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Author: WeBalkans

The second RISE Regional Forum for Social Entrepreneurs held in Skopje

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The second RISE Regional Forum for Social Entrepreneurs, organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), was held in Skopje from 12 until 14 September. This region-wide conference gathered more than 100 social entrepreneurs, changemakers and government officials from the region and the EU, to discussed how to improve environment for social entrepreneurship as a powerful instrument for the social and economic development in the region. Through different panels, discussions, and interactive workshops, participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas, experiences and best practices across sectors.
 
The Forum delivered on its promise to advance the social economy and foster collaborations that address societal challenges. It began with a global presentation entitled “State of play of the social economy in the Western Balkans 6 2023”. This session enabled regional politicians to elucidate the complex nuances of the social entrepreneurship landscape in the Western Balkans and set the stage for dynamic discussions.  
Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs of North Macedonia Mr. Fatmir Bytyqi said in his opening speech that Western Balkans Governments created and implemented policies for the development of social enterprises, in order to support socio-economic development, but that regional cooperation need to be strengthened.
 
Through a following series of enlightening sessions, experts underscored the need for adaptable legal frameworks to enhance social innovation, inspired renewed commitment to harnessing youth potential, and emphasized the transformative power of sports in empowering marginalized youth.
 
The final day focused on the young entrepreneurs from the RISE project. They eagerly shared their insights as emerging changemakers who had actively participated in the RISE incubation program, shedding light on the valuable lessons gleaned from their mobility program within the region. The RISE Regional Forum was organized as a part of the Regional Incubator for Social Entrepreneurs (RISE) project, supported by L’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union, RYCO and the Franco-German Youth Office .
 

EBRD and EU help Serbian businesses to access Industry 4.0 services

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), researchers and students will be able to develop and test their products and systems with the help of modern digital technologies in a newly opened laboratory in the Science and Technology Park Novi Sad.

 

DEAL (Digital Enterprise – an Active Learning and training Lab), which is financed by the European Union in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Economy of Serbia, is a place for research, development and application of the latest technologies in the field of digitisation and automation.

 

The laboratory was created in response to the need for a stronger connection between science, modern production systems and the economy, which would then support the creation and adoption of Industry 4.0 systems – the fourth industrial revolution. The DEAL laboratory will therefore allow companies and researchers to learn about Industry 4.0 and become familiar with the latest trends in the digital transformation of production and logistics systems.  SMEs full insight into the entire automation process –  from digitised product design and development to the digitisation of production and logistics systems. This will be the first laboratory of its kind, not just in Serbia but also the entire region of the Western Balkans.

How to achieve women’s equality in the Balkans

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It was pointed out today that about two-thirds of women in the Balkans have experienced some kind of gender-based violence, and that message was conveyed in  Belgrade at the conference “Share knowledge – towards gender equality in the region” organized by the European Movement in Serbia, which was attended by Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Plamena Halacheva, Serbia’s Commissioner for the Protection of Equiality Brankica Janković and Cultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Belgrade Holly Zardus.  
Deputy EU Ambassador Plamena Halacheva stated that the Balkans have the lowest level of employment of women and that in Europe the number of women with university degrees is higher than among men.  
One of the problems, state Halacheva, is that there are not enough women making (political) decisions in the Balkans. The greatest emphasis is on protecting women from poverty and violence.  
Gender equality is one of the important principles in the operation of the European Union, which is why the EU Strategy for Gender Equality 2020-2025 was adopted a few years ago. The key goals are ending gender-based violence, challenging gender stereotypes, fighting inequality in the labor market, achieving equal participation in different sectors of the economy, addressing gender gaps in wages and pensions, closing the gender care gap and achieving gender balance in policy decision-making.  
The strategy follows the dual approach of bringing this topic to the public’s attention in combination with targeted actions, while intersectionality is the horizontal principle for its implementation. While the Strategy focuses on actions within the EU, it is in line with the EU’s external policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

European Mobility Week Starts

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“Let’s move better – save energy!” is the slogan of this year’s European Mobility Week, which started on Saturday.Every year in the period from September 16 to 22, a manifestation is held, which is founded and sponsored by the European Commission. The campaign aims to favour non-motorised modes of transportation in cities over automobile traffic that uses fossil fuels, all with the aim of improving the quality of the environment in urban areas.

 

The campaign has been implemented since 2002, and last year almost 3,000 cities from 50 countries in Europe and the world celebrated this event. You can find the list of cities and municipalities from Serbia that have registered activities so far here.

 

For municipalities and cities, EUROPEAN MOBILITYWEEK provides an excellent opportunity to present sustainable transport alternatives to their residents and to explain to them the environmental challenges they face. By participating in the action, cities and municipalities can show citizens the advantages of choosing cleaner types of traffic and thereby improve the traffic situation in their local environment.

 

Local governments have been strongly encouraged to use this week to test new traffic measures while getting feedback from the public. It is also a great opportunity for local stakeholders to come together and discuss different aspects of mobility and air quality, to look for innovative solutions to reduce car use, to try out new technological and planning solutions. The campaign gives citizens the opportunity to explore new possibilities for using city streets and to experiment with practical solutions that contribute to solving important issues for cities, such as air pollution.

A New Boost in Cooperation in South Adriatic Region through the EU Funds

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Through projects funded by the trilateral Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Italy – Albania – Montenegro 2014-2020, Montenegrin institutions and organisations have utilised around €20 million in non-refundable EU funds, which represents nearly a quarter of the total funds allocated through this programme within the financial perspective of the IPA II.

 

This information was relayed by Bojan Vujović, Director General of the Directorate for European Funds at the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro, during an event in Bari which marked the conclusion of the mentioned programme and the beginning of the new cross-border cooperation programme between Italy, Albania, and Montenegro, titled Interreg IPA South Adriatic.

 

Montenegrin institutions will be the leading partners in two strategic projects. The Ministry of Culture and Media will be the leading partner in the strategic project “Creative South Adriatic,” which will focus on the development of culture and creative industries, while the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Montenegro will be the leading partner in the strategic project “Competent South Adriatic,” which will focus on the development of competencies for the blue economy.

 

The event concluded with the announcement of the Call for Standard Projects, expected to be issued by the end of 2023.

“Youth With No Barriers”: A story about youth cooperation

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“Youth With No Barriers ” project of the European Union in BiH, which was implemented in four cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, came to end today in Sarajevo. During the events in Ljubuški, Kakanj, Ugljevik and Prnjavor, which brought together young people from these and neighbouring municipalities and cities, an effort was made to discuss EU integration and values through panel discussions, art workshops and performances, but also to connect young people from these areas in joint activities.

 

Project participants from Banja Luka, Prnjavor, Tuzla, Ugljevik, Mostar, Ljubuški, Sarajevo and East Sarajevo gathered today in Sarajevo and enjoyed the final event, together with representatives of partner organizations that participated in the project.

 

The aim of the project was to involve and educate young people through cultural workshops that examine different art forms. The workshops were led by experienced professionals and included street art, painting, music and theatre. Special focus was placed on the importance of youth activism in strengthening democracy and initiating positive social transformation. This project was an excellent opportunity for young people to spend a day in a different way and to get acquainted with a new art form for them, as well as to meet young people from other places. The final event in Sarajevo highlighted the achievements of the young people who participated in the project and showed their skills in music, flashmob and stand up.

 

With this project, the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to support initiatives that contribute to connecting young people and youth activism. “Youth With No Barriers ” is implemented with the participation of non-governmental organizations. Young people from 14 municipalities and cities participated in the project.

Further advancement towards independent migration management in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nenad Nešić, and Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, Sevlid Hurtić met with the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and the EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler on 19 September in Sarajevo to discuss the ongoing transition plan for transferring responsibility of the migration response to the BiH authorities.

 

Following the transition meeting held in Trebinje in May, the meeting on 19 September marks another significant step in the transition towards a State-led migration response. As one of the fourteen key priorities to initiate accession negotiations with the European Union, the authorities in BiH need to ensure the effective functioning of the border management, migration, and asylum systems. In the area of migration management, positive progress has been achieved with BiH institutions playing an increasing role in the management and coordination of the mixed migration response. One key area where progress has been achieved is in the management of Temporary Reception Centers (TRCs), with TRC Lipa managed by the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs with the technical support of IOM.

 

Since the opening of TRC Lipa, under the leadership of the BiH Ministry of Security and with generous financial support from the European Union and other donors, the capacity to accommodate migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees has surpassed the number of individuals present in the country. This significant achievement is the result of collaborative efforts from various stakeholders. Overall, since the beginning of 2018, the EU has allocated over 140 million euros to BiH to strengthen migration management capacity.

 

Over the past year, the BiH Ministry of Security and BiH authorities have demonstrated their commitment to assume greater coordination and management of the mixed migration response from UN agencies and other humanitarian actors.

#BiHCoolTura: One-of-a-kind journey across Bosnia and Herzegovina

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#BiHCoolTura, a one-of-a-kind road trip across Bosnia and Herzegovina for young people, finished today in Banja Luka. This unique project of the European Union was an exploring and experience-gathering opportunity for a group of 20 young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the abundance of cultural, historical and natural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 7-day inspiring tour was also an excellent opportunity for young people to network and create lasting friendships.

 

The tour kicked off in Sarajevo, where the youth first visited the EU Office in BiH, to discuss issues relevant to the EU accession and how this process addresses issues of importance for youth.

 

After Sarajevo, the trip continued to Konjic, where they explored Tito’s bunker, and then headed to Mostar to visit the Old Bridge and many other city’s historical landmarks. The next stops were Stolac, Neum and Jajce, cities with a rich history and natural beauty.

 

The road trip continued with a two-day visit to Banjaluka, where they visited the Kastel fortress and the city as well as an ethno village of Ljubačka dolina, near Banjaluka.

 

During the road trip, workshops on media literacy and photography were held with a professional photographer, giving young people the opportunity to learn how to think critically about media content and how to take professional photos.

North Macedonia: EIB Global provides a €1 million technical assistance grant to boost the rollout of green financing for SMEs

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EIB Global, the branch of the European Investment Bank for activities outside the European Union, will provide a €1 million technical assistance grant to its longstanding partner, the Development Bank of North Macedonia (DBNM). These funds will facilitate the implementation of climate and environmental sustainability financing under a €100 million credit line that the EIB signed in July this year. By supporting the country’s banking sector to build green finance capacity and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to identify and develop green projects, this technical support will contribute to private sector growth and competitiveness and the green transition of the local economy.

 

Through this technical assistance, commercial banks and small businesses will receive training and advisory support for promoting and developing bankable projects in areas such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.

 

The grant comes as a result of the fruitful cooperation between DBNM and EIB Global, which has enabled the allocation of €550 million to date for the support of over 2 300 local companies. Since 2019 alone, EIB Global has provided €212 million of EU investment to North Macedonian companies through this partnership model, sustaining 46 000 jobs and creating 1 815 new positions.

Border management: EU signs Frontex Status Agreement with Albania

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On 15 September, the European Union and Albania signed a new agreement on operational cooperation in border management with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement was signed by representatives of the Council, the Commission, and the Albanian government.  
The agreement is a deliverable of the EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans Strengthened operational cooperation between Western Balkan partners and Frontex will contribute to addressing irregular migration and cross border crime and further enhance security at the EU’s external borders. The new agreement will update the previous status agreement from 2019 by also allowing the deployment of Frontex Standing Corps officers at the borders between Albania and neighbouring Western Balkan partners. After the signature, the agreement may be applied provisionally, upon agreement of the Albanian Parliament. The final conclusion of the agreement is subject to the consent of the European Parliament and a Council decision as well as any remaining ratification steps on the side of Albania.  
The signature took place in the margins of the Berlin Process meeting of Interior Ministers, hosted yesterday in Tirana by Albanian Interior Minister Taulant Balla. There, Ministers from Western Balkans partners, a number of EU Ministers, representatives of EU Agencies, the United Kingdom, and international organisations exchanged on integrated border management, cooperation to fight organised crime and cybersecurity.