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Author: WeBalkans

WBIF Annual Report 2020

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Publications.

This report highlights results and achievements of on the Western Balkans Investment Framework’s (WBIF) support during 2020. The WBIF is a donor coordination platform that pools funds from various sources, including the European Commission. The WBIF provides supports strategic investments in energy, environment, social, transport and digital infrastructure, as well as the private sector.

Open call for youth exchange in Western Balkans

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Union is inviting young people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia to participate in a youth exchange programme focused on peace education. The regional training is in cooperation with the Balkans Let’s Get Up! organisation and Udhëtim i Lirë – Liberi di Viaggare, and with the support of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and Youth for Peace within the P.A.C.E (Peace and Conflict Education) project.

 

The youth exchange will be held from 10 to 15 August in Durrës, Albania. A total of 21 participants will be selected for the exchange, including seven young people from Albania, seven from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and seven from Serbia. All costs of transportation, accommodation, food and materials are covered by the organisers.

 

Applications are open until 25 July 2021, at 23.59.

 

The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an independently functioning institutional mechanism founded by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, aiming to promote the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region through youth exchange programmes. RYCO is financed by the governments of the region and supported by the EU and other donors.

EU extends the mandates of the EUSRs in BiH and Kosovo

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On 19 July the Council extended the mandates of the EU special representatives (EUSRs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Kosovo for two years, until 31 August 2023.
 
The EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johann Sattler, was first appointed on 8 August 2019, with the task of contributing to policy objectives such as continuing progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process ensuring a stable, viable, peaceful, multi-ethnic and united country that cooperates peacefully with its neighbours, and ensuring that the country is irreversibly on track towards EU membership.
 
The EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Tomáš Szunyog, was appointed on 1 September 2020, with the task of contributing to similar policy objectives – promoting a stable, viable, peaceful, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, and supporting Kosovo’s European future and harmonisation with the EU in line with the region’s future prospects and in accordance with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
 
EU special representatives promote the EU’s policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and work on issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law. The first EUSRs were appointed in 1996.

EU donates medical equipment to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Union has donated 35 ECG monitors and PCR devices to healthcare institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This donation is part of the EU’s continued support to BiH in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. The donations were delivered as part of an EU-funded project worth €7.7 million aiming to provide health institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina with much needed medical equipment.

 

The ECG machines will be important for doctors investigating and treating heart conditions, while the PCR device will help fast sampling of COVID-19 tests. Although COVID-19 is primarily known as a disease which affects the lungs, it also has been shown to damage other organs, including the heart. As a result, healthcare institutions require a wide range of equipment to cope with the consequences.

 

To this end, in cooperation with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) the EU has supplied hospitals and other medical facilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with medical equipment such as these ECG monitors and PCR devices as well as ventilators, X-ray machines, and ultrasound devices.

 

The equipment was provided to healthcare institutions in the Brčko District, Goražde, Gradiška, Livno, Mostar, Nova Bila, Posavina Canton, Sarajevo and East Sarajevo, Travnik, Trebinje, Tuzla Canton, West Herzegovina Canton, and Zenica.

WBIF Annual Report 2020- summary highlights

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Publications.

This summary report highlights results and achievements of on the Western Balkans Investment Framework’s (WBIF) support during 2020. The WBIF is a donor coordination platform that pools funds from various sources, including the European Commission. The WBIF provides supports strategic investments in energy , environment, social, transport and digital infrastructure, as well as the private sector.

TAIEX and Twinning Highlights 2020

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Publications.

This report provides detailed information on the contribution of TAIEX and Twinning projects for year 2020. TAIEX – Technical Assistance and Information Exchange – offers peer-to-peer technical assistance and policy support from public specialists based in EU Member States to beneficiaries in the Western Balkan region. Twinning supports cooperation between public administrations in EU Member States and Western Balkan partners.

EU supports water provision to Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The EU has donated a special water tank vehicle to provide fresh water to areas in need in the Bihać area of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This support is particularly important in the summer months with high temperatures and reduced water availability for both the local population and migrants accommodated in temporary reception centres. The donated water tank vehicle is worth over 271,500 BAM (€138,000).  
In a context of increased numbers of refugees and migrants, the European Union has supported Bosnia and Herzegovina with border and migration management since 2018. Thanks to EU assistance, temporary reception centres provide basic accommodation, food and water, sanitation and hygiene, clothing and counselling services, as well as access to education and health services for migrants residing in BiH. Funds have also enabled the purchase of equipment and expert technical assistance to institutions and agencies including the country’s Ministry of Security, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, and border police, and to Una-Sana Canton’s Ministry of the Interior.  
The EU Support to Migration and Border Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina project is funded through an Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Special Measure and is implemented by the International Organisation for Migration in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Unicef, the United Nations Population Fund and the Danish Refugee Council.

Youth from Albania and North Macedonia break down prejudices

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The Institute of Romani Culture in Albania and the ROMALITICO Institute for Research and Policy analysis from North Macedonia have organised a summer camp within the Promoting Intercultural Understanding, Reconciliation and Acceptance EU-funded project managed by RYCO.
 
The summer camp brought together 30 Roma and non-Roma young people from Albania and North Macedonia who were able to gain deeper understanding of diversity and acceptance, design small-scale projects on intercultural dialogue, tackle issues of prejudice and discrimination, and strengthen their cooperation in working with vulnerable and marginalised youth. The young participants were also provided with the opportunity of getting to know new cultures, people and perspectives.
 
During the summer camp, the participants exchanged experiences and knowledge on topics of identity, culture and acceptance, and worked together on designing new initiatives and ideas that they will soon implement in their communities.  At the end of the camp, the participants discussed their project ideas for addressing Roma-related challenges and explored ways of putting these initiatives into action.

Berlin Process Summit

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Publications.

This brochure provides information on the activities and outcomes of the Berlin Process Summit 2021. The Berlin Process is an initiative aimed at stepping up regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and aiding the integration of these countries into the European Union.

Baby-inspired entrepreneur from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

An EU-funded project supports an enterprising mother on her journey to build an innovative business Mirna Perendija is a mother of three from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She worked for a long time in a range of jobs from banking to sales trade. Thirteen years ago, she became a mother for the first time, and her first-born not only brought her joy and happiness, but also paved the way for an innovative business endeavour. Thirteen years later, she is the owner of a small size company that is thriving, with EU support. Apart from covering the local market she is also planning to introduce her product to the EU market. Mirna remembers that at the time when she became a parent there were no ergonomic baby carriers available in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She got one for her child with the help of friends who lived abroad. For her second child she decided to sew a baby carrier of her own and that is when she started thinking that baby carriers could be a good business idea. It would solve a problem for many other parents, who, like Mirna, had to import or purchase them from abroad with the help of friends and relatives.

“I decided that from then on I would not work for other people, but instead I would work to develop my own business.”

From part-time to full-time business At first, Mirna was producing baby carriers for friends, relatives and colleagues on her own as a part-time job at home. However, as time passed the requests continued to grow, and in 2015 she made the decision to turn this part-time job into a bigger business enterprise. “I decided that from then on I would not work for other people, but instead I would work to develop my own business,” she says. She continuously improved her products by modifying, adapting and refining the design and functionality of her baby carriers. As demand increased, she hired additional part-time associates who helped her with production. However, at a certain point she needed to make a bigger leap. She was lacking business management information and the skills to further expand her business and also needed machines. That is when she heard about the EU-funded EU4Business project. “I saw the opportunity published on Facebook, and I thought, ‘this is just what I need’ and decided to apply,” says Mirna.

 “I believe firmly in women’s entrepreneurship and think that women entrepreneurs can make miracles happen with a little support. That is why I am hoping to employ at least three more single mums in our company, as I was a single mum once.”

About the project EU4Business aims to stimulate the development of entrepreneurship, export-oriented sectors, tourism and agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The overall budget of EU4Business is €16 million which is jointly funded by the European Union (€15 million) and the German government (€1.1 million). The project is jointly implemented by GIZ (the German Corporation for International Cooperation), the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme and will end by March 2022. With the support of the EU4Business project, Mirna received training on business management skills and €5000 of financial support with which she purchased an upgraded machine. With this investment, she managed to increase the quality and quantity of production and now has the necessary international product certifications for export to EU member states. Now she is planning to further expand her business and further increase the number of workers and associates. “I believe firmly in women’s entrepreneurship and think that women entrepreneurs can make miracles happen with a little support. That is why I am hoping to employ at least three more single mums in our company, as I was a single mum once,” says Mirna.