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Author: WeBalkans

Rebuilding Albanian railways with EBRD and EU support

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The construction site in the coastal city of Durres is buzzing with workers and machinery. They are rebuilding the 34 km stretch of railway between Durres and Tirana. Once the railway has been rebuilt and the new trains have arrived, travelling between Albania’s two largest cities will take only 20 minutes. This will be a huge milestone for Albania, where there hasn’t been any investment in the railway sector for more than 30 years. The former railway and trains deteriorated over time and today there is little passenger or freight rail transport. Most people rely on cars and buses for their daily commutes, which causes traffic jams in both cities and increases air pollution.

 

The railway reconstruction project is financed by the EBRD, with a loan of €36.9 million, and the European Union (EU), with an investment grant of up to €35.5 million under its Connectivity Agenda for the Western Balkans. An additional €2.75 million in grants from bilateral donors have been secured through the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

 

Infrastructure investments on such a large scale usually take years to prepare and complete, but they bring about significant long-term benefits. Switching from road to railway travel, which is safer and more environmentally friendly, will make travelling across the region easier and more comfortable for people and businesses.

Maestro Riccardo Muti gave an unforgettable Gala concert to Sarajevo

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

On 12 October, in the crowded hall of the Sarajevo National Theater, the central ceremony marking the 100th  anniversary of the Sarajevo Philharmonic was held, a gala concert conducted by the Maestro Riccardo Muti, one of the greatest conductors of today. The audience enjoyed performances of two famous symphonies, no. 7 by L. van Beethoven and no. 9 by F. Schubert, while the square in front of the National Theater was also crowded, with many citizens watching this musical spectacle on two large LED screens.

 

The gala concert of the Sarajevo Philharmonic was supported also by the Office of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The orchestra received instruments worthy of an institution of this importance. These are two top quality double basses, models Milano and Corleone, which were made using traditional methods in the renowned workshop of Björn Stoll in Germany. In honour of the Sarajevo Philharmonic’s 100th anniversary, the EU Office has also donated a foldable stage, which will provide the Philharmonic with more flexibility for settings both in Sarajevo and while on tour.

 

Support to the Sarajevo Philharmonic was provided through the “EU for Local Communities” project funded by the European Union with the aim of improving living standards and strengthening the capacities of small communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is implemented by the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society (CPCD) with the partner organization Help.

YEAs from Albania meet President von der Leyen at EU House Tirana

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Just one day prior to the Tirana Berlin Process Summit, Young European Ambassadors (YEA) had the privilege of meeting President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the launch of the applications for the College of Europe campus in Tirana for the academic year 2024-2025.

 

Additionally, the Rector of the College of Europe, Federica Mogherini, extended an invitation to YEAs to visit the College of Europe offices in Tirana for discussions regarding potential future cooperation. As a regional network, Young European Ambassadors are delighted to extend this valuable opportunity not only to young students in Albania but also to those from the #WesternBalkans and across Europe.

 

The College of Europe has launched a postgraduate programme “Master of Arts in European Transformation and Integration – The EU and Southeastern Europe” to be offered at their newly established campus in Tirana.  On its new campus in Tirana, the College upholds its steadfast commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence that the institution is renowned for. The Master of Arts in European Transformation and Integration has been conceived to address the increasing demand for experts who exhibit a thorough understanding of the enlargement process of the European Union and a well-rounded, critical perspective on the salient challenges of the 21st century, with a particular emphasis on the Southeastern Europe and EU-Western Balkans relations. During the 10-month programme, beginning in September 2024, participants will gain profound knowledge on the institutional architecture of the EU and its functioning across various dimensions. Students will explore the opportunities and challenges of the EU accession process, develop a regional expertise on Southeastern Europe and engage with vital contemporary issues such as digitalisation, climate change and energy transition.

Opening remarks by President von der Leyen at the Berlin Process Summit

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Thank you very much, Prime Minister, dear Edi,
Herr Bundeskanzler,
Dear friends,  
What a story we have just seen on the screen, what a story. And what a powerful message it is that it is not only the tenth Berlin Process but the very first time in a Western Balkan country. A powerful  message in a world that you described, Edi, where we are witnessing an atrocious war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine. Ukraine fighting for its sovereignty and territorial integrity and for our values. We have also seen a heinous terroristic attack of Hamas killing more than 1,400 people, men, women, children, babies, only because they are Jews. We are living on a burning planet. We are challenged by GenAI. In these times, you need best friends. And you said, you are the best of friends we can wish for. Let us work so that you join a European Union that has proven that it is possible to have, together, lasting peace and sustainable prosperity.  
And indeed, what a powerful message yesterday, when we started the registration in Tirana College of Europe. And those young students will now study European affairs. They come from Albania, the whole Western Balkans, from the European Union. What a powerful message for the next generation that will be carrying the European Union idea forward.  
The Berlin Process, as you said, started in 2014. And it is worth to look into the papers from that time: ‘The goal to make real progress in the reform process and regional economic cooperation.’ That is why we are here. And we have laid a good foundation already with our EUR 30 billion Economic and Investment Plan. It is delivering. Half of the Plan, EUR 16 billion, are actually already deployed. But more needs to be done. And I want to focus a few minutes on that one.  
Our economies, the Western Balkans and the European Single Market, are still too far apart. The Western Balkan economies are 35% of the EU average. So, we really have to tap into the potential that is here in the Western Balkans and get it closer to the European Single Market. And this is what the Growth Plan is all about. We know that, from the experience of enlargement, the power of enlargement of course lies in the values that unite us with the countries that joined the European Union step by step. But the second power is the economic development. Whenever there was an enlargement, not only those countries who accessed the European Union had a huge boost in their economic development because they joined the Single Market, but also the European Union improved because the Single Market got bigger.  
And this is now the principle of the Growth Plan. We want to basically open in specific areas the doors of the Single Market, the European Single Market, to Western Balkan companies. And we have to engineer this now. We are opening it in areas like free movement of goods and services, road transport, energy, electricity, the EU’s Digital Single Market, and, very importantly, making cashless payments easier with a single European payment area, just to name a few elements.  
But of course, opening the door is not enough. The Western Balkan countries also need to complete their Common Regional Market. And this means that it is a condition that the Western Balkan countries also give access to their neighbours to their market [give their neighbours access to their market]. In other words, if I turn it around, if there are blockages, the only one you can block is yourself. The others will move on.  
And to move on, reforms are needed, deep-rooted reforms, also to improve the business climate, to make the environment more attractive. These reforms will be accompanied by funding for investment from the European Union, if they take place. This Growth Plan is a very strong incentive. It is an incentive to open the doors economically, but also to ask for opening the borders between the Western Balkan countries and to do the necessary reforms. With that comes the funding for investment.  
Only by working together will we bring the Western Balkans right where you belong, to the heart of the European Union. History, indeed, is on the move. My message is: This is a decisive moment now. Do not miss the opportunity, grab the opportunity, seize the moment and we work with you together for that.  
Many thanks, Edi.

Statement by President von der Leyen on the launch of applications for the academic year 2024-2025 of the College of Europe in Tirana

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Prime Minister, dear Edi,

Dearest Federica,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I remember very well last year, dear Edi, when you launched the wonderful idea of having a College of Europe right here in Tirana, the beautiful capital city of Albania. You were the one who came. And I remember when we spoke about it, your vision was immediately clear to me. What better way to prepare the future of Albania and the other Western Balkan partners in the European Union than to educate and train the next generation – the generation that will build our common future. So, we got to work – the Commission and your government and the College of Europe. We reached out to the College. Its fantastic Rector, Federica Mogherini, also immediately saw the vision, you heard her. And now, not even a year later, here we are, setting the foundations for the third College of Europe, right here in Tirana. So, we delivered. Indeed, tomorrow, we will open the office of the College.

 

But today, the focus is on those who will give life to the College: that is the students. Therefore, it was our distinct pleasure to launch the opening of the registration of students of the College of Europe in Tirana for the year 2024-2025. From this moment on – and we really have to cherish this moment – students here in Albania, from across the Western Balkans, from all corners of the European Union and beyond, can apply for a place at the third College of Europe.

 

This is fantastic. First and foremost, it is fantastic because adding a College of Europe in pursuit of higher education and excellence can only contribute to Albania’s and the region’s development and prosperity. But also, because the College of Europe will also reinforce all the efforts being made to bring Albania and the region into the European Union. You said it, it is the third College. The second that we have is in Natolin. It did exactly what you described for Poland and other candidate countries in preparing for EU accession. So this College of Europe will do the same for the Western Balkans, building a strong bridge into the European Union. The Commission has already deployed funds to support the establishment of the campus, and more will come.

 

You said 31 students will be able to take the first Master course, I am pleased to announce a financial package to support scholarships for students from the Western Balkans. Over the next three years, we will finance 15 of those scholarships. And I think we all know how important that is, because this will enable students, who might otherwise not be able to take part in these classes, to pursue their dreams, too. Today, we are working to prepare the next generation. Tomorrow, this next generation will work on our common project, the European Union.

 

Thank you very much.

Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Rama

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Prime Minister, dear Edi,  
Indeed, I am always happy to be here in Tirana, especially on an important day like this one. As you have just said, we have opened registration for the first academic year of the new College of Europe campus in Tirana. It is going to be fascinating to see that students from all over Europe, studying right here, will be part of our effort to build a common European future. Step by step. So, your path is going towards the European Union and is taking shape. It is getting real.  
And this is my first very clear message: Albania is on track to join the European Union. As you know, enlargement is at the top of our priorities. This is actually where it belongs. Because we want our partners and neighbours to join and make our Union complete. It is also in our own interest because it will give our Union the weight, the clout and the capacity to act. And it will make Europe stronger, bolder and larger in a rapidly changing world. Albania has already achieved so much. The screening process, as you said, is progressing smoothly. Many thanks to the negotiating teams on both sides. They are doing a fantastic job. Our shared objective is to open negotiations on the so-called fundamentals’ cluster as quickly as possible. Our aim is to have this done before the end of the year.  
My second message is: As we continue to work on the path towards accession, we are already building our common future. So, we should start doing this right away to make your country ready for membership but also to, already now, create new trade opportunities between us and to bring our economies closer. We have started this with the Economic and Investment Plan of EUR 30 billion. It is delivering fast, more than half of the financing is already mobilised after three years. In Albania, the plan has actually already mobilised EUR 1.4 billion. There are great projects like the Fierza hydropower plant, or the railway connection to the European Union via Montenegro, on Corridor X. Last year, we completed our Investment Plan with the Energy Support Package. This was during the energy crisis. It delivered very nicely. 90% are already mobilised.   
But what I wanted to focus on today is the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Because here, we are moving towards a new phase of action. This plan has the potential, if we implement it correctly, to double the size of your economy still in this decade and to drive growth and convergence. The principle is that, in certain specific areas, you will have access to the Single Market. For this, reforms are necessary. And the reforms are accompanied by investment. So it opens the door to the Single Market for the Western Balkan countries.  
This will of course be then underpinned by the financial investment: So it is about the necessary investment and reforms.  
My third message is that our investments will match your sustained reform efforts for Albania, for example to work on the improvement of the business environment to further equip people with the right skills – we did exactly this today by opening applications for the new campus of the College of Europe – and to diversify energy supplies, just to name a few topics. So it is very concrete.  
I believe the Growth Plan is the right offer at the right time for the European Union and Albania to get closer. And it will play an important role in your path towards the European Union. You have consistently shown your dedication to this path. For example, and you said it, with your alignment with the EU’s response to Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. And dear Edi, I want to emphasise your personal role in this, in defending our rules-based multilateral order in the UN Security Council in an outstanding manner. And I would like to emphasise too your very clear position on the terrible terrorist attack by Hamas a week ago.  
So, we are getting ready. We are now on our way to welcoming Albania to the European Union. Thank you again for the hospitality. Thank you again for the excellent talks. It is a pleasure to be here in Albania.

Empowering Youth to Preserve Prozor-Rama’s Cultural Heritage

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EU-Funded ReLOaD2 Backs Youth Education for Cultural Heritage Preservation and Promotion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Prozor-Rama, situated in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, boasts a captivating history that spans centuries. This town played a pivotal role during the Ottoman rule and served as a vital trading centre. Presently, traces of this historical epoch still grace the town’s architecture, with the streets adorned by traditional Ottoman-style houses. Among the notable landmarks in Prozor-Rama stands the Prozor medieval tower, an ancient stronghold that offers sweeping vistas of the surrounding countryside. Erected in the 14th century, this fortress has borne witness to numerous battles and stands as a testament to the town’s tumultuous history. Other historical sites encompass the Gradac archaeological site, the Prozor medieval tower, the Šćit Franciscan monastery, and the Lizoperci mosque.

 “Lately, we have been working on the Gradac archaeological site, where I am professionally engaged as a history master. During this period, I realized the need for an organization dedicated to promoting our rich cultural heritage.”

Antun Kovcalija, a history professional, recently established the NGO “Association Hereditas” with a primary objective to enhance the local and wider promotion of Prozor-Rama’s cultural heritage. He states, “Lately, we have been working on the Gradac archaeological site, where I am professionally engaged as a history master. During this period, I realized the need for an organization dedicated to promoting our rich cultural heritage.”

Earlier this year, Mr. Kovcalija participated in meetings with young people organized by United Nations Develpment Programme (UNDP) within the EU-funded Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2). These meetings aimed to identify the interests of young people and explore ways to support them. Cultural heritage emerged as one of the topics of interest among young participants. Consequently, Mr. Kovcalija and other members of the organization devised a project proposal and commenced its implementation with the backing of ReLOaD2.

The project, “Youth Active in Culture,” led by the Citizens’ Association “Hereditas” in Prozor-Rama, seeks to involve young individuals in the promotion and preservation of the municipality’s cultural, historical, and natural heritage. Initial activities included issuing a public call for youth participation, conducting project presentations, and delivering a module on youth activism and volunteerism. The second phase of the project entails educational workshops at culturally and historically significant sites, led by experts in relevant fields. These workshops take place at locations such as the Gradac archaeological site, Prozor medieval tower, Šćit Franciscan monastery, and Lizoperci mosque. These activities provide young people with insights into the context and significance of these sites, engaging them in creative workshops and volunteer ecological initiatives associated with these locations. Volunteer efforts encompass cleaning and landscaping the neglected medieval tower in Prozor. Moreover, the project aims to install permanent information boards and establish pathways connecting these significant sites.

“The response from the young people has been fantastic. They are enthusiastic about acquiring new skills, particularly in photography. We conducted the photography workshop at various cultural heritage sites, and the tangible evidence of their dedication is evident in the excellent quality of the photos they have produced.”

About the project

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of EU-supported initiatives – Local Democracy Strengthening Project (LOD, 2009-2016) and the subsequently expanded Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD, 2017-2020). As the previous ones, this project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ReLOaD2 is implemented in the Western Balkans, in particular Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The project has now reached its midway point, having successfully organized a photography workshop, a module focusing on youth volunteer activism, a workshop dedicated to cultural heritage, and a volunteer cleanup operation in the vicinity of the castle. Mr. Kovcalija highlights that thus far, the interest and engagement of young participants in these project activities have been exceptionally high. He remarks, “The response from the young people has been fantastic. They are enthusiastic about acquiring new skills, particularly in photography. We conducted the photography workshop at various cultural heritage sites, and the tangible evidence of their dedication is evident in the excellent quality of the photos they have produced.”

Opening of 2024 Erasmus+ European Universities call

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The fifth Erasmus+ call for proposals supports the further rollout of the European Universities initiative, allowing an expansion to at least 60 European Universities by mid-2024, in line with the European strategy for universities.

 

This latest Erasmus+ call for proposals comes with a total budget of €189,2 million and it runs from 3 October 2023 to 6 February 2024. The call will allow the European Universities initiative to expand to at least 60 European Universities alliances with more than 500 universities by 2024. It is delivering on one of the flagship initiatives of the European strategy for universities [pdf].

 

The call is an open competitive call based on qualitative criteria. New alliances are eligible to apply. In addition, one important novelty is the opportunity to set up a Community of Practice of European Universities to support closer cooperation.

Regional EU Awards for Best Investigative Journalism Announced

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On October 5 in Europe House in Sarajevo, the winners of the Regional EU Awards for Best Investigative Journalism were announced. BIRN’s journalist Sasa Dragojlo was among the winners. The Regional award was created and awarded for the first time this year with the goal of fostering collaboration and supporting stories with regional impact produced by journalists from different countries from the Western Balkans region and Türkiye.

 

The jury consisted of Brent Sadler, a multi-award-winning journalist, including a BAFTA for Gulf War coverage and an Overseas Press Club of America Award for reporting from South Lebanon, with 18 years of working experience in CNN; Janine Gibson, an editor of FTWeekend, and editor-in-Chief of BuzzFeed UK and Deputy Editor of The Guardian, who oversaw Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Edward Snowden leaks; and Marko Milosavljević, a well-known academic at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

 

The EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2023 is part of the project “Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II”. This aims to recognise and promote outstanding achievements in investigative journalism as well as improve the visibility of quality journalism in the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

Montenegro celebrates the delivery of 28 houses to RHP beneficiaries

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A further 28 beneficiary families received keys to new houses in several municipalities in Montenegro today, thanks to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP). The event – the final delivery of keys event to take place in Montenegro before the close of the RHP at end-2023 – took place in Podgorica, and was attended by RHP families from across Montenegro.

 

In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, the ceremony – which was hosted by Admir Adrović, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Montenegro, assisted by Budimirka Đukanović, National Coordinator of the RHP in Montenegro – was attended by Ricardo Serri, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro; H.E. Barış Kalkavan, Ambassador of Türkiye to Montenegro; Scott Parrish, Head of the Political and Economic Section in the United States Embassy in Montenegro; Zlatko Ivanovic, Political Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, and Aleksandar Čađenović, UNHCR Government Liaison Officer.

 

On behalf of the European Union, Ricardo Serri noted that at the end of 2023, Montenegro would have provided 646 homes for a total estimated cost of EUR 25 million. Commending the Montenegrin government, which coordinates RHP activities in Montenegro, he encouraged continuing efforts in this area. “Sustainability is key, both when it comes to finding good housing solutions for those in need as well as the integration of refugees, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable social groups. The EU will continue supporting you in this process,” he said, wishing the new homeowners many happy years in their new homes.