Amfora Director Geri Emiri Meets with Representatives of EU Institutions in Brussels

The Executive Director of the Amfora Centre, Geri Emiri, took part in the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) in Brussels and, over the course of five days, held meetings with representatives of EU institutions and international organisations that support independent journalism and civil society.

The meetings took place from 19 to 23 October, with most of Emiri’s meetings held individually with representatives of European Union institutions, providing opportunities for direct discussions on issues concerning Albania and the Western Balkans.

At the European Parliament, the programme included an introduction to how decisions are made within the EU, the role of Members of the European Parliament and the institution’s communication with citizens. Participants visited the European Parliament’s premises and learned about the services used to inform the public, including audiovisual services.

An important part of the visit was devoted to the European integration of Albania and the Western Balkans. At the European Commission, Emiri held meetings with representatives of departments responsible for the EU enlargement process, focusing on developments in the region and the candidate countries’ path towards membership.

Disinformation and the influence of foreign actors in the spread of manipulative information were among the topics discussed during meetings with representatives of the European Commission and the European External Action Service. These bodies address challenges related to information manipulation and public communication, including in the Western Balkans.

Transparency and institutional accountability to citizens were addressed during meetings with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Ombudsman. These institutions are responsible, respectively, for investigating fraud affecting the EU’s financial interests and examining complaints concerning maladministration within European institutions.

The visit also included meetings with organisations that support independent journalism and civil society. Among them were the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), an organisation that has previously supported the work of Amfora Media, as well as Civitates and Journalismfund Europe. Discussions focused on supporting independent media and strengthening civil society organisations in the Western Balkans.

During the meetings in Brussels, Emiri presented Amfora Media’s work in independent and investigative journalism, as well as the Resilience Observatory, an initiative of the Amfora Centre focused on monitoring and analysing disinformation, information manipulation and foreign interference in the information environment.

During the programme, participants also attended a European Commission press conference, visited the European Council’s Europa building and the House of European History. Established in 1974, the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) is a joint initiative of the European Parliament and the European Commission, aimed at strengthening relations with professionals and representatives of society from countries outside the EU. Participants are selected through an institutional selection process and follow personalised programmes tailored to their professional profiles and interests, holding direct meetings with representatives of European institutions.

The programme also provided opportunities to exchange experiences with international professionals from the media, civil society and politics, representing Europe, the United States of America, Asia and Africa. Participation in this professional network gave Amfora the opportunity to present its experience in independent journalism in Albania, learn about different international practices and expand its professional contacts for potential future collaborations.