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Author: WeBalkans

Finding the job of your dreams in the cloud

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Statement by High Representative / Vice-President Borrell and Commissioner Várhelyi on the elections

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Montenegro held parliamentary elections, and local elections in five municipalities, on 30 August, under an electoral legal framework largely unchanged since the last elections, in the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The elections were peaceful and competitive, with high turnout, and were observed by local and international observers accredited by the State Electoral Commission.

 

The preliminary findings and conclusions of the international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly highlight that the elections were managed transparently and efficiently, but note intensely polarised debate over issues of church and national identity and a number of concerns in relation to undue advantage for the ruling party and the unbalanced media coverage.

 

Once the OSCE/ODIHR final report and recommendations are issued, all political actors and relevant institutions need to engage in a transparent, decisive and inclusive dialogue on the implementation of these recommendations to address long-standing electoral shortcomings well ahead of the next elections.

 

We now look forward to the constitution of a new parliament and the formation of a new government that will continue Montenegro’s steady path towards the EU. Montenegro is well advanced in its EU accession process and the months ahead must be used to deepen and speed up political and economic reforms, particularly on the rule of law area, where the next milestone ahead is meeting the Interim Benchmarks for the Rule of Law Chapters 23 and 24.

 

The European Union is fully committed to continue supporting Montenegro’s EU accession process as well as economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis, including through the upcoming Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

The EU Delegation to the Republic of North Macedonia condemns the attacks against LGBTI activist Bekim Asani

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Seven LGBTI activists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia were mobbed, threatened and attacked by a group of men in the town of Saraj in the north-west of North Macedonia. The activists survived the attack with minor injuries thanks to the intervention of police who happened to be nearby. The perpetrators were arrested by the police and a criminal investigation was initiated.

 

The attack was condemned by a number of national and international organisations, including the EU Delegation to North Macedonia. The EU Delegation issued the following statement: “The Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia condemns the personal attack and death threats on LGBTI activist Bekim Asani and urges the criminal justice system to investigate the case, in order to bring the perpetrators to justice. Respect for human rights and the rule of law are cornerstones of the European Union, where every individual holds these rights, regardless of their sexual orientation.

 

The Law on Prevention and Protection against discrimination that was repealed on formal grounds was the first law in the country, to include gender identity and sexual orientation as grounds for discrimination. We urge all political parties to support the adoption of the anti-discrimination law by the new Parliament as a matter of priority, thus building on international standards and staying committed to advancing the human rights of LGBTI persons in the country.”

Team Europe: fighting the pandemic and infodemic in the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The European Union has continued to support Western Balkans partners in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and providing accurate information about the spread of the virus. In mobilising a substantial recovery package and involving the region in EU programmes, the EU has confirmed its commitment to assist the Western Balkans partners in these times of crisis.

 

As the High Representative / Vice President Josep Borrell said: “This is a time for solidarity, and it is a priority for the EU to support the Western Balkans, as part of our European family, in facing the impact of the pandemic.”

 

The EU assistance to this end was stepped up over the summer with ongoing deliveries of medical equipment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including in the cities of Bihac, Doboj, Konjic, Livno, Sarajevo, and Zvornik. The EU’s overall support for the country in medical equipment is worth €7 million, consisting of – among other things – 7,500 test kits, 64 ventilators, 20 portable ultrasounds, nine x-ray machines, 2,000 oximeters and 1 million pieces of personal protective equipment delivered to date.

 

In parallel, the EU has continued supporting and engaging in media literacy initiatives for youth in the country organised by local fact-checking communities, whose work has been of paramount importance in fighting disinformation during the pandemic.

The EU boosts youth employment in the Western Balkans with €10 million for small and medium enterprises

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Thanks to a €10 million guarantee package financed by the European Union, businesses offering employment or training to young people in the Western Balkans will benefit from up to €85 million in loans. An estimated 1,200 companies will be able to benefit from these loans, which will allow them to create 1,300 vocational training courses, internships and employment opportunities for young people.

 

Across the Western Balkans, up to 99% of all businesses are of small or medium size and these businesses employ over 70% of the workforce. At the same time, unemployment rates among young people are the highest in the world. Many young workers are engaged in temporary jobs, in the informal economy, and with a high level of skill mismatch.

 

To address youth unemployment – a critical economic and social challenge for the region – the EU has provided additional guarantees through the European Investment Fund that will enable banks[1] in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to offer loans on favourable terms to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

 

Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, says that he believes that support for youth employment is very important: “We continue to help SMEs as they provide a significant part of jobs in the Western Balkans. Supporting businesses that employ young people is a particular priority. Investing in youth gives momentum for a more robust, more innovative and dynamic economy in the region,” he said.

 

The EU support comes as part of the EU for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship initiative implemented under the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility (WB EDIF).

 

The WB EDIF is a comprehensive financing platform combining loans, equity, guarantees, incentive grants and technical assistance to support SME growth. Since 2012, the EU has provided over €190 million through the WB EDIF, supporting 113,000 jobs and 5,400 SMEs across the Western Balkans.

 

[1] Intesa Sanpaolo Banka Bosnia i Hercegovina, ProCredit Bank Albania, ProCredit Bank Kosovo, Raiffeisen Bank Albania and Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo

Team Europe: fighting the pandemic and infodemic in the Western Balkans, including Kosovo

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The European Union has continued to support Western Balkans partners in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and providing accurate information about the spread of the virus. In mobilising a substantial recovery package and involving the region in EU programmes, the EU has confirmed its commitment to assist the Western Balkans partners in these times of crisis.

 

As High Representative / Vice President Josep Borrell said: “This is a time for solidarity, and it is a priority for the EU to support the Western Balkans, as part of our European family, in facing the impact of the pandemic.”

 

In August, the EU delivered a further 30 intensive care unit ventilators, 200 pulse oximeters, and 20 electrocardiograph machines with the fifth batch of its €5 million emergency assistance to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the EU has delivered to Kosovo 10 ambulance vehicles, 190 hospital beds, 6 000 testing kits, 150 infusion pumps, 127 patient monitors, 1.6 million protective medical gloves, 127 000 respiratory masks, 60,000 disposable coveralls, 23,000 face shields, 3,000 protective goggles, and other medical equipment. In July, the EU signed the Macro-Financial Assistance agreement with Kosovo, worth up to €100 million to mitigate the severe socio-economic consequences of the coronavirus.