Skip to main content

Author: WeBalkans

Young Albanian entrepreneur wins Mediterranean award

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

Erilda Krasi, a tour operator based in the city of Berat, has won the third ARLEM Young Entrepreneurs Award, beating contenders from nearly two dozen other young, small businesses from around the Mediterranean. The award, which has been presented annually since 2019 by the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM), celebrates both the work of entrepreneurs younger than 35 and efforts by local authorities to foster business-friendly policies.

 

The evaluation committee, which includes organisations actively engaged in promoting an entrepreneurial environment in the Mediterranean region, praised the work of Erlida Krasi and her company 1001 Albanian Adventures as an example of sustainable and responsible tourism that is helping to regenerate the local economic fabric and urban environment.

 

The Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) is an assembly of local and regional representatives from the European Union and its Mediterranean partners. It was set up in 2010 by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) together with territorial associations active in this context allowing elected representatives from the three shores of the Mediterranean Sea to: represent their local and regional authorities politically, maintain political dialogue and promote interregional cooperation.

RYCO and EU fund new projects in Albania

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The projects are funded under the 4th Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Open Call for Project Proposals supported by the European Union and will be implemented by two local civil society organisations: People in Focus and the Institute of Romani Culture. The aim of the project implemented by People in Focus is to change tourism behaviour patterns and encourage people to explore new places in the region. The other project, implemented by the Institute of Romani Culture in Albania, will aim to identify and promote good practices in fighting discrimination against vulnerable and marginalised youth groups.

 

The awarded projects will be implemented between February and October 2021.

 

The overall objective of the fourth RYCO Open Call for Project Proposals is to support the civil society in the Western Balkans to foster reconciliation and regional youth cooperation during and post COVID-19 crisis. The call aims to contribute to increasing the capacities of CSOs that can implement regional youth-related projects and provide new opportunities for young people.

 

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 programs. RYCO is financed by the governments of the region and it is supported by the EU and other donors.

EU supports the energy sector and energy transition in Serbia

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The construction of the gas interconnection between Serbia and Bulgaria, and energy efficiency, as well as the continuation of cooperation in the field of gender equality were some of the topics of today’s meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and the Minister of Mining and Energy Prof. Dr. Zorana Mihajlović with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi.

 

The Deputy Prime Minister reminded that the Ministry has prepared four laws in mining and energy and that they will soon be in the Parliament.

 

Ambassador Sem Fabrizi expressed satisfaction with the cooperation so far, saying that the European Union is there to support Serbia both through projects in energy and on the further path of European integration.

 

 

New Europe Houses opened in North Macedonia

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

Fifteen months after the inauguration of the first Europe House in Skopje and following plenty of positive reactions on its purpose and work, the EU Delegation in North Macedonia opened similar youth hubs in Kriva Palanka and Strumica.

 

At the opening events, EU Ambassador David Geer, in addition to respective mayors, was joined by the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski (in Kriva Palanka) and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev (in Strumica). Their message to young people was to use these places to meet, share ideas, and contribute to the country’s European perspective.

 

The events in Kriva Palanka on 18 February and Strumica two days later were marked by displays of young people’s talents, enthusiasm and high expectations.

Read more

European Research Council kicks off Horizon Europe for 2021

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Commission today presented the Work Programme 2021 for the European Research Council. This is the first work programme under Horizon Europe, Europe’s new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for 2021-2027. It includes three main calls for proposals for frontier research actions for a total amount of €1.9 billion. The European Research Council (ERC) offers grants to top researchers from anywhere in the world who are ready to come or to stay in Europe to pursue their breakthrough scientific and technological discoveries that can form the basis of new industries, markets, and social innovations of the future.

 

Over the entire long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the European Research Council is set to receive over €16 billion from Horizon Europe, representing an increase of 22% vis-à-vis Horizon 2020.

 

The first call to be launched within the new series of competitions is the European Research Council’s Starting Grants, which will support top researchers to start their own independent research team or programme. The call will be launched on 25 February, with a budget of €619 million and a deadline of 8 April.

 

Western Balkan Countries such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are also eligible for this call for proposals.

 

Read more

EU and KfW support renovation of Serbia’s largest hospital

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

Serbia’s largest tertiary care facility is getting a complete overhaul to meet current energy efficiency, health and safety standards. The planned renovation – supported by an EU grant and a German Development Bank (KfW) loan – will make hospital operations run more smoothly, save energy and water, and lower maintenance costs in the long run. In addition, the working environment for the medical staff will be improved, as well as the overall comfort for patients.  
In February 2021, a €50 million loan agreement was concluded between KfWand the Serbian government. The EU supports this project with a €5 million technical assistance grant via the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). Reconstruction is expected to start in 2022 and is scheduled for completion in 2025. The project is considered particularly complex as hospital operations must be maintained without interruption during the entire reconstruction phase.  

Fighting coronavirus: EU support to health sector in Tuzla Canton

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

A year has passed since the early steps in setting up the Respiratory Centre – Department for Treatment of Severe Cases of COVID-19 Infection at the University and Clinical Centre in Tuzla. Working 24/7, along with many unknowns brought about by the pandemic, the work of medical professionals has been greatly facilitated by medical and protective equipment donated by the European Union as part of the coronavirus assistance programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

 

The leading experts from the Public Health Institute of the Tuzla Canton and the University and Clinical Centre attest to that. Vital function monitors, PCR devices and a nucleic acid extractor that significantly speeds up the process of processing patient swabs, five respirators and two ultrasound devices are but a few of the donated medical and protective equipment worth more than one million BAM.

 

Equipment donated by the European Union within the assistance programme to BiH in the fight against coronavirus covers health institutions across the board: thirteen health centres in the Tuzla Canton, general hospital, the University and Clinical Centre and the Public Health Institute.

 

Read more

EU supports vaccination efforts in the Western Balkans

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Union, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a new regional project worth over €7 million to support safe and effective vaccination of the populations across the Western Balkans.

 

This project will help prepare the region for the effective reception and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, including those received from COVAX and through the EU vaccine sharing mechanism with EU Member States. It will also help improve the region’s resilience against health emergencies, and support it in moving towards sustainable funding for universal health care. Activities will include the development and testing of emergency preparedness plans, training for health professionals and development of information management systems for vaccine rollout.

 

Read more

EU launches the secretariat of a new initiative for coal regions in transition

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Commission has launched the secretariat of a new initiative to help coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine transition away from coal towards a carbon-neutral economy.

 

Mirroring the successful EU Initiative for coal regions in transition, the newly established secretariat will deliver support to coal regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. The secretariat will provide direct support for implementing the initiative and ensure collaboration across the diversity of institutions and actors involved.

 

The Initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine was launched in December 2020.

 

Read more

Belgrade and Skopje candidates for the European Green Capital 2023 Award

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The new cycle of European green city awards has seen 30 cities from across Europe competing to become Europe’s next European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Award winners. The list of candidates also includes Belgrade, Serbia and Skopje, North Macedonia. The winners will be announced in 2021 and will receive a combined financial prize fund of €1 million.

 

With more than two thirds of Europe’s population living in urban areas, the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards aim to recognise the environmental achievements of cities and towns that strive for urban sustainability and eco-innovation, and inspire others to take positive action in making their cities fit for life.

 

Read more