On 05 June, in the frame of International Environmental Day, the Aarhus Information Centre Vlora organized a roundtable with the topic “Initiatives in the field of Renewable Energies - an important step towards Sustainable Development”, with the support and in collaboration with CO-PLAN and Env.net in Albania, held in Orikum municipality.

The roundtable brought together local decision-making actors, representatives of the Regional Environmental Directorate, groups of interest, civil society representatives, local business representatives, the OSCE Presence in Albania and UNDP representatives. The roundtable in Orikum was to finalize a one-year process initiated by the Aarhus Information Centre, which began with public awareness of decision-makers, citizens, and business stakeholders and finalized the implementation in practice of the four pilot projects for equipping Public institutions (sports complex, gardens, nurseries, schools) with Solar Panels for hot water supply, with the financial support of UNDP project in Albania.

The interest shown towards renewable energy in general and solar panels in particular, remains high by local governments units in south Albania as well as by the stakeholders and groups of interests.

Orikum Mayor, Mr. Capoj said: "I would like to thank Vlora AIC not only for this initiative, in particular but in general for many projects implemented in Vlora Region in which the Orikum Municipality has participated. Cooperation has proven very fruitful and we as a municipality are open to further cooperation in the future. Since the start of AIC initiative, back in September 2013, a lot of interest has been shown in solar panels, especially by the private businesses (hotels) that have installed solar panels for hot water".

Certainly Vlora AIC initiative will not end with the finalization of the project. Together we can bring significant changes, harmonizing inter-institutional cooperation and increasing the citizen involvement through organized structures, such as the Citizens Advisory Committees. These seemingly small changes will be translated into concrete projects, as was the collaboration with the UNDP office in Tirana that allowed the Public Institutions device with solar panels for hot water supply.