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Author: WeBalkans

President von der Leyen in Skopje, North Macedonia

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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia on Thursday 14 July. During her visit, President von der Leyen first met Stevo Pendarovski, President of North Macedonia. Following that meeting, the President then met with the Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski.

 

As a central event of her visit, President von der Leyen also addressed the Parliament of North Macedonia in a solemn session attended by the President, the Prime Minister, parliamentarians and State dignitaries.

EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council

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Montenegro and the EU met – at ministerial level – for the 11th Stabilisation and Association Council. The meeting took take place in Podgorica, Montenegro.  
This was the first time that the Stabilisation and Association Council meeting took place in the Western Balkans region. It underlined the European Union’s unequivocal commitment to the EU integration of the whole region and to the accession process of Montenegro.  
Participants discussed the accession strategy – in particular in the light of the Commission’s Montenegro 2021 Report. Participants welcomed the progress made in the accession negotiations so far, with all 33 negotiating chapters opened, and three chapters provisionally closed.  
The Stabilisation and Association Council also took stock of the bilateral relations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and exchanged views on recent developments in Montenegro and in the Western Balkans.  
The EU side strongly commended Montenegro’s full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including EU restrictive measures following Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, and hailed this as a strong signal of the country’s strategic orientation and commitment to the goal of EU accession. Participants also welcomed the efforts already taken to implement the sanctions and encouraged to continue with the necessary steps to fully apply the restrictive measures adopted.  
The European Union was represented by the EU High Representative Josep Borrell and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi. Montenegro was represented by Prime Minister Dritan Abazović. The meeting was chaired by the EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

Budding young entrepreneurs develop skills across borders

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High school students in the border area between Serbia and North Macedonia increase their career opportunities with EU support.

Marina Djorić has just graduated from the economic and commerce high school in Vranje, Serbia. From many options of study, she chose tourism. “From the first year on, I understood that this was my future professional calling,” says Marina. In their tourism studies, Marina and her fellow students learned about topics such as tourism management and marketing and entrepreneurship, but one important educational element was lacking: an opportunity to practise these skills in real life. This opportunity was provided through an EU-funded project during the final year of studies, just when Marina and her friends needed this support.

Another gap in educational provision was the school’s old IT equipment which didn’t work properly. The project therefore also supported the school with equipment. However, Marina emphasises the practical work experience as the most important gain for her.

“For example, we had a joint workshop and competition with students from other schools where we had to develop ideas on start-up businesses and produce a business proposal and a short film about our ideas.  A colleague and I came up with an idea about a sweet shop. We had to do research by visiting sweet shops in the area in order to understand how their businesses work and identify the best examples and put them in our proposal. This helped us understand much better how the business development ideas work,” says Marina.

“Because of the lack of equipment or practical experience opportunities in schools, the students had to undergo another year or more following graduation, advancing their skills through internships before they got a job. We wanted to contribute to overcoming this problem.”

Practical skills and knowledge for a better start to a career

Jovan Jovanović is the manager of the EU-funded cross-border cooperation project between North Macedonia and Serbia entitled “Centres for innovative development of social entrepreneurship: contemporary perspectives for young people’s social integration”. The project idea  emerged to tackle the challenges of the lack of equipment and opportunities for practical work and internships for high school students common on both sides of the border. “Because of the lack of equipment or practical experience opportunities in schools, the students had to undergo another year or more on following graduation, advancing their skills through internships before they got a job. We wanted to contribute to overcoming this problem,” says Jovan.

Apart from the high school in Vranje, the project also covers the Pero Nakov high school in Kumanovo, North Macedonia. In both schools the project is based in a centre for innovative development of social entrepreneurship and equipped these centres with modern technology, providing additional training for the teachers on teaching social and modern entrepreneurship. The project also provided targeted support for economic education profiles taught in these schools. In both schools, the project launched social enterprises that can generate income but also help students get sufficient practical experience before they graduate.

For example, the school in Kumanovo has a graphic design section, but does not have any kind of professional printer where students could see their work produced. The project equipped this school with printing machines that can also print on mugs, textile and other materials. Designs produced by the students will now be printed and offered on the market. Likewise, the school in Vranje has a culinary section which the project equipped with modern professional cooking equipment. This school will also soon launch its delicious food products on the market. “Other sections, such as sales, finance, and advertising will be part of these social enterprises, where students will get to use their skills in real-life situations and generate income for schools,” says Jovan.

“The support from the EU is significant, in terms of the financial contribution, but also in terms of its long-term sustainability.”

About the project

The overall objective of the EU-funded project “Centres for innovative development of social entrepreneurship: contemporary perspectives for young people’s social integration” is to support young people to develop their potential and to start social entrepreneurship with opportunities to test their ideas in practice. The project aims to achieve this goal through activities such as the launch of centres for entrepreneurship in schools, training of teachers, implementation of study visits for students, and equipping schools with modern equipment. The total financial value of the project is over €170,000 and it is funded through the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme for Serbia and North Macedonia.

As a final touch, the project is going to launch a web platform where, apart from students, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also benefit. The portal will include a database of SMEs from the region where they will be able to showcase their products. In addition, the page will have a section where students will be able to present themselves and their skills through short videos. “In this way, we will be able to increase economic cooperation in the cross-border region, but also increase employment opportunities for the students,” says Jovan.

Jovan says that the financial support from the EU was crucial in bringing this project idea to life, as these schools generally only get funding from their respective governments for urgent needs, such as fixing leaking roofs. He adds that the mere fact that the project is supported by the EU contributes to its sustainability – the EU funding ‘stamp of approval’ gives a kind of guarantee that the project is based on detailed analysis and high standards, which in turn means that local and central authorities and other organisations take the project more seriously.

“The support from the EU is significant, in terms of the financial contribution, but also in terms of its long-term sustainability,” says Jovan.

YEA meet the Austrian Minister of Justice Ms Alma Zadić

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Young European Ambassadors (YEA) from Bosnia Herzegovina: Armin Poljak, Nikola Bodulović, Hana Kunić, Nejra Gurbeta, Dragana Vučković and Džulisa Otuzbir had the opportunity to meet the Austrian Minister of Justice, Ms Alma Zadić, who participated in panel discussion called “Quo vadis, Bosnia and Herzegovina?” with EU Ambassador, Mr Johann Sattler and Bosnian civil society representatives.

 

After the discussion, YEAs had the opportunity to talk with Ms Zadić and to present to her the work of the YEA network, as well as talk about the position of youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

The YEA platform is a creative network of young activists from across the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). YEAs come from different backgrounds, yet they all share a common vision: the Western Balkans united in diversity. They learn about each other and the EU together, pursue creative projects, acquire new skills, connect via social media, and organise inspiring events – always driven by the idea that activism in youth is the most powerful force of social change.

 

The aims of the network are: to share EU values; to raise awareness about the EU’s cooperation with its Western Balkan partners; to showcase the tangible results of this cooperation; to contribute to policy dialogue on various topics; and to help increase civic activism.

Support to media freedom and pluralism in the Western Balkans

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Independent media organisations established and operating in the Western Balkans are invited to apply to participate in the Support to Media Freedom and Pluralism in the Western Balkans programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Government, and implemented by GIZ, in collaboration with Internews and DW Akademie.
 
The programme’s specific objective is to increase the capacities of professional independent media organisations to better adapt to the changing media environment. Given the scarce financial and human resources of the independent media sector, the programme will provide a combination of substantial capital investment, tailor-made technical support and a range of capacity-building activities to improve business and develop high-quality journalism.
 
The programme will contribute to the overall objective of strengthening participatory democracy and the EU approximation process in the Western Balkans by building capacity in media outlets, and stimulating an enabling environment for pluralistic media.  
Twenty grants of up to €150 000 will be awarded as part of this programme. The projects are expected to last up to three years.

EU and EBRD to finance road section from Skopje to the Kosovo border

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The European Union and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are financing a new motorway section in North Macedonia, from the capital Skopje to Blace Interchange, close to the border with Kosovo. The new road will provide faster and easier connections for trade and citizens.  
An EU investment grant of €20.8 million, as well as €8.8 million in funding for technical cooperation to prepare, implement and supervise the works, will be complemented by a €167.6 million loan from the EBRD to construct the motorway. The strategic road section will improve links in the region and to the European Union. It is part of a transport artery from Skopje to Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, which has seen increased traffic volumes in recent years, and is also part of a larger European road network connecting Sweden to Greece through the Western Balkans.   
The new dual two-lane motorway will run parallel to the existing A4 national road, a single carriageway constructed more than 50 years ago. This will lead to significant traffic and road safety improvements. It is also expected to have a positive impact on employment through enhanced connectivity and economic integration within the region.

EU and EBRD to support transition to solar energy in North Macedonia

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Decarbonisation plans in North Macedonia are taking a big leap forward. The European Union is supporting Elektrana na Severna Makedonija (ESM), the state-owned electricity company, to implement a 30 MW photovoltaic (PV) project consisting of 10 MW on a portion of the exhausted coal mine of the Oslomej thermal power plant, and 20 MW adjacent to the Bitola thermal power plant. The EU will provide a €5 million grant funded through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €25 million to complement this development.   
Ambassador David Geer, Head of the EU Delegation to North Macedonia said, “We are seeing concrete actions in materialising the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and in turning the Economic and Investment Plan into reality. The WBIF investment grant and the EBRD Loan, supporting the transformation of Oslomej and Bitola power plants from coal-based to solar energy, represent a clear indication that the country is taking the right steps – moving to green energy, while implementing a socially just transition process. This investment was long overdue, and comes at the right time for North Macedonia, ensuring clean and secure energy supplies.”  
The new solar plants are an extension of the first 10 MW PV plant constructed on the exhausted coal mines in Oslomej and are evidence of the decarbonisation pathway of ESM and of the country. Once operational, the new facilities will produce nearly 48 GWh of electricity a year – enough to power 10,000 homes and replace 44,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The project will also support ESM’s efforts to regenerate the mine sites that used to supply the thermal power plants with coal.

Keys to 20 apartments handed over to Regional Housing Programme beneficiaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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This week, 20 refugee families in Vlasenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrated the receipt of keys to their new apartments built under the Regional Housing Programme (RHP). In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, the event was attended by the representatives of the EU, Government of Republika Srpska and UNHCR.  
Congratulating the beneficiaries, Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that the European Union was the largest donor to the RHP, and that without EU support, it would not have been possible to build the building in Vlasenica. These words were echoed by the Prime Minister Višković of the Government of Republika Srpska , who also acknowledged the contribution from the municipality of Vlasenica, which provided the location for the construction of the apartments and the necessary infrastructure.  
The beneficiaries were quick to share their delight. Goran and Daliborka Zoranović, displaced persons from Kladanj, BiH, described their apartment as “beautiful”, while Radenko Belmiš said he was relieved to have received a home for his family of five. On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Belmiš thanked all RHP donors who had provided financial resources for the construction of the building. His wife said simply that she had never felt happier in her life.

EU donates 150 metal detectors to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Together with high-level military officials from the EU Military Committee, the 27 ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee of the European Union donated 150 metal detectors for the Demining Battalion of the Armed Forces of BiH at the end of their visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The metal detectors were given to the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are the first items delivered as part of an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility which is worth €10 million, and which will also include 34 transport vehicles and 34 medical vehicles.

 

The EU Peace Facility is a new EU mechanism for building the defence capacity of the EU and the Union’s closest partners. In addition to the assistance measure to enhance and upgrade the capabilities of the Demining Battalion of the BiH Armed Forces, the EU also recently approved an assistance measure worth €6 million to enhance the capacity of the Balkan Medical Taskforce.

 

The ambassadors welcomed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cooperation with the EU in foreign affairs, security and defence, which is crucial for mutual stability and prosperity and more important than ever in the face of Russia’s unwarranted aggression against Ukraine. The high-level visit included a meeting with the troops and the commander of EUFOR Althea.

Snack production with solar energy

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A company from BiH has become almost fully energy independent by installing solar panels with EU support.

The Voćar company from Brčko was founded over 30 years ago. In the Bosnian language, the company name means “fruit grower”, and the seeds of the company were sown by Avdo Musić many decades ago. He was one of the biggest plum producers in the region and sold plums and prunes in local markets. In 1989, when socialist Yugoslavia started to liberalise economically, and citizens were allowed to open private companies, his son Meho decided to take the business to the next level and officially registered and opened the Voćar company. Voćar now produces a wide range of snack products, from wafers and cookies to popcorn and peanut butter. The company’s slogan is “For a better taste of life!”.

The company is now run by Avdo’s grandson, Esed Musić. Esed explains that the journey from growing plums to producing snacks was a challenging one. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the family lost almost everything, as many other families did, and when the war ended, they had to start almost from scratch. It was when they were starting up again that they thought they could try expanding the range of their products. “At that time there was almost no production in Bosnia and Herzegovina: everything was coming from abroad. Suddenly, there was a big market, and we decided to use this opportunity and focus on substituting imported products,” says Esed.

“Installing a solar panel system on our own would have been a huge financial burden for us. The support of the European Union was indeed essential: it gave us the wind to our backs to continue planning our work and development in the long run.”

Having started with five workers after the war, Voćar now has 60 full-time workers and many outside collaborators who benefit from cooperation with the company. After 30 years, the company produces more than 100 different products offered to clients in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to the United States, Australia, countries of the European Union, and others.

However, the pandemic had an impact on the operations of the company as on the global economy. Esed says that during the crisis they started to think about how they could seriously cut expenses so they could remain profitable. The first expense that he thought about was their energy bill, but any investment was expensive and it seemed impractical to try and invest in such a thing at such a time.

Nevertheless, in 2021, with the help of the EU-funded EU4AGRI project, a long-held dream came true for the Voćar company, as they were able to invest in a solar panel system that enabled them to meet about 65% of their total electricity needs. “Installing a solar panel system on our own would have been a huge financial burden for us. The support of the European Union was indeed essential: it gave us the wind to our backs to continue planning our work and development in the long run,” says Esed.

“Our products are made with the help of green energy and we are very proud.”

About the project

The EU4AGRI project is a four-year initiative (2020-2024) aimed at modernising the agri-food sector, creating new jobs, as well as retaining existing ones and supporting recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total value of the project, funded by the European Union, is €20.25 million, and it is jointly implemented and co-financed by the Czech Development Agency and the United Nations Development Programme in BiH.

The EU4AGRI project has so far supported BiH farmers and enterprises with 45 investments worth nearly €5.5 million, of which over €3.2 million was financed by the European Union.

“Solar panels were placed on the roof surfaces of our production and storage facilities, which were ideal in terms of location and the shape of the roofs” explains Esed. “Our solar power plant occupies 1000 square meters and produces 150 KW of electricity, which will have a great impact on our energy independence.” The costs of building a solar power plant were about €83,000, of which about €54,000 was provided through the EU4AGRI project and some €29,000 from Voćar.

The added value of this project is the reduction of the company’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by approximately 76%, thus reducing its negative environmental impact. As Esed says, “Our products are made with the help of green energy and we are very proud”.

The results so far have been an incentive for Voćar to meet their electricity needs exclusively from renewables in the coming period. Esed explains, “We have more available roof surfaces that meet the requirements for the installation of a solar power plant and we want to achieve 100% energy independence. In this way, we would further contribute to environmental protection”.