The sudden standstill of international activities in spring 2020 required a thorough redesigning of the European Commission’s institution building instruments TAIEX and Twinning.
TAIEX and Twinning support partners’ public administrations in the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation and the sharing of EU best practice. Requests for assistance are matched with expertise in EU public administrations to facilitate peer-to-peer learning between civil servants from the EU and partner countries. The halt of international travel and physical meetings in March 2020 posed an enormous challenge to the work of the institution building community. It required the redesigning of exchanges in digital format.
The transition of TAIEX into a virtual instrument enabled continued support to EU partners and their citizens worldwide throughout the pandemic in critical areas such as health and cybersecurity. So far,over 12,000 participants and 2,000 expertshave taken part in virtual TAIEX. Online tools have also played an essential role in Twinning, where additional flexibility was introduced to facilitate remote implementation of ongoing projects.
While face-to-face interaction remains important for peer exchanges, combining the best elements from traditional physical and innovative digital practices will make TAIEX and Twinning more accessible and resilient to future disruptions. In fact, TAIEX events in 2020had on average 24% more attendees and 21% more expertsthan in 2019.
This year is also the25thanniversary of the TAIEX instrument. Today, TAIEX continues to support the candidate countries in their reforms and is also available to other partners worldwide and the EU Member States.
From scarce to steady: how one EU-backed project saved Kosovo’s capital from water shortages.
Musa Hasani has been working as a phone operator at the regional water distribution company in Pristina for over three decades. His job is seemingly simple: he answers phone calls from clients and passes on complaints to the relevant sections at the water company. However, around the year 2000, this simple job became hectic and stressful. Musa remembers taking over 200 calls a day, most of which were non-stop customer complaints about water shortages.
After the war in 1999, Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, faced an enormous migration of people from elsewhere in Kosovo. A public utility infrastructure that was planned for less than 150,000 inhabitants now had to cope with a population of over 300,000 people. Over the next decade, water cuts could last for over ten hours a day in any Pristina neighbourhood. “People were furious, as this had a considerable impact on their quality of life. They reflected this anger on the phone to us,” Musa remembers.
“In March 2014, Badovc Lake had only enough water to last for one more month and Batllava for two. If we had not had a period of heavy rains in April, Pristina and the surrounding municipalities would have literally been without drinking water.”
A tale of two lakes
Sokol Xhafa is the Director of the Pristina Regional Water Company. He remembers that back in 2010 the company started some interventions that improved the situation to some degree. But there was a need for a long-term solution. Back then, the only sources of water distribution were two artificial reservoirs near Pristina – Lakes Batllava and Badovc. The amount of water in these lakes depends on the rainfall. And with climate change having affected the lakes water levels, supply could strongly fluctuate from excessive water accumulation to drought levels.
In 2014, Kosovars lived through the worst water shortage in three decades. “In March 2014, Badovc Lake had only enough water to last for one more month and Batllava for two. If we had not had a period of heavy rains in April, Pristina and the surrounding municipalities would have literally been without drinking water,” says Xhafa.
However, the situation changed for the better with the support of the €35 million Pristina Regional Water Supply project, including a grant of €5 million from the EU. Thanks to this investment and funding, channelled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, the project saved Pristina from water shortage problems for years to come and ensured a reliable water supply for the surrounding region. The project involved the development of a new water source from Gazivoda Lake. The infrastructure enables water to be channelled from the Ibër Channel to the newly-built water treatment plant in Shkabaj. The new plant consists of a laboratory, an operation room and offices, with workshop and social rooms.
“If we had not had the new factory, we would have had to have announced an emergency, and Pristina and the surrounding municipalities would have been facing days with 12 hours without water on a regular basis over the past two years.”
About the project
Pristina Regional Water Supply project benefitted from a combined investment of grants and loans channelled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). This included €5 million in grant support from the European Union, a €20 million loan from the KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, and a €10 million contribution from the regional water company.
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.
“2019 and 2020 were the years with the longest drought season for some time. If we had not had the new factory, we would have had to have announced an emergency, and Pristina and the surrounding municipalities would have been facing up to 12 hours a day without water on a regular basis,” says Sokol Xhafa.
Cost-efficient and steady supply
Water is drawn from the natural source and channelled through an open gravity pipeline to a station where it is pumped to the water plant to be treated, processed, and filtered. The Shkabaj water plant has a capacity of 700 l/s: enough to secure a cost-efficient and continuous water supply to the municipalities of Pristina, Obilic, Fushë Kosova, Gracanica and Podujeva.
Musa Hasani has certainly noticed the difference made by this project, with greater customer satisfaction and quality of life for the residents of Pristina and its region – and fewer angry phone calls for him to manage. The new infrastructure has also brought technological advances which enable the authorities to monitor the water levels of Badovc and Batllava Lakes, therefore ensuring the sustainability of the region’s water resources.
The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) has made its first ever equity investment in wind farms by deciding to fund the construction and operations of a 36MW installation in Bogoslovec, North Macedonia. GGF’s €3.5 million investment will be joining BNB Kompani D.O.O., a holding company for energy projects in North Macedonia who is the majority shareholder.
The Bogoslovec project is directly aligned with GGF’s sustainable investment objectives, while simultaneously supporting the country’s broader climate transitions and renewable energy targets. The project will directly contribute to the implementation of North Macedonia’s Renewable Energy Action Plan, which aims to reach a 50% share of renewable energy in electricity production by 2024.
North Macedonia relies predominantly on coal and lignite. Although the appetite for renewable energy sources has grown in recent years, a transition to a more diversified renewable energy mix predominantly centres on hydroelectric power, which represents 37% of total installed capacity and 90% of renewable capacity.
Once complete, Bogoslovec will not only double the country’s existing wind capacity, but given it is the first independently owned wind farm in the country, it will also serve as a beacon for privately owned utility scale renewable energy. The project is expected to generate enough green electricity to supply over 20,000 households, resulting in 80,000 tons of avoided CO2 emissions annually, with operations due to begin in mid-2023.
Background
GGF invests in measures designed to cut energy use and CO2 emissions, and improve resource efficiency. It was initiated as a public-private partnership in December 2009 by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, with financial support from the European Commission, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Austrian Development Bank.
Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia are now included on the list of countries whose citizens can travel to the EU for non-essential purposes. Under an updated recommendation of the Council of the EU, Member States can now decide to lift travel restrictions to citizens of these countries on the condition that the person has been fully immunised – i.e. if they have received the second vaccine dose at least two weeks before the travel.
Citizens eligible to travel have to prove that their immunisation was achieved via vaccines approved by the European Medical Agency – currently, Biontech/Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
Member States are solely responsible for any gradual lifting or reintroduction of restrictions from a non-EU country as EU Council recommendations are non-binding. The full list of conditions for entry into each EU Member State is regularly updated on the Reopen EU website.
The winning reports of the EU Awards for Investigative Journalism were unveiled at a ceremony on 15 June held in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. The awards recognise the best investigative stories published in 2020 in Montenegro. Winners tackled a range of issues ranging from the Azeri ruling family’s shady involvement in a resort to mafia gang warfare – and how the son of a fugitive former president made a fortune in Serbia.
First prize went to journalists Biljana Matijasevic and Alisa Hajdarpasic for their story ‘Portonovi is Owned by the Daughter of the President of Azerbaijan’, published by Centre for Investigative Journalism in Montenegro. Second prize was awarded to Svetlana Djokić of TV Vijesti for the ‘Way of Revenge’ series, while Dejan Milovac from MANS received a special research award for the ‘Dossier Carevic: All the President’s People’ investigation. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network’s (BIRN) investigation into the controversial business dealings of Milos Marović, son of Montenegrin fugitive ex-president Svetozar Marović, picked up third prize.
An event marking the start of EU-supported construction works to modernise the port of Brčko in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place on 15 June. Sitting on the banks of the river Sava, Brčko is strategically located, bordering both Croatia and Serbia. Participants at the opening included the Mayor of Brčko, the President of the Brčko Assembly, representatives of the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Office of the High Representative.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Johann Sattler, said: “Thanks to its strategic and geographical position, the port of Brčko can become a key transit point for the flow of freight traffic between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. The current infrastructure is outdated and difficult to access by rail, but after the reconstruction it can become a central link for the region’s economies.”
The Brčko Port investment has been identified in the EU’sEconomic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkansas one of the priority ‘flagship’ transport projects to improve connections ‘East to West’. The first phase includes constructing a port plateau and upgrading existing road and rail access. A new crane with a carrying capacity of up to 16 tonnes (three times more than the current one) will increase the handling capacity of goods to 150 to 200 tonnes per hour.
The total value of the project is €10 million, financed by a grant of over €3 million from the European Union combined with a €7 million loan from theEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These funds are channelled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) – a donor coordination platform that pools funds from various sources, including the European Commission.
In a unique attempt to bring together art, care for the environment and youth, an EU-funded project hired five artists to brighten the walls of a facility that treats wastewaters in North Macedonia. The Artwork was presented at an online event as part of European Development Days on 15 June. The wastewater treatment plant in the southeast town of Strumica is not only the first facility of that kind built in North Macedonia with IPA funds, to the huge benefit of local population and the environment. However, this facility is also a pioneer in advertising its purpose and in promoting public awareness of the need to protect nature together with art.
Colourful murals, painted by five artists on the walls of the facility, explain what it does and how important it is to keep the environment clean. The murals also beautify the usually dull architecture of the industrial buildings. They make the facility more eye-catching, especially for children, and invite them to learn more about the importance of water. As a result of this project, over 50,000 people benefited from the treated wastewater, the quality of water resources, nature and health was increased, and the citizens and tourists can now enjoy a unique art painting while the awareness of the importance of clean water is increased.
EU funding has enabled an NGO from North Macedonia to develop a virtual reality tool taking you back to the gladiator battles of 1,500 years ago.
Stobi in North Macedonia was once one of the most important cities in Europe. From around 200 BC, and for almost seven centuries after, it played a significant role in the Roman empire. At the crossroads of trade routes, it grew into an important town, which even minted its own coins. During Roman times, Stobi was the capital of the Roman province called Macedonia Salutaris, and its citizens had the same status as citizens of Rome. As in any other important Roman city, gladiator games were an indispensable part of urban culture. Today, Stobi is an important archeological site with Christian basilicas, baths, a theatre, a synagogue, the remains of roads and grand houses, and even a casino. Although life in the city will probably never be revived, its gladiators are coming back!
The concept of using historical and cultural sites as tourist destinations is still in its infancy in North Macedonia. Archeological sites often lack good visual presentation and information boards; storytelling rarely goes beyond brochures and posters, and there is little or no on-site audience engagement. However, a highly competitive tourism market requires cultural heritage sites to develop strategies and collaboration with creative industries to help them stand out. One such option is the use of innovative solutions such as a virtual-reality (VR) tour application as a tool to explore and revive cultural heritage. VR technology offers the public an opportunity to immerse themselves in a realistic reconstruction of events and stories that best represent any given cultural heritage site.
“The 3D environment presents the interior of the gladiators’ arena, and it also projects an introductory ceremony before a battle, as well as a generic crowd, providing visitors with a sense that they are part of the audience.”
Virtually among gladiators
In cooperation with the Stobi National Institute, and with the support of EU funding, the Center for Social Innovations Blink 42-21 NGO developed a virtual reality application that will engage visitors to Stobi in a gladiators’ battle performance inside the old theatre. Milan Tancheski, the manager of the project, explains that the VR application includes 3D visualisation and reconstruction of the theatre.
This enables visitors to gain a much deeper and more holistic understanding of the space, with unobstructed views of structures and major monuments that no longer exist. “The 3D environment presents the interior of the gladiators’ arena, and it also projects an introductory ceremony before a battle, as well as a generic crowd, providing visitors with a sense that they are part of the audience,” says Milan.
The development of this project was challenging. The city is in ruins, so first came the development of a screenplay and story as a basis for developing 3D models for characters and the surrounding architecture. As part of the process, an architect developed a plan of the old theatre and turned it into a 3D model. As a final part of the activity, the project had to develop life-size 3D models for the gladiators and for around 700 characters from the audience. In doing this, they consulted closely with experts and used historical data, so the experience is as realistic, and fact-based as possible.
“At its height, the theatre had 7,000 seats, and we managed to design and bring to life 700 characters, most of them dynamic: cheering or standing up. So you see the guy beside, behind or in front of you cheering or standing or sitting.”
About the project
The Tourism Development and Promotion Project, funded by the EU and implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council, has a budget of €5 million. It works to develop and internationally promote joint regional cultural and adventure tourism offers, increasing the number of tourists visiting the six Western Balkans economies, and extending tourist stays in the region. Blink 42-21 was among the grant recipients in the second round of grants – worth up to €54,000 each – awarded in October 2019. The Regional Cooperation Council is an all-inclusive, regionally owned and led cooperation framework promoting cooperation, reconciliation, and economic and social development in the region. It is financially supported by the EU.
If you visit Stobi now, you can ask for a virtual reality set, consisting of a laptop and VR glasses. With these, you’ll be seated at a designated place in the theatre. The moment that you put the glasses on and turn on the equipment, you travel back 1,500 years and are surrounded by an audience and able to enjoy a gladiator ceremony taking place on the theatre’s main stage.
“At its height, the theatre had 7,000 seats, and we managed to design and bring to life 700 characters, most of them dynamic: cheering or standing up. So you see the guy beside, behind or in front of you cheering or standing or sitting,” says Milan.
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 Serbia, homeowners will be able to improve the energy efficiency of their homes thanks to a new credit line equivalent to €10 million provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) toErste Bank. In North Macedonia, more homeowners will be able to invest in domestic energy efficiency improvements, thanks to a new €2 million credit line that the EBRD is extending toOhridska Banka.
The lenders will provide these funds to help people install renewable and energy efficient measures in their homes, such insulated windows, heat pumps and solar panels. The cashback offers an extra incentive.
The financing is part of a larger €135 millionGreen Economy Financing Facility (GEFF)programme for the Western Balkans, which supports businesses and homeowners wishing to invest in green technologies. The programme is supported by theEuropean Union, theWestern Balkans Investment Framework and theAustrian Federal Ministry of Finance. To date, around 7,000 households in the Western Balkans have improved their energy efficiency through the GEFF programme with investments in projects that have contributed to a reduction of more than 10,000 tonnes of CO2emissions per year: equivalent to taking 6,000 cars off the road.
On 10 June, the EU’s Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner, Olivér Várhelyi,participated in the Tirana Summit with the Western Balkans leaders. They discussed the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan, put forward for the region by the Commission last autumn and looked ahead towards the Berlin Process Summit with the Western Balkans on 5 July.
The EU’s Economic and Investment Plan foresees up to €28 billion of investments, in grants, loans and guarantees, to help the Western Balkans with the post-COVID-19 recovery and with the convergence with the EU. The Plan also fosters regional integration and cooperation. The Common Regional Market that the Western Balkans leaders agreed to take forward at the Berlin Process Summit in Sofia last year will unleash the region’s growth potential and will, with practical decisions, make life easier for citizens and businesses.
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