Skip to main content

Author: WeBalkans

Safeguarding the rights of people on the move

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

With the support of the European Union, a Montenegrin NGO has supported migrants with free legal services.

Irfan* is a 30-year-old originally from Morocco but he says of his home country, “Human rights were not being respected, there were no jobs: the economy was weak. Everything was bad!”. He fled Morocco in 2011, first going to Turkey, using a regular flight. He soon had to leave that country and then had his first contact with smugglers. They transferred him to Greece, and then to Albania, until he eventually arrived in Montenegro. “My life was in the hands of smugglers. They could have done anything they wanted with me; I didn’t have any say. I arrived in Montenegro tired of running away and I didn’t have the strength to continue further,” Irfan adds.

Irfan has now been living in Montenegro for over 10 years. Quite soon after arriving, he got a job at a hotel, where he fell in love with a Montenegrin called Jovana*. They are now married and have two beautiful children. In the meantime, Irfan also learned the Montenegrin language and, in many ways, felt fully integrated into the society of his new home. However, this was not the case from the legal point of view. He had the right to apply for Montenegrin citizenship, but due to legal complications and the fact that certain laws are in conflict with each other, he is still unable to exercise that right. In order to solve this problem, he knocked on the door of the Montenegrin NGO Legal Centre, which provides legal aid to foreigners seeking asylum in Montenegro through an EU-funded project called “My Lawyer – Free and Professional Legal Aid for Migrants” in cooperation with Caritas. Now he is receiving legal aid from them on this matter.

“Because the number of migrants who want to stay in Montenegro is small, the government does not have a policy for their integration in terms of education and employment.”

Free legal services for those in need

Luka Kovačević is the Director of the Legal Centre NGO which was founded in 2007 with the aim of supporting displaced persons and refugees from the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Back then, Montenegro did not have even the basic legal infrastructure related to asylum seekers, and no government plan for providing support for asylum-seekers or displaced persons. Luka and his team initially worked on supporting the government in overcoming these obstacles and the government introduced the legal infrastructure that has been in place since then.

However, in the meantime, migrants from other parts of the world started to arrive in Montenegro, and they needed support. According to the statistics of the Legal Centre NGO, over 95% of the refugees in the country are using Montenegro as a transit route, and only a small number of them decide to stay, as most of them aim for countries with better economic prospects. But those who do remain need support. Luka explains that the government does not have much to offer them. “Because the number of migrants who want to stay in Montenegro is small, the government does not have a policy for their integration in terms of education and employment,” he says.

Providing support to these migrants and others who see Montenegro only as a transit route is the reason why Lukas’ NGO launched the EU-funded project “My Lawyer – Free and Professional Legal Aid for Migrants” in cooperation with Caritas.

“We made over 146 field visits: we were in all Montenegrin municipalities, visiting and supporting migrants in formal and informal gathering spots. The migrants we supported last year came from Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Morocco, and beyond.”

About the project

The EU-funded project “My Lawyer – Free and Professional Legal Aid for Migrants”, was launched at the beginning of 2020 and ended in July 2021. The total financial value of the project was over €130,000. The project aimed to safeguard the rights of different categories of migrants through the provision of legal aid, information and counselling, humanitarian aid and psychosocial support, as well as working on strengthening the capacities of local civil society organisations and relevant institutions to pursue policies relating to migration management, the integration of foreigners granted international protection and the reintegration of returnees upon readmission.

*Name changed to protect privacy

Through this project, 677 beneficiaries received support, from irregular migrants and people seeking international protection in Montenegro, to returnees returning based on readmission agreements. In addition to free legal aid, 350 humanitarian aid packages were distributed to migrants. “We had over 146 field visits: we were in all Montenegrin municipalities, visiting and supporting migrants in formal and informal gathering spots. The migrants we supported last year came from Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Morocco, and beyond,” says Luka

Europeans Making A Difference campaign launched

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

On 10 June, the European External Action Service launched the fourth edition of the “Europeans Making a Difference” campaign at the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris. Within the European Year of Youth, this edition of the “Europeans Making a Difference” campaign portrays young people from the Western Balkans who do things that matter, in the region and far beyond.

 

High Representative/ Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “This campaign gives a platform to people who move boundaries; who inspire and open doors for others. In our work we come across Europeans who make a difference every day. With this campaign, we want to highlight their stories not just because they are good, genuine human stories but also because their stories are not known enough in our EU Member States, and not visible enough in the Western Balkans either.”

   

The launch event presented inspiring young people from the Western Balkans in debate followed by six videos portraying their work.

European collaboration to boost media experimentation and innovation

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

From business consultancies and incubators to hackathons and accelerators, independent media outlets across Europe stand to benefit from a suite of opportunities offered under a bold new initiative designed to stimulate innovation, sustainable business models and collaboration. Launched on 1 June, “Media Innovation Europe: Energising the European Media Ecosystem” is a two-year programme spearheaded by the International Press Institute Global Network of editors, journalists, and media builders together with three non-profits committed to helping news organisations provide audiences with the independent journalism they need.

 

Supported by the European Union, the initiative will pool the strengths of the consortium partners in mobilising networks, running granting and mentoring programmes, and supporting media innovation. Media Innovation Europe aims to help news outlets overcome challenges ranging from broken business models and plummeting revenues to waning public trust, “state capture” of independent media and other political pressures.

EU helps energy efficiency in public buildings in Sarajevo Canton

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

As part of the “Energy efficiency in public buildings in Sarajevo Canton” project, a ceremony was held on 3 June to mark the completion of works to improve the energy efficiency of the “Labudovi” preschool in Sarajevo. The works include thermal insulation of the facade, the installation of thermostatic valves on existing radiators, the installation of calorimeters and automatic heating control with a circulating pump, the replacement of inefficient lighting with new LED bulbs, and preparatory and accompanying works on the building renovation.

 

The project is implemented under the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP/REEP Plus) for the Western Balkans. The European Union provided €2 million in grants, while the Government of Sarajevo Canton provided €8 million from a loan through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

 

The REEP/REEP Plus programme is identified in the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans as one of the Flagship “Renovation Wave” projects contributing to clean energy. These projects contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the living standards and health of citizens. They are part of the EU Regulation and Green Agenda Targets for the Western Balkans, following the five pillars of the European Green Deal.

Pollinator Park inspires high school students on World Environment Day

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Europe House in Podgorica organised an interactive promotion of Pollinator Park, the wonderful world of pollinating insects in virtual reality. Europe House hosted students attending Ivan Uskoković Secondary Vocational School and Vaso Aligrudić Electrical Engineering School from Podgorica, who had the opportunity to try out the Oculus VR headset for the first time and “walk” through the virtual world of pollinating insects. The high school students talked enthusiastically about this unique experience after visiting Miro’s Meadow, the City Lab and the Canteen, which are part of Pollinator Park.

 

A combination of a zoo, a theme park, an interactive museum and a crystal ball, Pollinator Park takes visitors to the year 2050, showing what the future would hold if pollinators became extinct. A web version is also available.

 

The European Commission created Pollinator Park last year in order to raise awareness and mobilise society to protect pollinators. This publicly-available tool is available to museums, schools and other institutions, stakeholders and partners in Europe and beyond. It supports the communication and educational activities on the environmental and climate crisis in this decade, which are crucial for action to save our planet.

EU campaign highlights connections with BiH

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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.