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Author: WeBalkans

Statement by President von der Leyen on the occasion of her official visit to Kosovo

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Dear President,  
Thank you very much. It is very good to be back in Pristina and to see you again. Indeed, we had a very good meeting with intensive talks and we took stock of the progress that Kosovo achieved in the past year. And there was a lot of progress, you are absolutely right. You have been working hard. I know that your country continues to demonstrate an enormous commitment to the European path. You have shown time and again your commitment to the values of the European Union. And especially most recently again, with your full alignment with the EU sanctions in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. You are undertaking ambitious reforms. I know that this is easily said but difficult to be done, and I really commend you for that. And this hard work that Kosovo has undertaken is reflected in our last enlargement report, which is very positive for Kosovo. Your efforts to strengthen democracy and the rule of law have been recognised. You have also made a lot of progress and efforts on fighting corruption. So, that is all very good. You are building, step by step, not only the judiciary but also a very solid market economy. This part is also highly recognised by the European Commission and it shows in the report.  
I hear you loud and clear on the topic of visa liberalisation and you know you have an ally in the Commission, and in me personally, on that topic. You are right, I think Kosovo deserves the visa liberalisation. I know how important it is for you. You have fulfilled all the benchmarks. Indeed, it was our assessment already in July 2018. But we have now reaffirmed that you have fulfilled all the necessary criteria and we stand by it. Now, our task is to convince the whole European Council.  Many members of the European Council are on your side. It is very good that these discussions have restarted. We will work very intensively with the Czech Presidency. It needs a lot of diplomatic effort and explanation and work, back and forth. You can count on me personally, you can count on us in the Commission to do everything to help you on your way, knowing that you are doing this impressive work.  
You are doing all this impressive work against a very difficult backdrop. And that is the atrocious war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine. It is sending shock waves through the entire world. And it is unbelievable how cruel and brutal the destruction that Russia brings onto the Ukrainian people is.  Russia is terrorising the citizens of Ukraine, deliberately bombing and targeting civil infrastructure in the attempt to cut off Ukrainian men, women and children from electricity, water, heating, with the winter approaching. And we see that Russia is using energy very strategically as a weapon, manipulating the markets. And you also feel here in Kosovo, of course, the knock-on effects of this unbelievable behaviour – with the rising energy prices and the difficulties in security of supply. And you have been affected, too, as you said.  
But rest assured, the European Union will never give in to this blackmail. And we are in this together because we are in one Energy Union. So we stand side by side. And our response is unity and it is solidarity. We have to tackle this crisis; we will tackle this crisis. And we are in this together because we are in one Energy Union. So for you, it is important that you have full access to the joint procurement of gas. I know that is important for the region, not so important for Kosovo, but you are invited to join the platform for the joint procurement of gas. You will of course benefit from the discussions and the legal proposals, which we have in the European Union concerning caps on gas prices at the so-called TTF level, but also from the discussions on the influence that gas prices have on electricity prices. In other words: We are doing everything necessary to tame the high energy prices and the high electricity prices. And of course, as we are in one Energy Union, you will benefit from that, too.  
But right now, you need immediate support, immediate financial budget support. So we will grant EUR 75 million for the immediate support to vulnerable households or vulnerable businesses. And we will finalise all the necessary procedures until the end of the year so that you can get the funding for your budget as of January. Then, there is another piece of investment in grants, these are EUR 500 million for the whole region, where we indeed want to support you on your path towards energy independence and security of supply. This is the investment in renewables first and foremost, but also in energy connections throughout Europe, more energy efficiency. But, as I said, the most important for us is the investment in renewable energy. Because renewable energy is not only good for the climate, it is good for the independence of our region. These renewables energies are home-grown and they create good jobs here at home. The support will be channelled under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. As you mentioned, I know that a lot of important work is already done here in Kosovo on the energy efficiency measures, in the building sector. I commend you for the plans of installation of photovoltaic panels, the upgrade of the district heating with clean energy in eight cities in Kosovo.  
I am very curious to go to the project that I will visit soon, the Faculty of Architecture of Pristina, a very important project that we are funding and which enables to switch from heavy-fuel oil to waste heat energy. So it is really a double approach: Getting rid of the waste but in a sustainable way. And you get out of it the heating for the district heating that you need. So this is improving not only the environment, but also the life of the inhabitants of Pristina.  
Dear President,  
To reconfirm: Kosovo’s place is in the European Union. I am deeply convinced of that. And you are showing it on a daily basis. I will always say that Europe is not complete without Kosovo. That is very clear. And with Russia’s war waging against Ukraine, our relations with our Western Balkan partners are more important than ever and have to be intensified. You said, rightly so, that it is an investment in peace, stability and prosperity of our shared continent. So rest assured that the European Union is more committed than ever to the enlargement process. We will support you as well as possible to join us in the European Union. For that, I know a lot of topics are still to be tackled. But thank you very much again for the very good talks we did have. We went in detail into the different challenges. And I am very confident that by working together, we will move forward and one day you will be a member of the European Union. And I am waiting for that as much as you are.  
Thank you very much.

President von der Leyen in the Western Balkans to discuss EU support to deal with the energy crisis

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Russia’s energy blackmail and manipulation of the markets is not sparing the Western Balkans. The EU is determined to support our partners in coping with high energy prices and improving their energy security in the long term. This is the context of President von der Leyen‘s visit to the Western Balkans this week. President first visited the Republic of North Macedonia, where she  had meetings with President Stavo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski. On Thursday morning, President von der Leyen  traveled to Pristina, Kosovo, where she met with President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. In the afternoon, the President traveled to Tirana, Albania, where she met with President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama.
 
On Friday morning, she will travel to Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, the President will meet with the newly elected members of the country’s Presidency, as well as the elected members of the Parliamentary Assembly and selected representatives of society. In the afternoon, President von der Leyen will travel to Belgrade, in Serbia, where she will meet President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Ana Brnabić. She will also visit the Gas Interconnector Serbia-Bulgaria in the village of Jelašnica, together with President Vučić. Lastly, on Saturday, the President will be in Podgorica, in Montenegro, where she will meet with President Milo Đukanović and Prime Minister Dritan Abazović. She will visit the project ‘Trans-Balkan Electricity Corridor: Grid Section in Montenegro’.

EU increases support for border and migration management in the Western Balkans

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The Commission adopted a recommendation to the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations of upgraded European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) status agreements between the EU and Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission is also adopting today a new assistance package worth €39.2 million under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) to strengthen border management in the Western Balkans.  
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: “We are committed to supporting our partners in the Western Balkans and strengthening our cooperation on migration management on the ground. Therefore, we propose to negotiate status agreements under the new legal framework that would allow for the deployment of Frontex to all four partner countries with the full power of its mandate, to ensure that their borders continue to be respected and protected in line with European best practices.”  
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “This package is timely, as migration remains an area where we need to work even more closely with our Western Balkan partners. Given the increased migratory pressure in the region, we are focusing on strengthening border protection, fighting the smuggling networks and stepping up returns from region. To this end, we will provide increased political and financial help. Between 2021 and 2024, we intend to increase our funding by 60% in total, to at least €350 million for our Western Balkan partners. This will support the Western Balkans in all areas of developing effective migration management systems, including asylum and reception, border security and returns. We count on the commitment our Western Balkan partners to make these actions a success.”  
With today’s proposal, the Commission with the support of Frontex will strengthen the capacity of the Western Balkans’ partners in their migration management, fight against smuggling and ensuring security. Under the currently existing status agreements between Frontex and Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, deployment of the standing corps may only take place at the countries’ borders with the EU and without exercising executive powers. Under the new legal framework, the status agreement will allow Frontex standing corps to be deployed in the third country both at the EU border and at the borders with the third countries and exercise the executive powers. Therefore, new status agreements will better support and strengthen cooperation on border management in the Western Balkans.

Third generation of Young European Ambassadors from the Western Balkans join the network

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60 new leaders, activists and young voices from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia  joined the Young European Ambassadors Network. The Official Launch of the 3rd generation of the Young European Ambassadors event  was organised on 21 October in the 2022 European Youth Capital– Tirana, Albania, while all the regional partners and media were be able to follow the event with open-access on webalkans.eu, as well as WeBalkans and DG NEAR Facebook live.

 

The candidates were selected by Representatives of the European Commission, the WeBalkans team, and the Western Balkans Expert Jury made up of prominent activists, journalists, musicians, educators from the region.  Over 36,000 votes were cast from all over the region, showing that young people in the Western Balkans are eager, ready and willing to use the opportunities offered by the European Union and share them with their peers wherever they are.

 

The 60 winners will join the network of already 120 active YEAs who were selected in 2020 and 2021, thus making a total of 180 young people in the network who will take part in local and regional activism initiatives, EU programmes and projects, conferences, cultural events, and study trips in order to expand their skills and sphere of influence.

 

The names of selected YEAs will be published soon on the webalkans.eu

Statement by President von der Leyen on the occasion of her official visit to North Macedonia

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Thank you so much dear Prime Minister, dear Dimitar,

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It is so great to be back here in Skopje. And indeed, I vividly remember my last visit four months ago, when I came here to address the parliament of North Macedonia. As you can imagine, I also very clearly remember what we have promised on that day. And, yes, we have promised that if North Macedonia with its parliament is able to take the necessary steps, it would lead to the opening of accession negotiations. It would then start the screening process of the EU acquis, without any delay. And above all, that we would fully respect your identity and your language, that is the Macedonian language.

 

And I must say, dear Dimitar, that it took a lot of leadership, that you have shown, and it took the parliament of North Macedonia a lot of courage to cross that threshold. And I am so glad that you did. Because it led to that historic day of July, when we finally opened accession negotiations. Dear Prime Minister, as I promised, the screening of the acquis started immediately. It is now firmly on track and the negotiation process is gaining momentum. And there is very good work being done.

 

And finally, indeed, on your language: I promised you that we would get the Frontex agreement signed, translated into the Macedonian language. No footnote, no asterisk, on an equal footing with all the 24 languages of the European Union. And today, we delivered. As I said, there are 24 official languages in the European Union. I am deeply convinced that it will not take too long until we have 25 official languages. Because the Macedonian language is such a beautiful language. I really want to thank Commissioner Johansson for her tireless work on the agreement. And this agreement is not only very important because it strengthens our cooperation on migration but also because it shows that there can be no doubt that the Macedonian language is your language. And we fully respect that.

 

North Macedonia is now moving forward along the European path. That is what our latest enlargement report also shows. We have just published this enlargement report. And I must really congratulate you. It is amazing to see how determined you are moving forward: You have strengthened your democracy. You have strengthened your rule of law. You have made progress in the reform of your justice system. You are developing a solid market economy that has already proven its resilience. Congratulations on the progress, on the success so far. And I know that you are – and listening to you I am deeply convinced of it – determined to keep up the good speed, the good pace to move on on the path towards the European Union. And I am very aware that you are doing all this against a very challenging backdrop. That is Russia’s brutal war against our friends and neighbours in Ukraine. This war is bringing cruelty and destruction to the Ukrainian people. And it is sending shock waves through the entire world. As we all know and see, Russia is using energy, for example, as a weapon and it is heavily manipulating the energy market. This results in rising energy prices and in problems in security of supply. And, yes, North Macedonia has been affected, too. But rest assured: We are feeling the same pressure, but we will not give in, not a single centimetre.

 

Rest assured that the solidarity and unity we show in the European Union also means solidarity and unity with North Macedonia. Because we are in this together. And this means that we will solve this crisis and we will overcome this crisis together. We will keep supporting our friends in Ukraine. And we will be very strong and determined to make sure that here in the European Union there is the solidarity and the unity that we need. My message today to the citizens of North Macedonia is very clear: The European Union is by your side. We are in this together. We will go through this together and we will overcome this crisis together and move towards a better future. We are now putting forward an energy support package for the whole Western Balkan region. It begins with EUR 80 million in grants here for North Macedonia as immediate budget support. It will help address the impact of the high energy prices on your citizens and on your businesses. We will finalise this by the end of the year so that you can get the funding already in January. But of course, more will come. For example, there are EUR 500 million in grants for the whole region to invest in what is so necessary now to get our independence: to invest in energy connections; to invest in energy efficiency; and of course to invest in renewable energy. We have spoken about the fact that we need to be self-sufficient regarding energy. So, for example, the renewable energy that is home-grown, that creates good jobs here and that makes us independent of Russian fossil fuels.

 

This support – and more financial support – will be channelled under the so-called Economic and Investment Plan. As you know, the Investment Plan is already at work with investments in wind parks, for example, in solar power plants – I was very happy to hear that you are planning to intensify this work –, and with new gas interconnections between your country and Serbia and Kosovo that are also planned. Finally, it will also enable you to participate in the European joint procurement for pipeline gas and LNG. In the European Council, we have decided that we want to purchase gas on the global market together because this strengthens our purchasing power. We invite you, North Macedonia, to join us, to be with us, so that we go to the market together. And of course, you are also benefitting from all the decisions we have taken in the last days, the legal proposals that we have taken to reduce the prices of gas in the European Union, but more importantly the price of electricity, because we are in one Energy Union. And this means that whatever we do, we do it together. As I said, unity and solidarity.

 

Dear Dimitar, it was touching and moving to listen to you. The people of North Macedonia, and you and your government, and many people in this country, have shown so much commitment to European Union values. Therefore, I am indeed deeply convinced that you will move forward on your path to membership. You deserve to move forward on the path to membership. It was touching for me to listen to what you said about young people in North Macedonia. Yes, they are dreaming of Europe, but I am also deeply convinced that they are dreaming of North Macedonia in the European Union, a place where they want to shape the future of North Macedonia. You can rely on us and we know that we can rely on you. I know that you still have a way ahead of you. Because of the way I got to know you and the determination that I have seen, and this parliament I have spoken to, the people of North Macedonia that I have met, I am deeply convinced that you are able to make the dream of your young people in North Macedonia come true. Because let me tell you that I am deeply convinced that the European Union is not complete without North Macedonia. We want to have you with us. We are friends, we are partners. And one day, we are going to be together in one European Union.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Photo credits: European Union

Border management: EU signs agreement with North Macedonia

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On 26 October, the European Union and North Macedonia signed an agreement on operational cooperation in border management with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski witnessed the signing of the agreement by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Czech Ambassador to North Macedonia Jaroslav Ludva representing the Czech Presidency of the Council, on behalf of the EU, and by Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, on behalf of North Macedonia.  
Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas said: “North Macedonia’s ever closer cooperation on migration is part of its EU path. The signature of this status agreement with Frontex is a strong testament to this. Migration is something we can only manage by working together.“  
Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said: “I am glad to sign this status agreement today as it will strengthen our cooperation on migration and border management. Frontex will be able to deploy standing corps teams to work hand in hand with border guards of North Macedonia, preventing cross-border crime, in particular smuggling and trafficking of human beings, and ensuring the security of the citizens of North Macedonia and the European Union.”  
Strengthened operational cooperation between Western Balkans partners and Frontex will contribute to addressing irregular migration and further enhance security at the EU’s external borders. Frontex already deploys around 300 officers in the region, including via joint operations at the Union’s external borders with Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia under the current status agreements. To ensure the implementation of the status agreement, an Operational Plan will be agreed directly between Frontex and the national authorities of North Macedonia. It will allow Frontex to assist North Macedonia in border management, carry out joint operations and deploy personnel both to the border with the EU, as well with borders of neighbouring Western Balkans partners. This will help to address increasing irregular migration and cross-border crime.

Better communication of projects on art, culture and public space

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An EU-funded project supports an NGO from Kosovo to upgrade their social media capacities.

Foundation 17 is a non-governmental organisation from Kosovo initiated by activists Nita Zeqiri and Ajete Kerqeli. Their cooperation initially started as a collaboration for creating visual and intellectual artistic work that explores psychological and social perspective through video-experimental art. They had ideas and motivation, but although these two elements were important, they were not enough: the activists needed support in terms of more collaborators, funds and – most importantly – working and exhibition space. As they were aware that these problems were faced by most artists in Kosovo, they decided to start an initiative that would help not only themselves, but also the Kosovan cultural scene in general.

As they were beginners in this business and it was difficult to get funds from donors, they decided to rent and refurbish a space with the funds from their own savings, and launched a project space which is open also to other artists and organisations.

“Foundation 17 seeks to foster positive change in society by empowering communities through cultural activism.”

Liri Hashani joined Foundation 17 three months after the launch of Project Space 17, initially as a project space assistant later promoted to be social media and outreach coordinator. She explains that the organisation was built on the personal experience of the founders and the need to restore the function of alternative public spaces. In addition, they believed that art and culture are means that can be used to initiate important social change. As Liri summarises it, “Foundation 17 seeks to foster positive change in society by empowering communities through cultural activism”.

Since their launch in 2018, the organisation has implemented a number of projects by bringing together new ideas from people of different backgrounds and professions, by uniting art, touching on different social issues and trying to engage young people in different forms.

One of their programmes is Metamorphosis, which aims to bring arts and culture into dialogue in order to discuss the importance of using public space. By reviving and revitalising abandoned buildings even if for a single day, the goal is to document the collective memory of a past that is rarely talked about, and to address the use of public space for the benefit of the community. So far, they have intervened in four abandoned spaces where they had direct artistic interventions but also produced publications that present and analyse the connection between buildings, monuments and public awareness.

Another programme is Galeria 17 where they have rented and revitalised an old car mechanic workshop, turning it into a permanent art exhibition space through a crowdfunding campaign with the support of the artistic community. With a distinct focus on social issues, artists and curators in Galeria 17 experiment with concepts, ideas and space.

“The EU support was very helpful, because it enabled me to improve my skills but also enabled me to see another perspective on how social media should be coordinated. “

About the project 

EU TACSO is a regional project, funded by the European Union, that improves the capacity and role of civil society organisations (CSOs). The project assists CSOs to take an active part in democratic processes in the region, and stimulates an enabling environment for civil society and pluralistic media development.

The project works in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The EU TACSO project is a part of the Civil Society Facility EU mechanism that provides support to CSOs in those countries that are not yet part of the EU. CSOs play an important role for the EU as key actors in supporting their countries’ accession process.

However, the organisation has also had support from international donors in implementing their programmes and upgrading their management and administration capacities. One of the projects that supported them was the EU’s Technical Assistance to Civil Society Organisations in the Western Balkans and Turkey (EU TACSO). Liri explains that they had had regular communication activities, however, they were still working to upgrade their social media strategy, and this was her first job as a social media coordinator. EU TACSO supported Liri with training which was followed up by one-to-one coaching. “The EU support was very helpful, because it enabled me to improve my skills but also enabled me to see another perspective on how social media should be coordinated,” says Liri.

Ambassador Giaufret submits the EC report to the Speaker of the National Assembly in Serbia

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On 18 October, Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret submitted the European Commission’s annual report to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, Vladimir Orlić, and thanked him for the opportunity to discuss the recommendations of the report.  
Ambassador Giaufret noted that the report highlighted the need for Serbia to align progressively with EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, and also reiterated specifically the parts of the report on the rule of law. Russian aggression in Ukraine has put enlargement at the centre of political attention and this is the time to come together and accelerate the pace of reform. The report highlighted that further work and political commitment were needed to continue and deepen reforms and address shortcomings. These were particularly mentiond in the key areas of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organised crime, media freedom, freedom of assembly and the domestic handling of war crimes.  
The Ambassador stressed that the report gives credit to improvements of the electoral framework through implementation of the measures identified during the inter-party dialogue and some of the ODIHR recommendations.

EU Cooperation Day 2022 celebrated in Berane

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EU Cooperation Day 2022 was celebrated in Berane where representatives of the Ministry of European Affairs, the Delegation of the European Union in Montenegro, and the Municipality of Berane visited EU project sites around the city. First, they visited the wastewater treatment plant, the largest infrastructure project in Berane, financed by the European Union with €8 million.

 

“We had the opportunity to see how the plant works and demonstrate that we can be an example of good practice for other municipalities in the surrounding area with this project,” said the Mayor of Berane, Vuko Todorović.

 

Representatives of the Ministry and the EU Delegation also visited the Cultural Centre, where the heating system was reconstructed and the institution’s energy efficiency improved. The EU project enabled the heating system to function even during the winter months, which had not been the case before. The reconstruction was carried out as part of the CO-CLEAN project, financed through the Interreg IPA cross-border cooperation programme Italy – Albania – Montenegro 2014-2020.

 

The EU Cooperation Day ended with a free concert by the KIC pop choir at the Cultural Centre.

Screening of Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth cluster kicks off as part of negotiations process with Albania and North Macedonia

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On 17 October, the European Commission further advanced the screening process with Albania and North Macedonia. Screening is the first step in the accession negotiation process, and the screening process is structured along six thematic clusters. These clusters encompass the relevant acquis chapters along broad themes related to good governance, the internal market, economic competitiveness and connectivity.

 

Experts from the European Commission, Albania and North Macedonia have begun examining EU laws and policies under Cluster 3 on Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth. This cluster encompasses digital transformation and media, science and research, and enterprise and industrial policy, as well as social policy and employment, and education and culture. Chapters include the customs union, economic and monetary policy, and taxation.

 

The analytical examination of the body of EU laws (acquis), the so-called screening, enables candidate countries to familiarise themselves with the EU laws and standards and the obligations they entail. It also allows examination of the countries’ levels of preparedness and plans for further alignment, and thus offers preliminary indications of the issues most likely to come up in the negotiations.