Skip to main content

Author: WeBalkans

EU continues to support investment in rural tourism

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Union’s EU4AGRI project today launched a public call for support to investments in rural tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project aims to develop economic activities in rural areas, to open new jobs and retain existing ones, and to preserve natural and cultural heritage. At the same time, the support aims to respond to the recovery needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The public call is open solely to partnerships consisting of an applicant with a minimum of three partners. The applicants can be local governments, companies or entrepreneurs that provide services or products in the tourism sector. Each partnership can apply for between BAM 20,000 and BAM 200,000, depending on the number of the partners. The partnership must secure co-financing for at least 15% of the total value of the proposed investment. The public call is published on the EU4AGRI official website.

 

The preliminary list of all public calls under the EU4AGRI project can be found here.

The deadline for submission of applications is 15:00 on 21 December 2020.

 

EU4AGRI is a four-year (2020-2024) European Union project valued at BAM 20.25 million that aims to modernise the agri-food sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is jointly implemented and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH and the Czech Development Agency (CzDA).

High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell met with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

EU High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell had a video conference call with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, in Brussels on Thursday. High Representative Borrell congratulated Prime Minister Zaev on his re-appointment and encouraged the government of North Macedonia to continue delivering on the EU reform agenda.

 

He also reiterated that the EU remains committed to supporting North Macedonia in its response to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. The European Commission recently announced a very substantial Economic and Investment Plan to support the Western Balkans’ long-term recovery and bring the region closer to the EU.

 

High Representative Borrell welcomed the fact that North Macedonia’s level of alignment with EU foreign policy positions has increased in recent years, and thanked North Macedonia for its contributions to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations.

EU Ambassador Soreca presents the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca today launched the second phase of the “Europe is here” communication campaign focused on the EU Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, climate change and other environmental issues.

 

The European Green Deal is an ambitious and comprehensive plan to turn the European Union into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans will provide further assistance, for instance in developing a circular economy and air quality strategies.

 

Under the motto ”Europe is here,” the campaign informs the public about the EU’s financial assistance to Albania, especially in key sectors such as infrastructure/transport, the environment and agriculture.  The second phase launch event was organised in the town of Kukës in the presence of local authorities, environmental organisations, civil society, the business community and the media.

 

In his remarks, EU Ambassador Soreca said that “The commitment of the EU to protect our environment is based on a simple fact: the benefits of protecting ecosystems by far outweigh the cost of their degradation. From Brussels to Kukës, from the EU Green Deal to our assistance in Albania, the European Union is working on the same priorities”.

 

The “Europe is here” environmental campaign will explain how the EU is already changing Albania through its engagement on improving air pollution, the use of pesticides, waste treatment, river quality and biodiversity.

Cities connecting through art

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

How one project is helping a Macedonian artist link up with EU counterparts and promote his work abroad.

Goce Ilievski is an artist from Skopje, North Macedonia, who works with contemporary, traditional, and digital art forms. He has held 12 solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions both at home and abroad, and won many awards for his oil paintings, watercolours, and photographs. His professional journey, however, has not been without its challenges. 

Goce explains that while his family and friends have always been supportive, it is very difficult to live and earn a living as an artist in North Macedonia. “It’s a limited market here but fortunately the internet opens up much wider possibilities. I derive most of my income from other countries and by focusing online, I can apply for many projects and promote my work to new audiences. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for me to live off my art.”

Artists gain much inspiration from exchanging with other cultures, and visiting other countries opens up possibilities for showcasing their work more widely. Goce is no exception in this regard, and when he saw an announcement to participate in the EU-funded CreArt project, he immediately applied. CreArt (the Network of Cities for Artistic Creation) is a network consisting of European cities, and public and private cultural institutions. Artists who participate in CreArt activities are selected through open calls, and benefit from residencies, training and promotion opportunities in the participating cities. 

“I derive most of my income from other countries and by focusing online, I can apply for many projects and promote my work to new audiences. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for me to live off my art.”

Inspiration and connections Goce’s application was successful, and the project provided him with the opportunity to visit Kaunas, Lithuania, where he stayed for a month and exhibited his work. “Although the timing of the residency was not the best – as it was very cold while I was there! – the people were very nice and warm. I also liked the landscape, and the ways in which their community and infrastructure systems work.”

Apart from inspiration and cultural enrichment, this trip also allowed Goce to overcome his main professional concern: selling his work outside of his native North Macedonia.

“This was a highly valuable experience, as I now have additional channels and possibilities to market my art through my newly-gained connections and skills.”

Creating ‘culturally alive’ cities The CreArt network’s coordinating body is a Spanish cultural foundation – the Fundacion Municipal De Cultura – Ayuntamiento De Valladolid. The partner institution in North Macedonia is the city of Skopje, which joined the project in its second phase. Goce is one of over 380 artists and 65 curators who have already taken part in network activities since its launch eight years ago.

Funded by the Creative Europe Programme, the motto of CreArt is, – ‘When culturally alive, a city is both healthier and freer’. Research carried out by the network has shown the value of artistic creation to local development, not only creating jobs, but also attracting investors and contributing to social innovation. By broadening opportunities for cultural operators, this collaborative platform is playing a key role in creative, social and economic development of cities across Europe.

His study trip included workshops where he learned about building connections between artists and sales agents from different countries, and the promotion of joint artistic cooperation across borders. “This was a highly valuable experience, as I now have additional channels and possibilities to market my art through my newly-gained connections and skills,” Goce says, adding that he believes this was perhaps the main benefit of his experience.

New work opportunities for people with disabilities in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Meet Rubina – whose life-altering diagnosis prompted a new start and a new business.

While it is common to hear of people leaving the countryside for jobs in the cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina , the reverse is more unusual. One of those to do so is 38-year-old, Rubina Dzanovic. Rubina graduated in Graphic Design, but she had never managed to get a job. A native of Sarajevo, Rubina had always lived in the capital until a devastating multiple sclerosis diagnosis changed her life-course.

“I was well psychologically. However, my physical condition was dire – it is a chronic illness. I was in pain, and I could not sleep at night,” she says. As a way of easing the pain, doctors advised spending some time in the clean air of the countryside. Subsequently, Rubina began to pay regular visits to her mother’s village, which has a thermal spring. “Every time I went to the village, I felt better. As a result, we started to spend more time there, and at some point, my husband and I decided to move to the village for good,” she says.

“Every time I went to the village, I felt better. As a result, we started to spend more time there, and at some point, my husband and I decided to move to the village for good”

A little help goes a long way Moving from the city to the countryside was not without its challenges. With some savings, the family bought a cow and began subsistence farming. But realistically, they needed to find a way to earn a living. Developing a farming business seemed like an obvious choice, and encouraged by one of their neighbours, they purchased some more cows and began making homemade cheese. This proved popular, and while sales were good, an ever-increasing workload called for additional support. Although Rubina is not a big fan of social media platforms, she occasionally checks her Facebook page. On one occasion, an advertisement caught her attention – an EU-funded call for proposals under the ‘P.O.W.E.R.’ project, implemented by Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina, which supports the employment of people with disabilities. After a discussion with her husband, they agreed to seek more information. As the local implementing organisation for the project, Rubina got in touch with Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina. They confirmed her eligibility and explained that application procedure was actually quite simple. Deciding she had nothing to lose, Rubina set about creating a proposal and submitted her application. To become more efficient, what they really needed was a two-wheel tractor. That would allow them to devote more time to increasing their milk yields and cheese production, and expand their range of products. “Thanks to the project, we received a two-wheel tractor which has proven to be of tremendous help. My husband can now perform many farming tasks faster and more efficiently. Simply put, this has been of great support to us,” Rubina says happily. Rubina’s company, ‘Rubi Milk’, mainly sells its homemade cheese and milk by delivery-to-order in Sarajevo. Thanks to the two-wheel tractor, they have recently expanded into growing vegetables. “People are interested in organic and home-grown produce, so we thought – ‘why not add fresh and naturally-grown vegetables to our list of products?’ It proved to be an excellent idea, as our clients love it. Now we deliver fresh vegetables along with the cheese.”

“With proper support, and the right opportunities, people with disabilities can make significant contributions to society.”

The P.O.W.E.R project was implemented as part of the EU Cross-Border Cooperation Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro. More than 100 people with disabilities have benefitted from the project by increasing their professional capacities through mentorship and training, direct support for purchasing equipment, career guidance, usage of an interactive platform for career development and the employment of people with disabilities, and direct employment support.

Offering the right opportunities For many people with disabilities or health conditions, finding and sustaining work is a challenge. Zlatko Mihalic from Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina explains that their goal with P.O.W.E.R. is to demonstrate to society that people with disabilities have the same right to access work opportunities as their counterparts without disabilities. “With the proper support, and by offering the right opportunities, people with disabilities can make significant contributions to society. But they face many challenges, ranging from an ever-present stigma to inadequate support tools.” With proper support, beneficiaries can expand and grow their businesses and lives.

Finding the job of your dreams in the cloud

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

New model of digital training is addressing the skills mismatch and youth unemployment

In the Western Balkans, unemployment rates among young people are some of the highest in Europe – varying from 28.3% in Albania to 55.4% in Kosovo (Eurostat 2018). Yet, on the other side of the equation, there remain many unfilled jobs. One solution lies in upskilling young people through training courses that focus on specific, in-demand skills required. This was the approach taken by Serbian youth organisation, ‘RES POLIS’ (Center for Youth and Social Development), specialised in developing non-formal education paths to empower young people.

  “We were witnessing a paradox in Serbia,” explains Boris Negeli of RES POLIS. “On the one hand, we had a high unemployment rate, but on the other, the IT sector had a critical deficit of skilled workers. For us, the solution was simple: the National Employment Service, responsible for the training of unemployed individuals, should also include ICT training within their education programmes.” This was the inspiration behind the ‘Design Your Job’, initiated by RES POLIS back in 2009. The goal was to develop and test ICT educational programmes in areas where there are talent shortages.   Since then, ‘Design Your Job’ has grown from strength to strength. It is supported by the European Union’s ERASMUS+ programme, which promotes cooperation in education, training and youth work, including in the Western Balkans. The project includes partner organisations from France, Italy, Albania and Cyprus who all bring different expertise. As many countries across the Western Balkan region and beyond face similar challenges, this sharing of experience is vital. Training courses have been developed in fields as diverse as graphic design, web design, programming to 3-D modelling and basic game animation. Anyone between 18 and 30 years old is eligible, with young people from disadvantaged groups particularly encouraged to apply. To gain international experience, successful candidates carry out their training in one of the partner countries.

“On the one hand, we had a high unemployment rate, but on the other, the IT sector had a critical deficit of skilled workers. For us, the solution was simple: the National Employment Service, responsible for the training of unemployed individuals, should also include ICT training within their education programmes.”

Breaking the vicious circle Eriseld, 26, from Albania, is one of a number of young people who applied for a training course. “Although I have a degree in Information Technology, I had to work in a factory instead of an IT-related job in order to make a living,” he says. Eriseld explains that while he was taught a lot of theory at university, he had little practical knowledge.

“My job prospects changed when I heard about ‘Design Your Job’. It was just what I needed.”

Looking forward Demand continues to grow, and RES POLIS always keep one eye on the future. The programmes are regularly evaluated to make sure they are equipped to address challenges facing the ICT business sector over the long term. Ultimately the goal is that their tried-and-tested ICT education programmes will eventually be incorporated into the National Employment Service training portfolio for the unemployed. This led to a vicious circle – he needed experience to get a footing on the career ladder, but was unable to gain experience without first getting hired. “However, my job prospects changed when I heard about the ‘Design Your Job’ initiative. It was just what I needed,” Eriseld says.  Eriseld participated in two 10-day training courses as part of the ‘Design Your Job’ initiative in Serbia and Italy, which equipped him with new skills and insights from abroad. Soon after, he received a job offer from InTech – a Tirana-based IT company where Eriseld had completed his practical training during the project. After gaining some work experience, from there Eriseld decided to take the plunge and go freelance, offering IT services for local and international clients. His plans for the future include starting his own company and employing other people.

EU launches €40 million programme to rebuild Albania’s cultural heritage after the earthquake

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The €40 million EU4Culture programme seeks to address the effect of the country’s November 2019 earthquake through the reconstruction of Albanian cultural heritage damaged by the earthquake.

 

The list of monuments and sites that EU4Culture will focus on will be the result of consultations and a thorough assessment with the authorities and Albania’s cultural heritage community. It will include museums, such as the Archaeological Museum and the National Gallery of Arts in Tirana, and other important sites such as the Durrës Amphitheatre, castles and religious monuments.

 

Three municipalities, among Albania’s key tourist destinations, will benefit from the EU funding – Tirana, Durrës and Kruja. The support will be based on the needs identified in a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment. The programme will involve and support local communities with grants, will adopt international and EU standards, will provide technical support to Albanian institutions, and will use the “Build Back Better” approach.

 

On the occasion of the signing ceremony of the new EU4Culture programme, the EU Ambassador to Albania, Luigi Soreca, said: “EU4Culture is one of the largest ever cultural heritage programmes designed by the European Union in terms of number of monuments and of funds involved. Helping preserve Albania’s heritage is an economic chance, a common responsibility, but also a moral and historical duty towards previous and future generations of Europeans.”

 

Over the next four years, the EU4Culture programme will be implemented in close coordination and collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and other stakeholders at the national and local level, promoting the ownership and sustainability of the investment.

First EU – Western Balkans conference on media literacy and the fight against disinformation

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Johann Sattler, today opened the first EU – Western Balkans conference on media literacy and the fight against disinformation. As part of the conference, panel discussions were hosted from three cities (Brussels, Sarajevo and Banja Luka) on the subjects of media literacy, fact-checking and disinformation, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The conference was organised by the EU in cooperation with the BiH-based “Why Not” (Zašto ne) Association and the Association of High School Students in BiH, within the Ne Klikam u Prazno project funded by the EU with the aim of strengthening media literacy among youth.

 

In his opening address, the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, emphasised: “Misinformation and disinformation proliferated in the Western Balkans, in the European Union and in the whole world during the pandemic. This has been dangerous for all of us. Above all because lies about medical issues can even kill.” He stressed the importance of the work of fact-checking organisations and their partners in debunking disinformation in the Western Balkans.

 

EU Ambassador Sattler spoke of the significance of the conference in view of its aim to educate the public and highlight best practices in the fight against disinformation in the region:

“The EU in BiH has been working together with the fact-checking community here for a few years, who are at the very heart of the global fight against disinformation.” He stressed that effective action on preventing the spread of disinformation requires participation not only from fact-checkers, civil society and independent media, but also the authorities and regulatory bodies, adding that cooperation in this field needs to be strengthened in the country.

 

The conference gathered over 20 experts in the field of media and information literacy, EU and regional officials as well as activists, including Tonino Picula, Member of the European Parliament; Radmila Šekerinska, North Macedonia’s Minister of Defence; Cristina Tardáguila, Associate Director of the International Fact-Checking Network; Darko Brkan, President of the Why Not Association; Jelena Vasić, a journalist from the Serbia-based Crime and Corruption Reporting Network, “KRIK”, and many others.

High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell met with Foreign Minister Osmani

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

High Representative / Vice-President Josep Borrell met with the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, in Brussels on Monday and congratulated him on his appointment in the new government led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

 

Josep Borrell said that the EU expects the new government to continue to deliver on the country’s EU commitments and to sustain and accelerate the implementation of EU-related reforms. This concerns in particular the rule of law and the fight against organised crime and corruption, as well as further strengthening of good neighbourly relations.

 

He also welcomed North Macedonia’s contributions to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations and the fact that North Macedonia’s level of alignment with EU foreign policy positions has increased in recent years.

 

The High Representative stressed that the EU remains committed to supporting North Macedonia in its response to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.

European Commission approves financial assistance of over €138 million for Kosovo

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Commission is offering over €138 million in assistance through the 2019 and 2020 Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) programmes for Kosovo, and the respective financing agreements have been signed by both parties.

 

Out of this amount, €50 million has been re-programmed to tackle the social and economic fallout of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in the short and medium term. Support will cover democracy and governance, the rule of law and fundamental rights, the environment, climate action and energy, competitiveness, innovation, agriculture and rural development, education, employment and social policies.

 

The EU is now waiting for the ratification of these agreements by Kosovo’s institutions in order to launch the implementation.

 

The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo / EU Special Representative, Tomáš Szunyog, welcomed the signature of the IPA 2019 part II and 2020 Annual Action Programmes for Kosovo.

 

“The EU has worked hard to re-programme a large part of our assistance to meet the needs of the people in Kosovo who have been affected by COVID-19. Our support will strengthen social protection, support small businesses and help stabilise public finances. I call on the Kosovo institutions to now ratify these programmes as soon as possible,” said Szunyog.

 

Through these programmes, the European Commission will support start-ups and micro businesses, job creation and the employment of young people and women, the quality of higher education, social protection and the basic needs of families in poverty or without income, and cultural heritage and cultural tourism. It will also support Kosovo in preventing land and air degradation – and their negative impact on human health – by reducing solid waste pollution and emissions from the production of energy.