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Author: WeBalkans

EU campaign highlights connections with BiH

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Under the slogan “Connected through good” the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina has launched a two-month campaign focused on business and entrepreneurship that will inform the public about available EU programmes, and how to apply for EU grants, as well as presenting success stories from people who have received EU support in BiH.

 

“Our ambition is to support Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a better place to start a business and grow. Our support is not only focused on providing grants: we are also working to bring entrepreneurs, companies and authorities closer. The economy as a whole can only manage future challenges if businesses are resilient,” said Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH.

 

Through workshops, events, and podcasts, as well as cooperation with entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans and others who have contributed to a more resilient BiH with their business activities, the “Connected through good” campaign will demonstrate the potential that is achievable with sound support and proper expertise. The campaign can be followed on the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages of the EU Delegation to BiH.

Western Balkans Road Summit organised in Tirana

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The “Dedication to Roads of the Future” pledge was signed on 7 June by all regional transport ministers at the Western Balkans Road Summit held in Tirana. The summit was organised by the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, under the auspices of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania. It gathered ministers from the Western Balkans, representatives of the European Commission, and road sector practitioners for discussions on how to create a climate-resilient, intelligent, and resource-efficient road network in the Western Balkans.  
Development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) extension to the Western Balkans was recognised as a key priority and the authorities committed to a number of others, including putting in place road maintenance systems, renovating existing infrastructure, working together on e-tolling interoperability, increasing safety, and building e-charging stations across the region. Exploiting the opportunities offered by digitalisation and innovation to attract young people and women to the sector and to improve services for businesses and people is also one of the priorities.  
Road Summit participants expressed their commitment to social justice in the road sector, by focusing on workers’ fundamental rights and a healthy and safe working environment. Promoting a more inclusive, diverse and gender-balanced road sector will attract young people and offer better services for businesses and the general public.

EU Western Balkans and Turkey Civil Society Forum concludes in Skopje

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On behalf of the EU’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the third EU Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations (TACSO) project organised the EU Western Balkans and Turkey Civil Society Forum in Skopje on 8 – 9 June. This is the first time the Forum has taken place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

A total of 120 participants attended the Forum in person and an additional 100 online. They included senior officials from the European Commission, EU delegations, and governments as well as diverse representatives from civil society organisations. In the light of recent dramatic developments in Europe – namely the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine – the Forum provided an opportunity to better understand challenges and opportunities in the region, and the role of civil society in helping to respond.

 

Michela Matuella, Acting Director of the Western Balkans Directorate at DG NEAR, said, “The Western Balkans remain a priority for the EU, and the EU remains fully engaged in advancing the EU accession process. In this framework, civil society organisations are key partners. All stakeholders involved need to work with a shared vision on how the role of civil society can be optimised. It is here that the ‘Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region 2021-2027’ come into the picture. Special focus should be placed on engaging the younger generation, to allow them to help make the region an attractive place to live, do business, and realise their ambitions”.

 

The main objective of the Forum was to launch these revised “Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region 2021-2027”. The Guidelines set out objectives for EU assistance to civil society, provide a tool for governments to improve cooperation with civil society, and help to measure progress towards meeting conditions for EU integration.

 

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU provided around €330 million in support for civil society through the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme, while the amount planned for 2021-2023 is €218 million. The Guidelines will assist the EU in assessing the impact of this support.

YEA Open Days get underway across the Western Balkans

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A series of Open Day promoting the new call for Young European Ambassadors (YEA) started last week with YEAs presenting their network in Tirana, Skopje and Belgrade.

 

On 1 June, YEAs from Albania hosted the YEA Open Day at Europe House Tirana with a social gathering and then the official presentation of the YEA network. Almost all the young people participating had started their application to become a YEA.

 

On the same day, the YEA Open Day Skopje event took place at East Gate Mall with Ambassador David Geer and representatives from the EU Delegation in North Macedonia and EU House Skopje.

 

The YEA Open Day in Belgrade was organised on 3 June. The event started with a welcoming speech by YEA Adrijana Nikitović and the EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, followed by a discussion with YEAs. Participants’ questions and comments mostly focused on the EU and youth, including references to the state of the enlargement process and opportunities for young people.

 

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.

Event shares initiatives to support connectivity and transport in the Western Balkans

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On 27 May, a joint virtual event was hosted by the EU-funded Technical Assistance to Connectivity in the Western Balkans (CONNECTA) and the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat to share their objectives, strategic approach and expected results. The event brought together representatives of the Western Balkans, EU Delegations and international financial institutions.

 

CONNECTA has recently started three regional sub-projects offering technical assistance. One focuses on the deployment of smart and sustainable mobility in the Western Balkans. A second supports the preparation of technical documentation for modernisation and infrastructure capacity improvements of selected road border crossing points on the extended Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) in the Western Balkans. The third helps with the preparation of national Intelligent Transport Systems strategies for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro, and the deployment of road traffic management centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

 

CONNECTA is an EU-funded technical assistance contract whose overall objective is to assist in the development and completion of the core transport and energy networks in the Western Balkans region and to support the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans in line with the Western Balkans strategy.

Regional conference on countering disinformation

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On 1 June, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organised a third conference on disinformation in cooperation with the Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa, the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The conference brought together over 100 participants, including key experts, academics, journalists, researchers, representatives of youth organisations from the Western Balkans, students, and practitioners from the region and beyond.  
“The Western Balkans has unfortunately always been susceptible to divisive narratives that bring hatred and violence and it is our constant responsibility to cultivate understanding and awareness of this phenomenon in our region. The good news is that Western Balkan citizens have understood the detrimental potential of disinformation – as 74% of them agree disinformation poses a security threat to their economies,” said Amer Kapetanović, Head of the Political Department of the Regional Cooperation Council, at the opening of the conference.  
After two years of organising these conferences with the aim of raising awareness about the phenomenon of disinformation, this year’s conference focused on a more practical level and capacity building, primarily aimed at youth and students from the Western Balkans. 

Belgrade’s Tiršova 2 children’s hospital is becoming a reality

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During his visit to Serbia, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi visited the construction site of the Tiršova 2 children’s hospital together with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. The construction of the hospital began in October and is being supported by the European Union with over €35 million.

 

The European Union has never supported such a large health infrastructure investment, Commissioner Várhelyi pointed out. He added that such a project is a consequence of the Covid pandemic, which taught us to appreciate health even more. “Health, especially the health of our children, is the most important thing,” said the Commissioner, adding that Tiršova 2 will open in about three years’ time. “I am sure that patients will appreciate this great contribution to the city and the state,” he concluded.

 

The event was also attended by the EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret; Minister of Health, Zlatibor Lončar; Minister of European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović; Mayor of Belgrade and former director of Tiršova, Dr Zoran Radojičić; Director of the Public Investment Office, Marko Blagojević; and Siniša Dučić, director of Tiršova 2.

EIB opens a representation office in North Macedonia

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On 30 May, the European Investment Bank (EIB) officially inaugurated its new representation office in Skopje, located in the premises of the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia. By taking this step, the bank of European Union confirms its support for the country’s sustainable growth and green transition. The new dedicated local presence will enhance technical and financial support for private and public investment.  
Opening a representation office in Skopje is in line with the EIB’s policy of establishing a presence in more countries outside the European Union. This effort will help the EU bank to understand regional financing needs, identify more new projects and establish closer ties with national authorities and other stakeholders. To date, the EIB has established offices in 23 EU Member States and 30 countries outside the EU, promoting business and policy dialogue.  
At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski and EIB Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova were joined by the Minister of Finance Fatmir Besimi, the Head of the EU Delegation in North Macedonia David Geer, and other international financial partners and high-level representatives of the business and banking community.

The New European Bauhaus Festival

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Starting on 9 June, the first edition of The New European Bauhaus Festival will bring together exhibitions, artistic performances, conferences, seminars and other gatherings combining a live onsite event in Brussels with online activities and side events across the EU and beyond, including the Western Balkans. Featuring debates, great speakers, artistic performances, exhibitions and networking opportunities, the festival is a chance for experts, organisations and families to debate and design future ways of living together.

 

The festival’s main themes are beauty, sustainability and inclusiveness and it aims to build connections, linking the worlds of research, science and technology to those of education and civil engagement, and art, culture and architecture.

 

The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences. It calls on all of us to imagine and build together a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls.

Launched by President von der Leyen in her 2020 State of the Union address, the New European Bauhaus was co-designed together with thousands of people and organisations across Europe and beyond. In September 2021, the initiative moved from co-design to delivery with a Commission Communication  setting out policy actions and funding to make the initiative a reality.

Telling the story straight

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The Balkan Transitional Justice programme has brought reliable information to Western Balkan audiences for over ten years.

Kula in Croatia and Hrtkovci in Serbia are two Western Balkan villages which share a common tragedy. In 1992, after armed conflict broke out in what was then Yugoslavia, Serbs and Croats from Kula in Croatia and Hrtkovci in Serbia swapped houses and moved to each other’s villages. This was described as “humane relocation”, but it was actually a forced population exchange in the midst of a war. The story of these two villages was captured in the documentary film, “Your house was my home” produced by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

The documentary was produced as part of the Balkan Transitional Justice programme, a regional platform co-funded by the EU. The platform publishes online news reports covering local issues related to war crimes, thus improving the general public’s understanding of transitional justice issues in the former Yugoslavia.

“We are the only media outlet in the region that covers war crime trials in detail and fully based on facts. I think that this is one of the most important things that Balkan transitional justice has accomplished in the past ten years.”

Over ten years of war crime reporting

Nejra Mualomerović, a programme associate, explains that the main focus of the programme is to ensure a regular and up-to-date flow of information about transitional justice issues, mainly war crime trials, in the region. This is achieved through a dedicated network of correspondents across the former Yugoslavia, and contributors from other media outlets, civil society organisations, government institutions, and academia. “We are the only media outlet in the region that covers war crime trials in detail and fully based on facts. I think that this is one of the most important things that Balkan transitional justice has accomplished in the past ten years,” says Nejra.

However, as the number of war crime trials has declined, the programme has started to develop other activities with the same aim, using their experience and the information they already have. One of their projects is a database of mass graves. The programme team have been compiling this since 2020, dealing with the challenges of a large number of mass graves and scattered information. Nejra explains that because the information was not in one place, and most was available only in hard copy, the programme staff had to visit numerous institutions and organisations. They also went with a photographer to mass grave locations in order to record them and store them in the database. The information was then made public.

During these visits it became clear that most of the mass grave sites were not marked or memorialised and offered no access. ” Some of them were on private property, some were turned into dumpsites, and some sites had churches built on them,” says Nejra.

Nevertheless, the team has already managed to locate, film, photograph and store in the database several dozen locations, and the work continues.

 “I think that all the people who have worked with BIRN during these ten years have seen their work also in terms of the impact that it will have on future generations and how they will see history.”

About the project

The Balkan Transitional Justice programme is a regional platform that aims to improve the general public’s understanding of transitional justice issues in former Yugoslav countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The programme is supported by the European Union, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Another of the programme’s recent initiatives is the Reporting House Museum that will be opened in Sarajevo this autumn. It will be the first independent non-profit regional museum in the Balkans, displaying the comprehensive story, told from a journalistic perspective, of the break-up and wars of Yugoslavia, and their aftermath. The museum will be located in the city centre in a three-storey building with 600 square metres of space. The first two floors will be a permanent exhibition, telling the stories of the war crimes that were committed in the former Yugoslavia, including stories of refugees, ethnic cleansing, genocide and war camps, and also the life of journalists during the war. The third floor will function as a community space for journalists, others from civil society and the wider public, and will be used for discussions relating to conflict journalism and the media’s role today.

Nejra acknowledges that transitional justice topics are not easy to cover. “But I think that all the people who have worked with BIRN during these ten years have seen their work also in terms of the impact that it will have on the future generations and how they will see history,” she says.