Author: WeBalkans

EU and Western Balkans mobile operators to work together on steps to start roaming charge reduction

Written by WeBalkans on 21 Oct 2022. Posted in News.

European Union and Western Balkans mobile operators met on 19 October to discuss a roadmap for lowering the roaming charges between the EU and our region, at a meeting organised by the European Commission. EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu addressed the meeting participants and it was agreed to continue the work on the steps that should lead to the start of the reduction of data roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans soon. The ultimate goal is that by 2027 there will be a reduction of roaming prices to close to national level.

The RCC, European Commission and mobile operators from the EU and the Western Balkans have met several times during 2021 and 2022, ensuring the sustainability and consistency of this process, addressing needs and challenges together. The RCC is committed to maintaining a more structured consultation process with the EU and Western Balkans mobile operators through the Advisory and Coordination Group that is set to be launched soon.

EU4Youth Days in Brussels with YEA participation

Written by WeBalkans on 20 Oct 2022. Posted in News.

The EU4Youth Days activities organised on 11 and 13 October in Brussels brought together youth workers and practitioners, policy-makers and researchers from the Eastern Partnership region, the Western Balkans and Turkey, and the Southern Neighbourhood. Led by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), this event provided an opportunity to take part in discussions about youth participation and dialogue, youth employment and entrepreneurship, green transition and digitalisation.

Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from the Western Balkans also participated in the activities. YEAs had an opportunity to take part in the campaign video marking the European Year of Youth and were selected to attend the EU4Youth event. From the start of the event, WeBalkans, along with EU Neighbours East and South representatives, participated in an Instagram takeover with @eu_near where they provided the audience with an inside view on the event and interviews with some of the speakers.

The first day included the EU4Youth Days conference which focused on strengthening youth capacities to develop their own resilience. Young European Ambassadors Šerif Salihović and Suhel Ahmeti were involved in the discussions and asked questions of the speakers throughout the day.

The next day, Hadžera Selimović and Stjuart Islamaj held a session within the knowledge sharing event where they presented the YEA network and talked about what it means to be a YEA, how they contribute and how the network has grown over time.

Nominations open for Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award

Written by WeBalkans on 18 Oct 2022. Posted in News.

The Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, announced the opening of nominations for the 2022 Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for local champions of freedom and solidarity and the fight against intolerance, oppression and xenophobia. She was speaking today, at the general assembly of International Cities of Refuge Network.

The award is to city leaders, civic leaders, or organisations working in partnership with local and regional authorities, who build bridges and tear down walls, with a clear sense of responsibility for future generations and who does not shy from any urgent battle for human rights and civil liberties, locally, nationally or internationally.

Paweł Adamowicz was the long-serving Mayor of the City of Gdańsk when he was murdered in January 2019 whilst carrying out his public duties. His murder was preceded by an upsurge of hate speech directed against him. The establishment of this Award is also recognition of everyone who works with courage and integrity against intolerance, radicalisation, hate speech, oppression and xenophobia, and who works to promote equal opportunities, social integration and fundamental rights.

It is a partnership between the City of Gdańsk, the European Committee of the Regions, which Mr Adamowicz was a member of, and the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), which the City of Gdańskjoined under the mayorship of Mr Adamowicz.