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Author: WeBalkans

EU SHAI Project transforms lives through social housing

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

A project in Serbia, funded by the European Union, is aiding vulnerable communities in achieving social inclusion.

Miljana, a 27-year-old resident of a Roma settlement in Svilajnac, has her share of life’s challenges. After      graduating from a trade high school, she found herself in the role of a single mother to her seven-year-old daughter, Petra. Their previous dwelling, a small, run-down house, offered far from ideal living conditions. However, recently, a positive change came into their lives. They moved into a newly constructed social housing building just across the narrow street from their old neighborhood. This seemingly small transition made a world of difference in their living conditions. Their new apartment is not only spacious but also fully furnished with brand-new furniture and modern household appliances.

 

Miljana is a beneficiary of the “New Homes and Inclusive Environment for Vulnerable Categories of the Population in Svilajnac” project, which is part of the EU Support for Social Housing and Active Inclusion (EU SHAI) programme. Beyond providing her with a comfortable new home, this initiative has also empowered her towards financial independence and social inclusion. Miljana actively participated in workshops aimed at enhancing her employability, including training to obtain her category B driving license.

“The active inclusion measures play a pivotal role in ensuring the project’s sustainability, as it is meticulously designed and implemented in alignment with the unique needs of families and individual family members.”

Regarding social housing, the project employs three methods of support: constructing new apartments and houses, acquiring pre-existing houses for beneficiaries, and renovating houses already owned by beneficiaries. To date, a total of 127 families, comprising 361 family members (171 males and 190 females), have successfully transitioned to their new residences in newly constructed social housing units located in Cacak, Svilajnac, Loznica, Vrnjac     ka Banja, Ljubovija, Sabac, and Raska. Additionally, 14 family houses have been built in Koceljeva and Zagubica, accommodating the families that now call them home. Furthermore, the project has procured 56 village houses and completed the renovation of 92 houses, all aimed at improving housing conditions for those in need.

Dragana Milosevic, the Project Manager of the EU SHAI programme, elaborates on the comprehensive support offered to families selected for social housing. This support is intricately tailored to the specific needs of each family member, determined through a thorough assessment following the social housing selection process. She states, “For instance, if a family comprises four members requiring support, we provide assistance accordingly. In cases where an individual has unique needs, such as a person with a disability in need of a wheelchair or, in one instance, a young boy attending a high school in another town requiring dormitory fees, we covered those expenses, enabling him to complete his high school education. Some individuals might need to attend specific courses; for instance, we offered welding courses, a highly sought-after profession today, and facilitated their participation.”

To date, the project has extended its support to 324 families, encompassing over 1,000 individuals, through an array of active inclusion measures. Among these, 167 children have received educational support, while 104 adult men and 221 women have undergone educational training. Furthermore, 146 families have benefited from income-generating grants, 42 beneficiaries have been temporarily engaged in work, and 29 beneficiaries have become self-employed. Psychosocial support has been administered to 135 families, involving 391 members. Additionally, approximately 280 families have received assistance in the form of furniture and household appliances. Dragana underscores the significance of the active inclusion component, stating, “It plays a pivotal role in ensuring the project’s sustainability, as it is meticulously designed and implemented in alignment with the unique needs of families and individual family members.”

“The EU SHAI project has brought about substantial changes in people’s lives, and they are keenly aware of this transformation.”

About the project

The European Union Support to Social Housing and Active Inclusion Programme (EU SHAI) is designed to enhance the implementation of social inclusion policies in Serbia and provide sustainable housing solutions accompanied with active inclusion measures for the most vulnerable population.  The European Union (EU) has allocated 27 million Euros through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) 2018 for the 63 month-long implementations of the Programme, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has been selected as the implementing partner.

Dragana emphasizes the utmost importance of supporting education and professional advancement among beneficiaries, recognizing that merely providing social housing does not comprehensively address their challenges. She elaborates, “To enhance their social standing, individuals must augment their skills and education. By improving their employment prospects, they can transition from being recipients of government social support.” She further notes, “The EU SHAI programme      has brought about substantial changes in people’s lives, and they are keenly aware of this transformation.”

2024 call for Creative Europe Networks open

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With a budget of over €39.7 million for the period 2024 – 2027, the Creative Europe Networks call will foster projects implemented by networks of organisations with membership in multiple countries that have a shared mission, governance rules, members’ rights, and obligations.

 

Supported projects will aim to enhance the capacity of European cultural and creative sectors to nurture talents, face common challenges, innovate, prosper and generate jobs and growth.

 

The action is expected to support about 30 networks covering different cultural and creative sectors.

Creative Europe 2024 calls for Platforms and Pan-European Cultural Entities open

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The deadline of the two calls aiming to support emerging artists and the professional development of young musicians is 31 January 2024.

 

With a budget of €47.4 million for the period 2024 – 2027, the Call for European Platforms for the Promotion of Emerging Artists will support projects that give visibility to emerging European artists and their works outside their own borders. It encourages artistic creation and the professional development of artists, the participation and development of audiences. The action will also support projects that address sustainable development, inclusion and the working conditions of artists.

 

With a budget of €7.2 million for the period 2024-2027, the Call for Pan-European Cultural Entities will support orchestras – whose aim is to offer training, professionalisation, performance and touring opportunities to highly talented young artists. The action should support up to 5 projects with broad geographical coverage.

BIRN Serbia Holds Training Course on Reporting Digital Rights

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BIRN Serbia brought together 13 journalists and representatives of civil society organisations at Serbia’s Divcibare mountain resort from October 26 to 28 to help them improve their skills in investigating and reporting on digital rights violations, online manipulations, propaganda in the digital arena and the use and misuse of artificial intelligence. During the three-day course, the participants gained new knowledge and acquired skills to report on digital rights and issues related to the violation of freedoms in the online sphere in Serbia.

 

The training course was organised as part of the ‘Reporting on Digital Rights and Freedoms’ project implemented by several BIRN offices in the region and funded by the European Union.

Erasmus+ Days 2023: more than 9,000 local events celebrated learning and diversity

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The 7th edition of Erasmus+ Days took place between 9 and 14 October 2023, with more than 9,000 events worldwide. This year’s significant increase in participation is a sign of the programme’s success and far-reaching impact. There were over 2,000 more events held than during Erasmus+ Days last year. Special efforts were made by the Erasmus+ National Agencies and the National Erasmus+ Offices so that beneficiaries could share their success stories both in person and online.

 

Events, ranging from festivals and conferences to exhibitions and sports activities, were open to the public.  They were organised by a wide range of Erasmus+ beneficiaries, including schools, universities, vocational education institutions, and youth organisations. Erasmus+ Days 2023 brought people together to share knowledge, exchange cultures, and celebrate diversity. Stories and personal experiences from people around the world who took part in the actions were shared on social media.

71 displaced families receive new RHP homes in Belgrade, Serbia

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At a ceremony at the Palace of Serbia on 30 october, the contracts for 71 purchased Regional Housing Programme (RHP) apartments in the municipality of Belgrade were awarded to refugee families from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia. The RHP will come to an end in December 2023, by which time approximately 11 300 families – or close to 36 000 persons – will have received secure homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia after almost three decades of displacement.

 

The ceremony was hosted by Nataša Stanisavljević, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia (KIRS), and attended by Milos Vučević, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia; H.E. Emanuele Giaufret, Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia; Richard Kohli, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland; Christian Schilling, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany; Aleksandar Šapić, Mayor of Belgrade; Soufiane Adjali, UNHCR Representative in Serbia; Zoltan Kubik, representative of the Embassy of Hungary; Augusta Featherston, representative of the OSCE Mission in Serbia; and Dušan Kovačević, Head of the Public Sector Projects Implementation Unit Ltd, amongst others.

Protecting the Vardar River with EU Support

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The water system in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje gets a boost, showing that development goes hand in hand with EU integration.

Cities must continually adapt to accommodate rapidly growing urban populations, address the challenges of climate change, and manage limited resources. Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, is actively working towards transforming itself into a sustainable, modern European metropolis with a strong emphasis on environmental protection. This commitment is exemplified by a significant initiative to safeguard the city’s environment through the construction of a wastewater treatment facility. This plant will extend sanitation services to more than half a million residents while curbing pollution in the Vardar River, North Macedonia’s longest river.

 

In Skopje, the waters of this prominent river, which flows through the country’s capital, have not undergone proper treatment until now. Within the sewerage network managed by PE Water Supply and Sewage, wastewater is discharged at multiple points along both the left and right banks of the Vardar River. While there is some level of control and initial treatment for these discharges, they ultimately find their way directly into the Vardar River.

“For many years, we have been working diligently to establish the necessary conditions for the realization of this vital and highly significant infrastructure project.”

Mrs. Kaja Shukova, the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia, highlights the critical significance of constructing a treatment plant for the City of Skopje. She emphasizes that this has been, and continues to be, one of the most pressing matters for not only the Ministry and the Government but, above all, for the citizens and their health and well-being. Minister Shukova notes, “For many years, we have been working diligently to establish the necessary conditions for the realization of this vital and highly significant infrastructure project.”

During its preparatory phase, the project has received valuable technical assistance grants from several esteemed institutions, including the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Western Balkans Investment Framework, and the French government. This support reflects Team Europe’s unwavering commitment to North Macedonia. The primary objective of this assistance is to address capacity limitations within local partners, enhancing their capabilities in the planning, operation, and maintenance of investment projects.

The Skopje water treatment plant is designed to serve 650,000 equivalent inhabitants. The construction phase is anticipated to span three years, followed by a two-year trial period dedicated to testing the treatment plant’s functionality and training the personnel responsible for its operation. The facility will span an area of 13 hectares, situated in the municipality of Gazi Baba, on the left bank of the Vardar River in the Trubarevo area. The project is a collaborative effort involving PE Water Supply and Sewage – Skopje, the City of Skopje, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and the Ministry of Finance. Once construction is complete, the Wastewater Treatment Plant – Skopje will become the property of PE Water Supply and Sewage – Skopje.

The project will unfold in two distinct phases. The initial phase encompasses pre-treatment and biological treatment of wastewater until at least 2035, while the subsequent phase will focus on the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater flowing into the Vardar River, to be completed no later than 2045. Upon the treatment plant’s full operation, approximately 74.7% of the nation’s required wastewater treatment capacity will be met by 2027.

“I can confidently assert that without access to these European financial mechanisms, reaching this final stage—the construction of the station—would have been exceedingly challenging. We deeply appreciate the EU’s support in this regard, as well as in other processes through which we strive to attain European standards.”

About the project

As the EU climate bank, the European Investment Bank finances €3 billion in water infrastructure every year, with a focus on water security and climate change adaptation. Around 30% of the bank’s water projects are outside the European Union, often in some of the world’s poorest and most drought-stricken countries. In 2022, we have invested about €2.17 billion in the sector, which improved sanitation for 10.8 million people and enabled better access to safe drinking water for 25.4 million people.

To bolster this endeavor, the European Union has extended a substantial €70 million grant via the Western Balkans Investment Framework. This allocation marks the most significant contribution ever made by the international financial institution within the country’s water sector. The EU’s financial support is poised to dramatically expedite project preparations and execution, ultimately resulting in the purification of 90% of the waste water in the City of Skopje and  74.7%  of the nation’s waste waters . This project seamlessly aligns with the EU Economic and Investment Plan, the Global Gateway strategy, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

Moreover, the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia has facilitated the financing of the treatment plant’s construction through a loan obtained from two EU banks, the European Investment Bank (EIB) €68 million and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) €58 million.  Minister Shukova underscores the pivotal role played by the EU in the implementation of this critically important capital infrastructure project. She notes, “I can confidently assert that without access to these European financial mechanisms, reaching this final stage—the construction of the station—would have been exceedingly challenging. We deeply appreciate the EU’s support in this regard, as well as in other processes through which we strive to attain European standards.” The treatment plant is set to employ cutting-edge technology, the latest equipment, and energy-efficient practices. Thermal energy generated by the station will be harnessed for sludge incineration in the accelerator. The project also encompasses additional facets such as technical assistance and staff training to ensure the installation’s sustainability.

RCC ESAP 2: Western Balkan enforcement authorities explore cyprus’ approach to undeclared and discuss platform work

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Seventeen representatives of the Western Balkan enforcement authorities – Labour Inspectorates and Tax Administrations visited Labour Inspectorate of Cyprus in a two-day Study Visit. The aim of this thematic visit was enhancing their performance in tackling undeclared work through holistic approach, in an attempt to transform undeclared into declared work, as well as to discuss  fairly new form of work  – platform work. The Study Visit was organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform 2 (ESAP 2) project in partnership the Labour Inspectorate Cyprus.

 

This Study Visit comes after the successful completion of Mutual Assistance Project visits in Western Balkan economies in July 2023, as well as a one-day workshop on under-declared work held in Tirana, Albania in late September. These activities signify a collective commitment to combat undeclared work and promote ethical employment practices in the region.

Roof over the head for another 71 families with the help of the EU

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The family of Zdravka Knežević and 70 others got the roof over their heads after waiting 30 years since they fled Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The contract for the apartment she was waiting for was awarded to her by the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret. “Altogether, as many as 6600 families have received keys to their new homes and every such moment is unique – for them as well as for us in the EU. Today is not exception and so I am happy to see smiling faces of another 71 families who today enter apartments they can now call their true home”, said Ambassador Giaufret when handing over the contract to the refugee families.

 

Two months ago, 250 families moved into their new homes in the Belgrade neighbourhood of  Ovča.

 

Through the Regional Housing Program (RHP), financed by the European Union with 80 percent of the funds, it is planned that 7,442 families will receive their permanent roof above their heads in Serbia. The program was established to provide permanent housing solutions to vulnerable refugees and displaced persons following the conflict in the territory of former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. The RHP conducts its activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The Regional Housing Program (RHP) was established as a regional initiative of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to help refugees and displaced persons. It is implemented with the support of the OSCE, UNHCR and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The European Union finances 80 percent of the funds, and in addition to that, the USA, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Luxembourg, Spain also participate.

Launch of the mobile media literacy application for teachers and students

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‘Mislimetar’ mobile app was launched on 25 October at the Sarajevo Media Literacy Fair. The app is designed to teach kids and teachers about media literacy and critical thinking. “The European Union developed the ‘Mislimetar’ application to boost media literacy and critical thinking among youth, since understanding these topics is of great importance in modern society. It is essential that young people are knowledgeable about how to evaluate sources and navigate digital world safely. On the other hand, it is key that teachers who play a critical role are provided with adequate means in education of young generations,” said Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and EU Spokesperson in BiH.

 

The ‘Mislimetar’ app carries seven thematic modules for its users on various topics such as information analysis, recognising false information, distinguishing opinions from facts, understanding conspiracy theories, approaching problems from multiple angles, differentiating causes from effects, and other fascinating lessons. It also contains extra materials designed for teachers to help improve the curricula.

 

“Mislimetar addresses a number of topics essential to the development of these skills in a fun, interactive and youth-appealing style. To produce the most helpful educational tool possible, we listened to the needs and comments of youth targeted by the application, as well as teaching professionals. Mislimetar is a mobile app intended for use in both formal and informal education, and we invite everyone who see the importance of spreading the knowledge on this topics to download the app”, said Marija Ćosić, the Project Coordinator with the Citizens’ Association Why Not.