’s EU4Municipalities programme, which supports development of Albanian municipalities. Under this programme 19 Municipalities are benefitting from € 1.7 million of EU funds.

 EU and the Municipality of Përmet further inaugurated a recreation centre and recreational rooms in the city of Përmet and in Petran village.    A renovated recreation centre in Petran’s village will serve as a tourism and cultural information point, offering entrepreneurship possibilities for local inhabitants. About 25,000 tourists visiting the area per year will benefit from these services. The recreational rooms in Petran’s ‘At Stath Melani’ School and in the city center of Përmet will house ping-pong rooms, enhancing the social welfare and local wellbeing of the young population.  At least 5,000 inhabitants are expected to benefit from these facilities.

The renovations were supported through the EU-funded programme for socio-economic development, ‘Key People-Key Knowledge’. The Project’s total value amounts to €487,229 and EU covered 95% of the total costs, by contributing €462,868.   The EU delegation praises the work of the Municipality of Përmet in supporting the youth and promoting an active and inclusive engagement of the citizens of Përmet, to such initiatives. ‘This is an excellent practice that contributes to creating a high level of ownership among all segments of population’ said Marie Augouy.