RAISON D'ÊTRE
 

The European Center is a non-                  profit and independent                 organization, founded on January                1999. Its mission is to contribute                to the information and knowledge of                 the European realities and                 promote the process of European                integration of Albania.

               Its main goals are:

•  To offer information and promote knowledge on European realities, values and  organizations, including the EU, Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO, WEU, etc.
• To offer alternatives and policy proposals regarding EU-Albanian relations and European integration of Albania.
• To offer training on European issues.
 
            

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     The Founders of the Center:

      Ardian Dhima - MA in European Studies, "Ramon Lull Promotion", College of
      Europe, Natolin, Poland. Undergraduate studies in French Linguistics and
      Literature, University "Stendhal", Grenoble, France.
      Former Director of the Public Administration Program at the OSFA/Soros
      Foundation. Currently, Policy Program Director at the Institute for Policy
       and Legal Studies. Chairman of Board of the European Center
 

.       Ledi Bianku - Graduated in Law at the University of Tirana. LLM in
       European Law, "Tocqueville Promotion" College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium.
       Former legal advisor to the EC Delegation in Tirana (1995-1998) and to the
       OSCE Presence in Albania (1998 - 1999). Since 1993 Lecturer of Public
        International Law and European Law at the Faculty of Law, University of
       Tirana.  Since 1997 Lecturer of Human Rights Course at the Albanian School
       of Magistrates. Executive Director of the European Center
.
         Neritan Sejamini - Graduated in Physics at the University of Tirana. Studies
         on European Policies in Joint Vienna Institute. EC desk officer in the Ministry
         of Finance and Economy. Head of EU Assistance Unit at the Council of
         Ministers (1991-1995). Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for
         Contemporary Studies  in 1996-1997. Currently, Director of the Albanian
         Initiative Center and Visiting Scholar at George Washington University,
         Washington D.C., USA.
           .