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Author: WeBalkans

EU steps up support to Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The European Union is stepping up its support for Corridor Vc, the key transport infrastructure project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with additional grant funding of €14.6 million. The funds will be used to finance the supervision of works contracts on five motorway sections that are financed with loans provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the grant funding will reimburse the supervision costs incurred by two motorway companies to date.
 
Corridor Vc is a pan-European transport project reconnecting the continent. The section in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be 325 kilometres long, crossing the country from north to south, eventually connecting the Adriatic port of Ploče in Croatia, and  with the Hungarian capital, Budapest. The motorway, which will bring Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the EU, is co-financed by loans from the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and grant resources form the EU. To date, the EBRD has provided loans worth €850 million from its own resources, while investment and technical assistance grants extended by the EU have totalled over €220 million. The development of Corridor Vc is a strategic priority for Bosnia and Herzegovina and is expected to contribute to faster economic and social development. With 148 bridges and 46 tunnels, the motorway is currently the largest construction project in the country.

EU supports border and migration management in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johann Sattler, handed over to the BiH Border Police and the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) a significant donation in the form of 63 vehicles and pieces ofspecialised equipment, within the EU Support to Migration and Border Management in BiH project.
 
The keys to 35 vans and 12 SUVs, worth over 3 million convertible marks, were given to the BiH Border Police. Additional equipment will also be delivered to significantly strengthen police officers’ work and enable them to act faster and be more mobile in the field. The European Union also provided 16 off-road vehicles and protective clothing to the State Investigation and Protection Agency. The total donation to SIPA amounts to more than 460,000 convertible marks.  
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 IOM in partnership with UNHCR, Unicef, UNFPA and the Danish Refugee Council.

EU cashback encourages greener homes and businesses in North Macedonia

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Businesses and homeowners taking out loans to make their homes “greener” will be able to apply for up to 20% cashback, funded by the European Union in North Macedonia. They will be able to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses through a €5 million financing package provided by by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Sparkasse Bank Makedonija AD Skopje under the Western Balkans Green Economy Financing Facility (WB GEFF II) programme.

 

The funds will be available for investments in high-performance green technologies, materials and solutions in privately-owned residential dwellings and buildings. In addition, the EBRD is providing a €20 million unfunded risk-sharing facility to Sparkasse Bank, through which it will guarantee up to 50% of the lender’s existing and new corporate exposure, thereby reducing the risk weighting and capital requirements on those loans. By freeing up funds, the facility will increase Sparkasse’s capacity to finance additional green economy projects.

 

The GEFF is implemented under the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the Western Balkans, co-financed by grant resources from the European Union, the Western Balkan Investment Framework and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance. Donors provide critical support to GEFF projects that mitigate or build resilience to the effects of climate change and other environmental threats.

TIME TRAVEL: HOW A SKOPJE SCHOOL MOVED INTO THE DIGITAL AGE

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How large-scale infrastructure investments freed up resources to finance modern, digital teaching tools in a school in North Macedonia. One of the oldest schools in North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, is called 25 May. Built in 1967, it currently accommodates about 1,500 pupils. For almost 50 years, no significant refurbishment activities were carried out. The windows, toilets, roof and even chairs and desks were the same as in the 1970s, making the school look almost like a museum. Fadil Murtezani studied in this school as a child in the 1970s. He remembers that back then the school was known as one of the fanciest in the city. Forty years later, in 2011, he became the Director of the school. “The roof was leaking, we had problems with cold in the winter, and even the chair and desk that I used to sit at were still there. I saw my name on it,” he says with a hint of nostalgia. Along with the new management team, Fadil took the initiative to improve things urgently.

 “The infrastructure investments for the school freed up resources to finance modern, digital teaching tools.”

Saving energy and investing in digital tools

Renovation works originally started as an initiative of parents. They began with minor renovations, painting the school fence and tidying up the schoolyard. However, this was far from enough. The school needed much more significant work, and there were no funds. However, the drive and enthusiasm from the local community came to the attention of the Ministry of Education and Science, which soon approved a request for renovation and reconstruction of the school financed with support of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). WBIF is an EU-facilitated platform that pools resources from various sources, including the European Commission, bilateral donors and international financial institutions. As a result, the 25 May School renewed their roof and the facades of the school building, replaced windows and refurbished floor surfaces and the heating and electrical systems. This modernisation effort has especially improved the energy efficiency of the school, allowing it to save energy while improving teaching conditions. The energy savings, of more than 100% annually, generated by these investments have freed up financial resources which were allocated for other use.“The freed-up resources were used to finance modern, digital teaching tools. The pupils could thus start on an equal footing with those living in the European Union. The changes brought by this WBIF project have enabled a series of international exchanges with other schools from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia,” says Fadil.  

 “Our classes are now more interesting, and we have much more fun; we consider ourselves lucky and we are proud of our school.”

About the project  The 25 May School refurbishment is part of a larger-scale project involving the construction of 70 new physical education facilities in primary and secondary schools and the refurbishment of 60 primary and secondary schools throughout North Macedonia. The project benefited from a combined investment of grants and loans channelled through the EU-facilitated Western Balkans Investment Framework. This included two grants made available by WBIF bilateral donor contributions, as well as two loans totalling €42.5 million from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). About the WBIF The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) is a donor coordination platform that pools funds from various sources, including the European Commission. The WBIF provides financing and technical assistance to strategic investments in the energy , environment, social, transport, and digital infrastructure sectors. It also supports private sector development initiatives.  It is a joint initiative of the EU, financial institutions, bilateral donors and the governments of the Western Balkans.

Better access for all

The teachers and pupils of the school now have new furniture and teaching equipment, such as interactive whiteboards and video projectors in each classroom, improving pupils’ digital skills. “Our classes are now more interesting, and we have much more fun, we consider ourselves lucky and we are proud of our school,” says Anila Ibishi, a ninth grade student at the school. As well as providing better digital access, the renovations also improving access for pupils with disabilities. The school is a flagship and other educational institutions in North Macedonia are taking it as a reference point for access to adequate education infrastructure.  Attaining European educational standards in the 25 May School has attracted attention and admissions of new pupils. Fadil says proudly, “The enrolment rates have also increased significantly after the renovation, as residents from other municipalities apply”.

EU supports Montenegro to increase protection of victims in courts

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A new Protocol with instructions on how to provide support and protect victims in court has been developed in Montenegro. The Protocol is intended for professionals from the Victim and Witness Support Services at courts, who come in contact with victims of trafficking in human beings and domestic violence during court proceedings. Its goal is to make it easier for relevant professionals to answer the basic rights and needs of victims, and offer adequate support. This is a result of a joint European Union/Council of Europe action “Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro”. The instructions were drafted in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Montenegro.

 

In the Protocol, the professionals from the Victim and Witness Support Services can find information about steps that should be taken when working with victims of domestic violence and trafficking in human beings involved in court proceedings, and it could serve as a reference document for other relevant institutions working with victims, as well as an encouragement to all victims / potential victims to turn to the Services for support during trials against perpetrators of domestic violence and trafficking in human beings.

 

The action “Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro” is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.

EU funds a bicycle race promoting cross border tourism

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Blidinje Nature Park hosted an EU-funded bicycle ride to promote tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The mainly recreational ride saw 180 participants winding some 50 km through a route that is considered among the most beautiful landscapes of the Park and the country itself. This activity is part of “Cycling Rural” project financed by the European Union whose objective is to improve cross-border cooperation in shared natural and cultural heritage of BiH and Montenegro. It is the fifth in a series of recreational bicycle rides organized within the project.

 

The project will also introduce the “Bike Friendly Concept” quality standard, thus adding value to the tourist offer in the entire region, which will directly lead to an increase in activities in the rural areas of Herceg Novi, in Montenegro, and the West Herzegovina Canton in BiH.

 

On the day of the event, a workshop providing insights on tourism product development was held. The project will result in the creation of a new and more attractive tourist offer under the brand “Cycling Rural”, which will be included in the tourist offer of both countries, as well as in the overall tourist offer of the Adriatic hinterland.

Montenegro wants municipalities to engage more in EU process

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Montenegro wants the local entities to engage more in the EU integration process despite that the process is led by the central institutions. Montenegro Government Chief Negotiator for the EU Accession, Zorka Kordić paid a visit to Bijelo Polje, a town in northeast of the country, as part of the European Day in Your City project. Kordić pointed out that the European Integration Office is available to better communicate the opportunities and benefits of membership for citizens and the city, as well as to present the opportunities offered within the EU structural funds.

 

Kordić visited the EU Corner in Bijelo Polje, an initiative funded by the EU and implemented by a local NGO, Multimedijal Montenegro. It was opened with funds from the Local Employment Partnership project funded by Cross-Border Programme between Serbia and Montenegro. The new phase of this project creates opportunities for new ideas in localities where there is still no formal alliance of key actors in the labour market. The main purpose is to activate and integrate unemployed people into the labour market while responding to the specific needs of employers.

Sowing the seeds of success

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Back to his roots: a young emigrant returns to Albania and becomes a successful entrepreneur with EU support. Mikel Hoxha left Albania to work in construction in Greece. He says that he had to move to Greece because of difficult economic conditions and the lack of jobs and professional prospects in his homeland. He worked there for some years in the construction sector, where the work was tough and life did not get easier. For this reason, ten years ago he decided to come back to his roots in Fier, and try his luck back home. He joined forces with other family members to start a new business, but never thought that it would become as successful as it is now. Immediately on return from Greece he constructed a small greenhouse. The idea was to grow vegetables on a small scale, distribute to nearby markets and make a living for himself and his family. At that time, he was a pioneer in his region for this type of agricultural business as no other villagers from his town or the surrounding area had greenhouses. He also remembers that the beginning was very difficult as he had no substantial amount of money for investment and no support from the government or any other institution. But eventually, hard work and his innovative approach paid off and he got into a different type of agricultural business that grew steadily and turned him into an important entrepreneur in the area.

 “I saw a great opportunity in seeds, and decided to expand the greenhouse where I could produce seeds for sale to other farmers.”

You reap what you sow

One of the most important preconditions for agriculture is having high quality and well-priced seeds and seedlings. As Mikel did not have any money to import seeds, he started to cultivate his own for the needs of his small greenhouse. With practice, he became good at this and villagers from around the area who had already started their own greenhouses started to come and order seedlings from him. “I saw a great opportunity in seedlings, and decided to expand the greenhouse where I could produce seeds for sale to other farmers,” says Mikel. Over the years, Mikel became one of the leading entrepreneurs selling seeds in his area. Currently he produces and sells over 12 million seedlings annually. In addition, he has already exported watermelon seedlings to Montenegro and last year started exporting small quantities of seedlings to Italy and Bulgaria. The business was growing steadily but Mikel needed support in order to take it to the next level. He heard about the EU-funded Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD) programme and as he was a perfect fit in terms of eligibility, he decided to apply.

 “The support from the EU was a point where I could make the big leap from being a farmer to being a real entrepreneur in the seed business.”

About the programme Part of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) designed to support countries on the path to EU membersip, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD) focuses on the agri-food sectors of those countries and rural areas. Through this tool, the EU provides beneficiaries with financial and technical help to make their agricultural sector and rural areas more sustainable, aligning them with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Making the leap to entrepreneurship

With IPARD support, Mikel constructed another modern greenhouse of 4830m2 equipped with the necessary technology and systems that allow the annual planting and cultivation of seedlings. “The support from the EU was a point where I could make the big leap from being a farmer to being a real entrepreneur in the seed business,” says Mikel. The support from the IPARD covered 65% of the investment and for the rest he had to take a bank loan. Mikel had tried before to get a loan from a bank to expand his business but had not been successful. He explains that when he was granted the support from IPARD then the banks were ready to support the remaining part. Mikel currently has 25 workers, and is planning to increase the workforce in the future. He has also bought some new land as the orders for seedlings are increasing constantly. “Agriculture is a very good business as long as you are committed to working hard and keeping the quality of your products consistent,” he says.

Negotinska Krajina Wine Cellars nominated for ILUCIDARE Special Prize

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The conservation and restoration of the Negotinska Krajina wine cellars from Serbia has been shortlisted for this year’s  ILUCIDARE prize. ILUCIDARE is  part of the EU Award for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award.

 

The nine shortlisted projects were selected by experts from eight countries from around Europe. The Negotinska Krajina Wine Cellars were nominated in the category of international cooperation for cultural heritage preservation.

“Specifically, this project is a prime example of youth engagement, of young people coming to Serbia from around Europe to work on restoration of these nearly forgotten wine cellars, while socialising and exchanging knowledge and skills with the local population. I am looking forward to September when the winners will be announced. Until then, we are rooting for our team,” said Dr Katarina Živanović, expert in cultural heritage management and member ofthe Europa Nostra Serbia management board.

 

The winners of the ILUCIDARE awards will be announced in autumn 2021 at the European Heritage Awards ceremony in Venice. Special ILUCIDARE prizes are supported through the EU’s research and innovation programme,Horizon 2020, and the Creative Europe programme, which supports EU Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards.

European Film Festival in Kosovo

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The European Film Festival 2021 got underway on 21 July in Kosovo. This is the third time that  Kosovo is joining this important annual European cinematographic event.
 
The special feature of this year’s edition is a short film competition. Three awards will be given for the best film, the best actor, and the best director. The jury is made up of director Lendita Zeqiraj,  producer Shpat Deda, and actor Armend Smajli. Over two weeks, there will be ten screenings of local productions participating in the competition, and five international screenings from the European Film Festival platform. Film screenings will take place at Europe House and Kino Armata in Pristina, Europe House in Mitrovica, and the open air cinema in Gjakova/Dakovica. The festival will end on 30 July with an award ceremony.
 
The European Film Festival is one of the most important events of European and world cinematography. With a tradition spanning over 30 years, the festival is held annually and is supported by the European Union and  organised and supervised by CineEuropa.