General Secretary of MLG Mrs. Rozafa Ukimeraj was appointed from the EU to participate in the European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) which is organized by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European External Action Service. The participants of this program are closely acquainted with the values, functioning, policies, activities, thus helping to promote the common interests of the EU and strengthen long-term relations between the EU and other countries.
Due to the pandemic, this program is being held virtually and the topics to be discussed are as follows:
· Relations between the EU and Kosovo
· EU and civil society and opportunities for cooperation with Kosovo
· The rule of law and the role of local authorities
· EU gender policies and Kosovo’s challenges in achieving gender equality
During these two weeks, the General Secretary has held meetings with representatives of the European Union institutions and the civil society. Following these meetings, the Secretary of MLG also met with the member of Austria in the European Parliament, Mr. Lucas Mandl member of the European People’s Party group.
During this program, the Secretary had separate meetings with David Hoic from the European Economic and Social Committee, who discussed Cooperation with Civil Society from the Western Balkans, while the next meeting was with the representatives of the European Committee of the Regions.
Meetings have also continued with Mr. Tatiana Mrazikova and Andre Demunter representative from the European Parliament (External Relations Division, specialists in the Western Balkans).
The meetings have continued with representatives of the EUROCITIES Civil Society Group, representatives of the European Commission and Ana O’Donoghue and Anaïs Andrä from the Directorate-General for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations – European Integration – Rule of Law Office and representatives from Council of European Municipalities and Regions.