You are here: Home / Municipal life / International / Twinning and partnerships / Elbasan [Albania]
Document Actions
News image - click to view full image

Elbasan [Albania]

Elbasan is a major city in central Albania with a population of 140,000. It is located on the Shkumbini River, approximately 20 miles south east of the capital, Tirana.

The city boasts a rich cultural heritage and its history dates back more than 2,000 years, combining eastern and western civilisations. The city possesses a substantial ethnographic museum and a fortified historical centre.

A university city, Elbasan also holds a place of significant importance in the domains of training and teaching.

Links with Liège

Following the visit of Ambassador Tepelena to Liège on 31st May 2012, on 25th June 2012 the city council approved the agreement in principle to set up a partnership between the cities of Liège and Elbasan.

On 14th November 2013, a large Albanian delegation was welcomed to the City Hall and the official signing of the charters took place in Elbasan on 14th May 2014.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Ambassador Van Calster and representatives of Walloon companies active in Elbasan. The bases of the first partnership with a Balkan State were thus in place as well and vectors for cooperation will concern the cities' areas of expertise, with specific focus on environmental issues. Joint membership of the French-speaking community will also be a starting point for many projects.