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Author: WeBalkans

Culture Moves Europe call for artists opens again

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The second call for individual mobility of artists and cultural professionals is now open for submission of applications for mobility grants to 40 Creative Europe countries, including Western Balkans.  Artists and cultural professionals in the following sectors may apply: architecture,cultural heritage,design and fashion design,literature,music,visual artsand performing arts.

 

The Culture Moves Europe calls operate on a rolling basis. This means that the call period is relatively long, with evaluation periods at the end of every month during the application period. This second round is open from 2 October 2023 until 31 May 2024, 23.59 CET (Central European Time). Applicants whose project have been selected will have one year starting from the date of signature of their grant agreement to complete their project.

19 families received keys to new apartments in municipality of Kladanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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A further 19 beneficiary families received keys to new apartments in two buildings in the municipality of Kladanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today, thanks to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP). The ceremony, which was attended by all 19 families, took place in front of one of the buildings, in the village of Stupari. The RHP will come to an end later this year, by which time it will have delivered close to 11 300 secure homes to approximately 36 000 refugee and displaced persons across BiH, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

 

In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, the event was attended by Sevlid Hurtić, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Nerin Dizdar, Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Federation of BiH; Gianluca Vannini, Head of Operations, Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to BiH; Jusuf Čavkunović, Mayor of Kladanj, and Damir Gnjidić, Head of the Field Office in Tuzla at the OSCE Mission in BiH, amongst others.

 

On behalf of the European Union – the main Donor to the RHP – Gianluca Vannini noted that the Programme had been an excellent example of successful joint work in the region to promote peace, stability, and socioeconomic development. “The homes that we are delivering today are yet another tangible example of the European Union’s support for the citizens of BiH,” he said. “I am very satisfied with the results we have achieved.” These words were echoed by Minister Dizdar, who commended the successful cooperation between BiH and the EU.

European Researchers Night is open!

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The European Researchers Night is being held in Serbia for the 14th time, and in addition to numerous activities across the country, a ceremony was held in the Museum of Science and Technology in Belgrade, opened by the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret, and the Minister of Science Dr. Jelena Begović.

 

Researchers Night is composed of open and free content, it is initiated by the European Commission in 26 European countries, i.e. in more than 400 cities, including 24 cities in Serbia. The goal of this manifestation is to raise public awareness of the importance and positive role of science for society, by putting researchers in the focus of the wider public. The contents are suitable for all ages, no prior knowledge is necessary.

 

During the ceremonial opening of the 14th European Researchers Night, the panel “Science and innovation – an opportunity for development” was held, in which the following experts participate: Vladimir Crnojevic, Director of the BioSense Institute, Ivan Rakonjac, Director of the Innovation Fund and Milica Djuric, acting director of the Science Fund.

Europe House Talks – a New Platform for Cooperation between the EU and BiH

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Young activists, changemakers, artists, cultural operators and Young European Ambassadors joined the Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Johann Sattler on 3 October for a wide-ranging discussion in Sarajevo’s new space for dialogue and exchange – Europe House.  This was the first of the ‘Europe House Talks’ – a format bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss important topics with a focus on European values and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path.

 

The first Europe House Talks brought together young people from Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Brčko, Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla, who shared their views on a variety of relevant topics, including education, skills development, the European Year of Skills, culture and human rights. With young people present from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was emphasised by a number of participants that similar concepts and networking platforms should be supported in other major cities.

 

In addition to hosting Europe House Talks, Europe House will organise a variety of activities aimed at providing information to the public in Bosnia and Herzegovina about the country’s EU path and how they can benefit from programmes, projects, institutions and policies of the European Union.

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presents winners of the fourth Western Balkans online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 4.0

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The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presents winners of the fourth Western Balkans online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 4.0:

 

Balkathon is RCC’s flagship initiative, financed by the European Union, providing an avenue for encouraging, developing and recognising unique digital ideas/solutions and products. RCC’s regional cooperation initiatives like Balkathon and similar ones (Butterfly Award, Youth Lab, Regional Network of Women Entrepreneurs, etc.) are our contribution to boosting our human capital and supporting the WB region moving forward, while also trying to retain our talented workforce within the region and improve their well-being.

 

The entire final Balkathon event was streamed live on the RCC’s You Tube Channel and FacebookPage.

Sarajevo hosts the sixth Western Balkans Digital Summit

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The sixth Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS), hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), opened on 4 October in Sarajevo.  Participants of the Summit welcomed the EU-WB roaming charges reductions and commended the RCC’s role in this process.

 

WBDS was opened by Borjana Kristo, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Besides RCC Secretary General the opening ceremony included Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Oliver Varhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Roberto Viola, Director General of DG Connect, Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (Berlin), Steliana Nedera, UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, Istanbul Regional Hub Director, and Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

Western Balkans Digital Summit aims to enhance collaboration and innovation in the digital sphere among Western Balkan economies, bringing together industry leaders, political decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and technology enthusiasts. During these two days, participants will have the opportunity to engage in informative discussions, attend panel sessions, explore the latest technologies, and network with like-minded individuals from the region and beyond.

Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro and neighbours clean riverbed of Ribnica River

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To mark the European Clean Shore Day, which was organised for the sixth time this year in Montenegro, the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, representatives of EU embassies in Montenegro, and the Young European Ambassadors organised a clean-up of the Ribnica River’s riverbed near the Delegation’s residence. This year, the Delegation’s neighbourhood and several city secretariats with offices nearby also joined the action, all with a common message that the fight for a cleaner environment starts “in your own home.”

 

EU Ambassador to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa reminded everyone that the pollution of the seas, especially plastic pollution, doesn’t only affect the ecosystem but also our health. Therefore, it is essential to not only preserve the banks of rivers, lakes, and seas for everyday activities, but to also safeguard the oceans and their inhabitants from the 37 million tons of plastic waste that ends up in them each year.

 

The local community responded to the Delegation’s call to jointly mark the European Clean Shore Day, and Ambassador Popa announced that similar actions would be organised by the Delegation more frequently and in different locations in Podgorica. She also invited the citizens of Podgorica to organise themselves in cleaning the riverbanks of plastic waste in their city.

Ukrainian Theatre Company Opens 63rd MESS Theatre Festival with EU Support

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The 63rd International Theatre Festival MESS opened this evening with Albert Camus’ Caligula, performed by the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre from Kyiv, Ukraine. The highly symbolic decision taken by the MESS Festival’s organisers to connect two capital cities tragically marked by war was supported by the European Union, which financed the costs for the 17 members of the Ukrainian company, as well as their theatre set, to travel to Sarajevo. Due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the group from the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre were obliged to make a two-day journey to Sarajevo overland.

 

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adebayo Babajide, who attended the opening, said, “Art and artists have always played an important role in times of war. By creating art and cultural resistance, they encourage people and share valuable moments with their audiences. The organisers of MESS decided to open the Festival with a demonstration of solidarity with Ukraine by inviting a Ukrainian theatre company to perform ‘Caligula’, and I’m glad that the EU was able to support.”

 

The European Union is the largest provider of support for culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an expression of the EU’s motto ‘United in Diversity’ and the belief that culture is a universal value that asks important questions, stimulates reflection, bridges differences and encourages respect for diversity.

EU4AGRI: Trebinje welcomes a new City market with European Union Support

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Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Mayor of Trebinje, Mirko Ćurić, officially opened the new City Market in Trebinje on September 29th, 2023. The investment, which includes the procurement of twenty mobile sales units specifically designed to cater to the needs of local agricultural producers in Trebinje and its neighboring area of which three were adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities, amounts to approximately 260,000 KM, with the European Union providing around 200,000 KM in financing.

 

The City Market in Trebinje is one of a total of 12 local self-government units that will improve their market infrastructure through EU4AGRI. The project envisages the construction of green and livestock markets, marketplaces, purchase stations, improvement of mobile fair infrastructure, installation of solar panels, and the establishment of eco-friendly retail facilities.

 

Thanks to the support of the European Union, the City of Trebinje has successfully implemented a series of infrastructure improvements at the new City Market. In addition to the procurement of mobile stands, a public fountain has been built at the City Market, significantly enhancing the functionality and infrastructure of this important city location in Trebinje. Furthermore, the quality, hygiene, and food safety have been improved by creating better conditions and equipping sales points.

Applications are open for 36,000 young people born in 2005 to receive a free travel pass thank to DiscoverEU

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The Commission has launched the DiscoverEU autumn call, thanks to which 36,000 young people will receive a free travel pass to explore Europe.

 

The application round starts today at 12:00 CEST and will end on Wednesday 18 October at 12:00 CEST. To win a travel pass, young people are invited to apply on the European Youth Portal, answer five quiz questions and one tiebreaker question. Successful applicants born between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005 will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days during the travel period 1 March 2024 and 31 May 2025. The call is open to applicants from the European Union and the third countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme i.e. Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye.

 

Participants will be able to discover the New European Bauhaus route, launched in January 2023. It aims to inspire young people when choosing their destinations and raise awareness on the importance of making the European Union ‘beautiful, sustainable, together’. Participants will also continue to benefit from the initiatives launched in 2022 during the European Year of Youth, such as the DiscoverEU Culture Route. The latter combines various destinations and cultural branches, including architecture, music, fine art, theatre, fashion, design and more. DiscoverEU travellers can visit the European Capitals of Culture, destinations added on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List, or holders of the European Heritage Label. Since 2018, 248,000 travel passes were made available to young people.