YEA of the Month October 2023
My name is Anđela Micić, Young European Ambassador from Montenegro.
I’m a journalist, PR and digital marketing manager. I am also part of the first editorial staff of the first youth online media in Montenegro – Makanje
My focus? Human rights, rights of girls and women, social justice and humanitarian work. I volunteered in several non-governmental organisations dedicated to children and youth education.
Eco-labels and internationally recognised certifications are designations granted to products and services recognized for their reduced environmental impact compared to similar offerings, making them a more environmentally responsible choice. Within the hospitality industry, eco-labeling serves as a valuable tool for customers, offering insights into the sustainable practices that hotels incorporate into their daily operations. According to Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report for 2019, a staggering 70% of global travelers express a greater inclination to book accommodations when they know the establishment prioritizes environmental friendliness, whether their primary goal is a sustainable stay or not.
For eco-labels to maintain their credibility, they must be conferred by independent third-party accredited certifiers who possess the expertise to assess hotels and accommodation entities thoroughly. The criteria used for Eco-Label certification should be made publicly available to consumers, ensuring transparency in the process. Ideally, a comprehensive eco-label should encompass all aspects of sustainability. In addition to environmental considerations, this encompasses social standards, such as the working conditions within the hotel, as well as cultural and economic factors. It is important that tourism benefits the destination and its local communities, allowing them to actively participate in and shape the tourism industry.
In addition to meeting the required criteria, the certification process itself involves intricate procedures and substantial financial commitments that can be challenging to fulfill. Recognizing this, partner non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and municipalities in the cross-border region between Kosovo and Montenegro have embarked on an initiative to assist the local hospitality sector in obtaining Eco Labels certification.
Ahmet Jetullahu-meti, serving as the Executive Director of the Prishtina REA, leads the cross-border consortium responsible for implementing the “Tourism for Future” project. Among its various objectives, this project aims to provide support to hotels and similar hospitality establishments in the cross-bordering regions to help them embrace Eco Labels certification. Jetullahu explains, “Our goal with this project is to foster a new, the way – ahead-thinking approach in the tourism industry within the cross-border region. This includes the introduction of eco labels, which represent one of the foremost standards in the global tourism industry, a standard that was previously unavailable in our region.” It’s worth noting that this project is co-funded through the EU-supported Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) program between Kosovo and Montenegro, supported by Peja Municipality, Kolasin Municipality, Prishtina REA and IPER.
The International Eco Labels certification encompasses a comprehensive set of eligibility criteria, covering aspects such as infrastructure, environmental sustainability, staff professionalism, sourcing of fresh and eco-friendly produce from the local area, and the incorporation of cultural heritage into their offerings.
Currently, training sessions on these crucial topics are in progress for companies and toursim practicioners located in the cross-border regions. These training sessions, conducted separately in Peja and Kolasin, involve the participation of around 30 participants from each side of the border, who were selected through an open call process. Additionally, the project plans to provide training and certification to 15 auditors specializing in Eco Labels. As Ahmet Jetullahu-meti highlights, “Currently, there is a notable absence of certified Eco Labels auditors in Kosovo, Montenegro, or any neighboring countries. Therefore, achieving this certification will be a significant milestone for the tourism industry in the region.” We aim to certify at least 20 grantees with the Internationally recognised Eco- Label Certification (10 from Peja region and 10 from Kolasin region), aligning to a transparent call for grant applications, endorsed by the online e-platform, beign developed by the project side.
About the programme
The global objective of the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Montenegro-Kosovo is to improve the standard and quality of living of the people in the programme area through the environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic development of the region, with respect for its common cultural and natural heritage. This will be achieved through joint projects that fall within the following programme thematic priorities: Promoting employment, labour mobility and social and cultural inclusion across the border; Protecting the environment, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk prevention and management and Encouraging tourism and cultural and natural heritage.
Beyond Eco Label certification, the project is actively assisting beneficiaries in the region by facilitating the development and implementation of Integrated Tourism and Communication strategies, as well as the promotion of cultural heritage and the local economy through a creative e-tourism platform developed aimign to promote and internationalise the cross-bordering tourism and cultural heritage sectors. Some of the noteworthy activities encompass cross-border tourism festivals and the organization of and promotion of two eco trails. Ahmet Jetullahu-Meti elaborates on the project’s background, noting that extensive research was conducted involving over 136 businesses from the cross-rorder regions. The majority of these businesses expressed a keen interest in receiving support for Internationally recognised Eco Labels certification. Jetullahu underscores the high level of participation and enthusiasm among company representatives, stating, “Participation and interest from these companies are exceptionally high, and they deeply appreciate the support provided by the project.”
On November 24, BIRN held a conference for the launch of the report titled “Management of Workers without Procedures”. The report states that working conditions and violation of labour rights continues to be a challenge for the labour market in Kosovo. The number of accidents in the workplace in Kosovo is high and the level of implementation of labour rights is poor. From the beginning of 2023, BIRN Kosovo collected data from businesses and workers in Kosovo in order to analyze implementation of the Labour law, including compliance with the requirements on contractual agreements, employment regulations, employment of persons with disabilities and knowledge of safety rules at work, among others. Findings from the report show that, from 2016 until June 2023, there were 1,072 accidents in the workplace; 102 employees died as a result.
The findings of the report were discussed by a panel including different actors from public institutions. The panel was moderated by Kreshnik Gashi, managing editor of KALLXO.com. Panelists included: Avni Zogiani, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers; Mimoza Kusari Lila, Head of the Vetevendosje Parliamentary Group; Naim Hajra, Deputy Chief Inspector in the Trade Inspectorate; Brahim Selimaj, Chairman of the Association of Builders of Prishtina; and Nalan Malësia, of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo.
The report is published as part of the project “Protection and Promotion of the Labour Rights of Vulnerable Groups in the Labour Market” financed by the European Union in Kosovo. It aims to improve the working conditions for vulnerable categories of workers, especially within the private sector, including health and safety in the workplace for women and men, through the promotion of social dialogue between workers and duty bearers.
“UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” is the theme of this year’s campaign “Orange the World – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” that starts on November 25, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and ends on December 10, on the International Human Rights Day. Unfortunately, violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent forms of human rights violations around the world.
This year, the EU Delegation to Serbia joins the global campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence by promoting empowered women and through cooperation with the wider community against physical, verbal and/or socio-economic violence.
The “16 Days of Activism” campaign includes several important international dates, such as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked on December 3. On this occasion, in Belgrade, on December 4, the Blue Theatre will present the inclusive play I Psychi Tis Antigonis, written and directed by Nenad Čolić. During the performance, a sign language interpreter will be available to the audience. The idea of equality, inclusivity and gender equality has always been one of the leading aspirations in the PLAVO Theatre.
The campaign begins in Novi Sad with the fourth Autonomous Festival of Women, focused on the topic “Media and violence against women”, bringing together art, drama, and music programs, as well as discussions through the forums “Violence after violence – institutions, media, public” (Biljana Srbljanović, Tanja Ignjatović, Iva Parađanin), “Deconstruction of gender stereotypes” with Dr Nada Padejski Šekerović and “Internet as a space for women’s liberation”. During the festival, the monodrama “I hate the theatre” by Milena Minja Bogavac will be performed.
Webalkans has introduced a new feature – a newsletter repository section. The primary goal behind this launch is to offer our readers a convenient means of accessing all the newsletters published by Webalkans since March 2021.
These newsletters are readily available in a user-friendly, downloadable format, accessible through the following link.
We invite you to enjoy reading through them.
Eleven years after the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) Donor’s Conference took place in Sarajevo in 2012, which enabled the launch of the RHP, stakeholders gathered in large numbers in the Parliamentary Assembly building of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today, to celebrate the successful closure of this landmark Programme in the Western Balkans. The RHP – a joint initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia (the “Partner Countries”) provided secure homes to 36 000 most-vulnerable refugees and internally-displaced persons in these four countries following the conflicts in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. As such, the RHP was the first joint post-conflict initiative between these countries.
Addressing the Conference by video on behalf of the European Union, Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, stated “We are proud of being the biggest donor to the RHP, with EUR 238 million provided, and of its remarkable achievements. It represents the ideals that inspired the creation of our Union: a peaceful, united, and prosperous Europe. This is an extraordinary example of how regional cooperation between countries, institutions, and communities can lead to reconciliation and deliver important results. I am sure that the Regional Housing Programme will serve as an inspiration for others in similar contexts.”
The Programme was financed mainly by the international community, with the European Union the main Donor. Out of the EUR 294 million contributed by Donors, EUR 238 million – or 81% – was provided by the EU. Other RHP Donors were the USA, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Türkiye, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic. The Partner Countries were supported by the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) with respect to implementation and capacity building as well as the management of Donor funds, and UNHCR and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with regard to beneficiary selection and sustainability aspects.
On 28 November, the European Union and Montenegro will sign a renewed bilateral arrangement on the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism. The arrangement will be signed by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Minister of Interior of Montenegro, Danilo Šaranović. The arrangement aims at strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and the EU on counter-terrorism, as well as on countering and preventing violent extremism. Montenegro and the EU will work together on the removal of terrorist content online, terrorism financing, explosive precursors, critical entities resilience and supporting Montenegro to align to EU legislation on counter-terrorism. Furthermore, it aims at strengthening Montenegro’s law enforcement capacity to deal with extremism and terrorism-related investigations. The EU will continue to support the implementation of the arrangement through the regional and bilateral programmes already in place. This is a further step in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on Counter Terrorism agreed in 2018 with all partners in the Western Balkans.