A group of 27 young political leaders, civil activists and public servants graduated from the "Albanian School of Political Studies", a school set up by the Council of Europe and supported by Switzerland. The graduates successfully completed a one-year study cycle, which includes lectures, study visits and research papers focused on good governance and important reforms in the country.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Vasilika Hysi, the Swiss Ambassador in Tirana, Adrian Maître and the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana Jutta Gützkow, distributed the certificates and congratulated the participants on this important moment. The school’s program remains unique, on view of the fact that it brings together representatives of different political forces but also main decision-makers, local authorities, civic activists and opinion makers aiming the experience exchanging, dialogue facilitation and generation of new ideas.

Deputy Speaker Hysi invited the participants to offer their expertise to the parliamentary committees and the integration agenda of Albania. "It is in the interest of the country and of the Albanian Parliament, that all of you participants and alumni of the School, contribute with your expertise in the structures of the Albanian Parliament regarding negotiation of chapters of European integration and other consultative processes," said Hysi.

Ambassador Maître underlined in his speech: “Positive change comes from agents of change and these are individuals and groups with values, new ideas and visions. Also, with the courage and boldness to bring these values, ideas and visions forward and implement them. I see here today 27 agents of change”.

Ms Gützkow emphasized the important role played by the School and its alumni network in transmitting the values ​​of the Council of Europe in Albania. “Nowadays European democracies are exposed to many threats and it is more than ever important to reinforce democratic societies based on a political culture marked by pluralism, tolerance and dialogue. The Council of Europe counts on the School of Political Studies to engage young political and civic leaders in reflection and action to address these problems”, she said.

Mr Erjon Tase, Director of the Academy of Political Studies, thanked both Council of Europe and Swiss government for their support. “Albanian society needs political dialogue and confidence for a better future. The graduates of the School are a positive example and provide hope for those disappointed young people who want to leave Albania”.

Two graduates, Mr Florian Tahiri, deputy Mayor of Durrës, and Ms Bjorka Duka, assistant to the Minister of Justice, addressed on behalf of their generation.

Part of the ceremony was also the presentation of the success story of alumni Admir Malaj, for his four-year civic activism together with the students of the Department of Pharmacy in the ratification by Albania of the Council of Europe convention on pharmaceutical safety "Pharmacopeia".

The ceremony continued with the annual celebration meeting of the school's alumni network. The school takes proud of over 300 alumni who are involved in various national and regional initiatives.

The Albanian School of Political Studies was founded in Albania in 2007 by the Council of Europe and is part of an extensive network of schools in 21 countries with emerging democracies in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The school aims to promote a modern political culture based on the values ​​of pluralism, tolerance and dialogue and to build a community of young political and democratic leaders.