Erald Kapri in Brussels, evaluates the figure of Lazar Fundo: Essential originator of the European Union

2026-02-14 16:41:00, Aktualitet CNA

Erald Kapri in Brussels, evaluates the figure of Lazar Fundo: Essential

MP Erald Kapri has praised the figure of the prominent intellectual Llazar (Zai) Fundo, while he is in the European Parliament, in the Altiero Spinelli building. The latter, an originator of the European Union, after being interned by the Italians, met the Albanian intellectual, Llazar (Zai) Fundo, in the Ventoterna prison.

While Spinelli remembers Llazar (Zai) Fundo with great affection in his memoirs, Kapri states that together they created and founded the idea of ??the Europe of the future. The MP emphasizes that Albanian intellectuals, especially Llazar (Zai) Fundo, have made a fundamental contribution to what is known today as the European Union.

"Here in the European Parliament, in the Spinelli building. One of the originators of the European Union. Altiero Spinelli was in the 1940s in the Ventoterna prison in Italy, interned by the fascists. There he also met many Albanian intellectuals. Among them was Llazar Fundo, whom Spinelli remembers with great affection in his memoirs. Together they discussed, created, founded and launched the idea for the Europe of the future, which would be a united Europe, a democratic Europe and which later gave birth to the European Union. So Albanians, especially our intellectuals like Llazar Fundo, have an essential contribution to what is known today as the greatest project of Europe: the European Union," says Kapri in the video posted on social networks.

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His post also states that the story of Llazar (Zai) Fundo is a reminder of the price many Albanians have paid for freedom of thought.

"Altiero Spinelli and Llazar Fundo met in Ventotene prison, where ideas for a freer and more united Europe took shape among people who challenged dictatorships. Spinelli would become one of the architects of the European project, while Fundo would later face communist repression, being tortured and killed on the orders of Enver Hoxha. His story is a reminder of the price many Albanians have paid for freedom of thought. Recognizing this connection means understanding that the roots of Europe are also personal stories, ideas and sacrifices," reads the full post by MP Erald Kapri. /CNA