Author: WeBalkans

Ispra, Italy, 11-12 June 2025 – The European Union (EU) and representatives of the six Western Balkans partners (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) mark a significant milestone in their collaboration on radiological safety with the conclusion of the EXTRA-EURDEP project. This initiative represents a key achievement in enhancing radiological data exchange and emergency preparedness across the Western Balkans (WB). This project has been funded by the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC) and coordinated by European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA).

With the increasing need for effective radiological monitoring, the WB and EU have collaborated closely to improve the status of national radiological environmental monitoring (REM) networks in either connecting to EURDEP or finding solutions in keeping connected to EURDEP.

The EXTRA-EURDEP project has made significant efforts in gathering key information—both at technical level and management level—on monitoring networks and REM activities developed by the national organizations with the aim of meeting the project goals of supporting the WB on EURDEP. Furthermore, in recognizing the status of candidates and potential candidates, EXTRA-EURDEP has extended its initial scope by acknowledging that EURDEP is only one piece of a whole set of activities concerning the field of REM and nuclear emergency preparedness and response within the EU acquis, activities that will become mandatory once the WB partners join the EU.

The project has been successful in creating a strong community of EURDEP and REM stakeholders including several European Commission’s Directorate Generals: DG International Partnerships, DG Energy and DG Joint Research Centre.

Three out of the WB6 are connected to EURDEP, a fourth one will be very soon connected, and the other two have made significant efforts to manage the infrastructure needed to join EURDEP. Further meetings between the European Commission team of experts and national experts will take place in the following weeks to facilitate connection to EURDEP.

On 11^th and 12^th June, the final meeting and workshop was hosted in the JRC offices in Ispra, Italy. The event was in-presence and online, with a total attendance of 24 participants from all six WB partners, together with representatives from DG ENER, DG INTPA and DG JRC. This final meeting allowed to share a comprehensive and updated picture of the national status of EWRMN and EURDEP, aside from developing useful ideas for future collaborations. In addition, a workshop session was also organized to share current technical issues faced the WBC and how the European Commission could help bridge the gap.

The success of the EXTRA-EURDEP project is a powerful example of the strong partnership between the EU and the WB, further solidifying their commitment to regional and environmental safety. The project, implemented by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), has paved the path for future collaborations across the region in the field of radiological environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness and response.

For further information, please contact:

– Mr. Juan Carlos de la Rosa Blul, European Commission Scientific Officer; juan-carlos.de-la-rosa-blul@ec.europa.eu

– Mr. X. Pinsolle, European Commission Project Manager; xavier.pinsolle@ec.europa.eu

The WeBalkans campaign “Ready. Steady. Our Europe!” has reached its grand finale with the announcement of the six final winners of the regional photo contest. Over the past six months, this unique campaign by WeBalkans has celebrated inclusion, unity, and the spirit of sport, bringing the shared values of the Western Balkans and the EU closer to citizens across the region and beyond.

Launched in April 2025 in Pristina, the contest invited young photographers and sports enthusiasts aged 18–29 to capture inspiring moments from the world of sport — celebrating perseverance, EU enlargement, unity, peacebuilding, and cultural cooperation. From 183 submissions, a professional jury selected 18 best works, which then toured the Western Balkans as part of a traveling exhibition, stopping in seven towns: Belgrade, Podgorica, Skopje, Struga, Maglaj, Pristina, and Tirana. Finally, this August, the citizens of our region had their say, voting on WeBalkans social media to select the final winners:

Albania: Klevisa Kapo – Lifted by Support, Carried by Dreams

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Haris Pervan – Grassroots Football

Kosovo: Fillojetë Maloku – Sport is not just competition

Montenegro: Nataša Đurović – Lines of the freedom

North Macedonia: Ilina Pulejkova – Sport connects, includes and loves

Serbia: Jasmina Pavlović – Together – we can do anything

The campaign’s closing event will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, chosen as the first EU capital to host the finale of Your lens. Your story. Our Europe! campaign. As part of a special collaboration with the Ljubljana Sports Festival, together with the winners attending the festival, the winning photographs will be exhibited from 3 September as part of the official festival programme. The Award Ceremony will be held on 6 September at Tivoli Iliria Pool. Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement, will also give a video message to the winners of the photo competition.

By wrapping up “Ready. Steady. Our Europe!” in Slovenia, WeBalkans highlights its aim to share stories of EU enlargement, showcase the richness the Western Balkans brings to Europe, and point to the opportunities the EU offers beyond borders. The finale also gives space for young voices and encourages unity through activism and creativity — showing that Europe’s future is stronger when shaped together.

A stirring visual journey across the Western Balkans unfolded this summer as the WeBalkans Photo Contest launched its regional exhibition, “Ready. Steady. Our Europe!”, showcasing 18 standout photos selected from nearly 183 submissions by youth aged 18–29. The initiative, supported by the EU’s WeBalkans programme, unites creativity, sport, and regional connection.

Regional rollout of launch events

The journey began on 10 June at Europe House Belgrade, where WeBalkans Photo Exhibition Tour kicked off. Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, officially opened the exhibition alongside Teqball world champions Bogdan Marojević and Nikola Mitro, and FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup winner Nenad Nerandžić. Around 20 guests—media, youth, jury members—gathered in an intimate setting to celebrate the power of sport in visual storytelling.

On 8 July, the exhibition reached Europe House Podgorica, in a city where sport is part of everyday life. EU Media & Public Affairs Officer Paolo Londero led the launch, joined by celebrated Montenegrin water polo player Stefan Vidović. The event, attended by around 20 people, echoed the coastal country’s passion for aquatic sports and its growing creative scene.

The stop at Europe House Skopje on 15 July coincided with the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje and Kumanovo, infusing the launch with a spirit of competition and unity. Aleksandar Melamed, Team Leader for Communication and Press at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, welcomed about 30 guests. The city’s vibrant summer atmosphere, coupled with the festival’s international presence, gave the photographs a well deserved spotlight.

In Europe House Tirana on 22 July, the exhibition found a home in Albania’s bustling capital. EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato opened the event alongside athletics champion Klodiana Shala, symbolising perseverance and ambition—values mirrored in many of the displayed photographs. Around 20 attendees explored how sport can inspire both personal and societal change.

On 25 July, the exhibition took a dramatic turn, opening at the historic Gradina Fortress during the Maglaj Spirit Weekend. Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, inaugurated the event before around 50 guests. With handball star Emir Delić and volleyball player Ema Suljaković in attendance, the medieval setting provided a striking contrast to the modern images, making this stop a highlight of the tour.

The next stop of this leg was Europe House Pristina on 5 August, where EU Ambassador Aivo Orav welcomed guests. Volleyball champion Dea Maliqi and CrossFit athlete Gentiana Gashi added energy to the opening, attended by around 20 people. In Kosovo’s youthful and creative capital, the exhibition underscored the role of sport in building resilience and unity.

The final stop of the WeBalkans Photo Exhibition Tour will be Struga, a picturesque town on the shores of Lake Ohrid, known for its poetry festival and rich cultural heritage. The exhibition arrives here as part of a series of cultural events marking the season. Against the backdrop of calm waters and historic bridges, the 18 photographs will be displayed in an open-air setting, inviting locals and tourists to connect with the stories they tell. In this setting, sport and art meet nature, closing the tour on a reflective yet celebratory note.

What’s Next?

After traveling through the Western Balkans, the WeBalkans Photo Exhibition continues its journey to Struga, North Macedonia, before concluding. Viewers across the region are invited to vote online, as a public vote is now underway via Instagram polls open through 12 August, with winners announced on 14 August. The six top-voted photographers will win inspirational trips to EU capitals.

The Webalkans Photo Exhibition underlined the potent synergy of youth creativity, sport, and regional solidarity. Through visual storytelling, it gives voice to young people’s perspectives on identity, ambition, and unity, demonstrating how simple images can bridge communities and celebrate shared European values.