Twinning of Four Municipalities
Category: Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Date: October 2019
Project Overview
Jobs of the Future for the EU Heritage Rejuvenation “#YouEU” is a European town-twinning project designed to promote youth engagement, cultural heritage preservation, and responsible tourism development. The initiative strengthens democratic and civic participation at the European level, enhancing citizens’ understanding of EU policymaking, intercultural dialogue, and volunteering.
By connecting municipalities from Albania, Italy, and Croatia, the project emphasizes the vital role of local cultural and natural heritage as a driver for future-oriented jobs, social inclusion, and sustainable territorial development.
Objectives
The overall objective is to foster active citizenship and democratic participation by involving young people in the protection, promotion, and sustainable use of European cultural heritage.
Specific objectives include:
Increasing youth engagement in cultural heritage and responsible tourism
Raising awareness of future jobs linked to heritage preservation and tourism innovation
Strengthening intercultural cooperation between European municipalities
Promoting EU values, civic participation, and local governance through twinning actions
A key awareness-raising event was held in Vinica, Croatia, gathering local authorities, civil society organizations, and young people from the partner municipalities.
Project Description
The project united municipalities from Albania, Italy, and Croatia to address shared challenges and opportunities in heritage preservation and youth participation. Municipalities, as custodians of cultural and natural heritage assets, played a central role in both the twinning agreement and project activities.
Through transnational cooperation, #YouEU contributed to:
Integrating heritage preservation into local development strategies
Enhancing youth awareness of employment opportunities in heritage and tourism sectors
Encouraging collaboration among local administrations, NGOs, and youth representatives
Additional information: Focus on top cultural and natural heritage sites in Vlora Municipality – the Albanian partner.
Completed Activities
Organization of a three-day international event in Vinica, Croatia, involving municipal representatives, NGOs, and youth to exchange good practices and know-how on EU cultural and natural heritage
Facilitation by InSET of Albania’s inclusion in the twinning network through the Municipality of Vlora, supporting the internationalization of local institutions
Coordination of travel and participation for the Vlora Municipality delegation
Signing of the twinning agreement among the municipalities of Vlora (Albania), Vinica (Croatia), Radenci (Slovenia? – note: original mentions Radenci, likely Slovenia), Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole (Italy), establishing long-term cooperation on cultural heritage and youth engagement
Promotion of project results via local communities, website content, social media, and public events
Project Future and Impact
The #YouEU project establishes a strong foundation for Albania’s continued participation in European cooperation initiatives focused on:
Cultural and natural heritage preservation
Youth employment and skills development
Local and regional cooperation
Sustainable and responsible tourism development
By building lasting municipal partnerships and actively engaging young people, the project supports long-term sustainable development, social cohesion, and deeper European integration at the local level.