TIRANA, February 4 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the closing event of the 10th call of the National Internship Program for excellence students. The National Youth Agency organized the event, marking 10 years of linking work experience with employment.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said institutions should survey all graduates of the program. According to him, anonymous feedback would help improve future editions.

Meanwhile, Rama focused on the Youth Guarantee project. He described it as a major initiative developed by the government together with the European Commission.

According to the Prime Minister, the project aims to identify young people with potential who remain inactive in education or employment. In addition, the initiative seeks to strengthen economic support for young people.

He explained that the Youth Guarantee also offers training and professional skills development. As a result, the project creates concrete employment opportunities and supports continued education and internships.

Rama added that the initiative promotes youth participation in social and economic life. He noted that the project has a budget of about EUR 65 million and remains financially sustainable.

Earlier in the event, attention turned to the results of the National Internship Program. Rama said the program has led to the permanent employment of about 1,600 people in public administration.

He stressed that these figures carry weight due to the limited size of the public sector. At the same time, he pointed out that these young professionals have strong potential for future leadership roles.

Moreover, the Prime Minister explained that the program has addressed the lack-of-experience barrier. In the past, this requirement prevented many young people from succeeding in civil service competitions.

According to Rama, the internship program now provides a clear transition from university to public employment. He described this shift as essential for merit-based recruitment.

Later, the Prime Minister encouraged participants who secured one-year contracts to continue building skills beyond working hours. He underlined the growing demand for high-quality human resources in public institutions.

Meanwhile, Rama addressed young people who did not qualify. He urged them to continue applying and seek other competitive opportunities.

He also said the government continues to reform public administration legislation. According to him, the reform aims to increase flexibility and expand opportunities for young people.

Finally, Rama said the government will continue policies that attract top graduates and active youth into public service. He added that the program’s results remain encouraging and support this long-term approach.

/a.p./