Hello to all the readers of the SEEnews, I am Krisela Bufi, and since 1 August 2008 I am the Albanian contact point for the SEE Programme.

A few words about myself: I have started working for EU funded projects since 1998, but my main and most significant professional experience is the 5 year working period in the JTS of Interreg IIIA Adriatic Programme as Task Manager for Albania. Day to day management in the JTS is really a concrete experience for getting fully involved in a Cooperation Programme. You get in touch with the real issues of programme and project management. Since August 1^st, 2008 I'm the Project Manager of the direct grant "Support to the implementation of Cross-Border programmes in Albania, in the Framework of IPA Component II Cross-Border Cooperation". The objective of the grant is to support the implementation of the CBC programmes (Albania-Montenegro and Albania-FYROM) and the functioning of the related structures at national and Programme level (Operating Structure, Joint Monitoring Committees, Joint Technical Secretariats and antenna) and local level (local, regional authorities and the potential applicants) for an efficient and timely implementation of the cross-border programmes where Albania participates under the IPA Component II.

In addition to this, I am now also covering the position of Contact Point for SEE Programme. Albania participates in 6 territorial cooperation programmes under IPA Component II, but the SEE Programme is the first one which has launched the call for proposals. Notwithstanding the limited Albanian IPA allocations to this call, the great number of participating potential partners shows the grown interest they have in the cooperation objectives of this Programme.

The SEE is the only Programme which continues to cover the entire territory of Albania, the only transnational cooperation Programme (the other 5 programmes are CBC Programmes) and the only one for which, although no information and dissemination events prior and/or during the opening of the call were organized in Albania, the potential beneficiaries have been, in a sense by their own willingness and commitment, involved in an autonomous bottom-up approach of project preparation. I could say that previous partnership networks were the driven force for the Albanian participation to this first stage of submission of EoI.

However, we plan to organise in the future specific events, such as info-days and trainings addressed to the potential beneficiaries. Under the framework of the above mentioned grant, a training session on project preparation and management will be held specifically for the Albanian potential beneficiaries who will succeed in the second stage of full project applications submission under this call. A specific budget is also foreseen for translation into Albanian of main Programme documents. SEE articles and newsletters shall be as well forwarded periodically to them and the upcoming interactive IPA CBC Programmes website shall serve as a trait union among the beneficiaries, the programme and coordinating national structures.

Best wishes from Albania to all the SEEnews readers,

Krisela Bufi

Albanian Contact Point for the SEE Programme