Mrs. Bregu is a distinguished leader in European integration, regional cooperation, and gender advocacy, with a multifaceted career spanning academia, media, politics, and international diplomacy.

She graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Tirana, where she later earned a Master’s degree in Social and Political Science. In 2005, she obtained a PhD in Sociology from the University of Urbino, Italy.

Mrs. Bregu began her career in academia in 1996 as a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, while simultaneously working in media since 1992. As an investigative journalist, she focused on human rights, shedding light on issues such as violence against women and children, human trafficking, and smuggling. In 2004, she was appointed as the national coordinator of Albania’s first National Gender Institute.

Her political career began in 2005 when she was elected as a Member of Parliament of Albania for three consecutive terms (2005-2017) with the Democratic Party (Centre-Right). She served as Minister of European Integration and Government Spokesperson (2007-2013) and later chaired the European Integration Committee (2013-2017) and the National Council for European Integration (2015-2017). A strong advocate for gender equality, she spearheaded legislative initiatives against gender-based and domestic violence and launched Albania’s first European School for public administration and civil society training on EU integration.

From 2019 to 2024, Mrs. Bregu served two mandates as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Under her leadership, the RCC secured key regional agreements, including the Common Regional Market for the Western Balkans (2020-2024, 2025-2028), the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and the South East Europe Strategy 2030. She also championed new flagship initiatives, such as Balkathon (a regional innovation contest), Women in Entrepreneurship, Youth Mental Health (in partnership with WHO), and Women in STEM (in partnership with UNDP).

With a deep commitment to European integration, economic development, and social progress, Mrs. Bregu continues to shape policies that drive regional cooperation and sustainable growth.