The Albanian Government, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates, is taking a concrete step to strengthen local government capacities in flood prevention and territorial management, through a €20 million fund dedicated to the creation of a specialized fleet for the cleaning and maintenance of drainage canals.

The initiative was presented during a meeting held in Durrës with the mayors of Albania’s municipalities, where the Minister of State for Local Government, Ervin Demo, underlined that this investment aims to fundamentally change the approach to floods, from post-emergency response to sustainable prevention and long-term planning.

“The €20 million investment is not for emergency reaction, but for prevention, so that municipalities do not face the same problems year after year”, Minister Demo stated.

A Dedicated Fleet Serving the Territory

The €20 million fund will be used to purchase specialized equipment for cleaning drainage canals, embankments, and other elements of protective infrastructure. The fleet will be organized to be deployed to municipalities based on concrete needs, ensuring:
• regular and planned cleaning of drainage canals;
• rapid intervention in cases of flood risk;
• shared and efficient use of capacities at regional and national level.

In emergency situations, the equipment can be reallocated from one area to another, ensuring flexibility and coordinated inter-institutional response.

From Crisis Response to Systematic Prevention

According to the Minister of State for Local Government, floods can no longer be treated as isolated events. Climate change and increasing pressure on the territory require a new approach, where infrastructure maintenance and prevention become an integral part of municipalities’ daily work.

This investment aims to build sustainable capacities, ensuring that the cleaning of drainage canals is not carried out only after heavy rainfall, but as a continuous and monitored process.

A Concrete Central–Local Government Partnership

The creation of a dedicated fleet for cleaning drainage canals represents a tangible example of partnership between central government and local authorities, where financial and technical resources are placed directly at the service of local communities.

Minister Demo emphasized that municipalities will play an active role in the use and coordination of this equipment, increasing their responsibility and capacity in territorial management and citizen protection.

Greater Safety and More Sustainable Development

The €20 million investment is a key element in strengthening territorial safety, reducing economic damage caused by floods, and ensuring more sustainable local development. It aims to ease the financial and operational burden on municipalities and to create better conditions for living and investment across the territory.

In conclusion, this initiative marks an important step toward modern flood-risk management, placing prevention and planning at the center of local government policies.