The Congress took place under the warm hospitality provided generously - both as weather and hearts' heat - by the European University in Tirana, this year's host. A special thanks should be addressed to prof.dr. Enika Abazi, dean of the Faculty for Social Sciences of the University, who, as organiser on behalf of the hosting country, had spent much time and energy to provide not only auspicious conditions for a fruitful meeting but also the possibility to admire some of Albania's achievements and beauties.
The participants had the privilege to meet personally and listen to such scientists as prof.dr. Haakan Wiberg, former director of COPRI, Copenhagen, Denmark, prof.dr. Luc Reychler, from the University of Louvain and director of the Center of Peace Research, prof.dr.Egbert Jahn, University of Mannheim, dr. Mark Evans, Swansea University, prof.dr.Albert Doja, member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences, prof.dr. Judit Balazs, visiting professor at Higher Technological Institute of 10th of Romadan City, Egypt, prof.dr.Hanne-Margret Birckenbach of the Justus-Liebig University, Germany, prof.dr. Christian Wellmann, Kiel University and many others.
It was a fruitful meeting, where presentations were made and debates took place on topical themes like "Conflict and Identity in the Society of States", "EU Security Architecture and Enlargement", "EU Security and Peace Engagement with Southeast Europe", "Peace and values", "Western Balkans in the Euro-Atlantic Security Area", "Legal Aspects of Peace Management", Cultural Values and Peace Building".
A trip to Vlora, on the seaside of the Adriatic Sea occasioned the EuPRA Congres participants to see a bit of the new Albania, past, present and how the future is built right now, under our eyes.
The President of Paneuropa Foundation presented a contribution on "Enlargement of the European Union - a contribution to establishing a zone of peace, security, development and prosperity throughout Europe" and took part in the debates.
The next EuPRA Congress will take, most probably, in Finland, in 2011, so professor Unto Vesa promissed the participants. An invitation was also extended, on behalf of IPRA, to attend its world biannual conference in July 2009, in Sidney, Australia .