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Author: WeBalkans

Building bridges through Art

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

An EU funded project helps cultural organisations from Kosovo and Serbia connect and develop new partnerships.

Ana Pinter, a theatre director from Belgrade, Serbia, identifies herself as an experimental artist. She is an active member of the Association of Independent Cultural Scene of Serbia (ICSS), a collaborative platform comprising over 80 organizations from 21 cities in the cultural and arts sectors of Serbia. Currently, Ana is visiting the city of Peja/Peć in Kosovo as a participant in the ANIBAR International Animated Film Festival. It is her inaugural visit to Kosovo and the city of Peja/Peć. “I am amazed by the vibrancy of this city and the delightful festival, which has chosen Love as its theme this year. I am excited to meet and engage in discussions with my colleagues from ANIBAR, exploring the foundations of potential collaborations,” says Ana.

“Therefore, we felt it was important to create an opportunity for young people from Kosovo and Serbia to collaborate in both formal and informal settings. Thus, we developed the project, applied for funding, received support, and now we have begun its implementation.”

Ana and other artists from the Association of Independent Cultural Scene of Serbia (ICSS) are visiting ANIBAR as part of the EU-funded project “Fostering Sustainable Partnerships and Dialogue: Arts and Culture Collaboration between Kosovo and Serbia.” This project is jointly implemented by ANIBAR and ICSS. Luka Knjezevic Strika, representing ICSS, explains that they have been collaborating with ANIBAR over the past two years within the broader regional context, focusing on developing international cultural cooperation and intersectoral collaboration in the field of culture in Serbia and Kosovo. Their aim is to establish new models of organization and partnership between the civic and public sectors.

While there have been some cooperative initiatives among cultural organizations in both entities, there remains a lack of sustainable and structured collaboration between organizations in Serbia and Kosovo. Additionally, there is not enough opportunities to develop different technical and soft skills within the sector in both countries, as well as limited opportunities for younger organizations and individuals to enter the sector, especially in Serbia, where there is very few opportunities to find jobs in the field of culture. Many young people in both countries lack the opportunity and structural support necessary to more actively engage their local communities. “Therefore, we felt it was important to create an opportunity for young people from Kosovo and Serbia to collaborate in both formal and informal settings, exchange experiences and knowledge. Thus, we developed the project, applied for funding, received support, and now we have begun its implementation,” explains Luka.

The project encompasses a range of activities designed to enhance the cultural sector’s capabilities and foster collaboration between independent artists, cultural spaces, and institutions in Kosovo and Serbia. These activities include equipping cultural spaces with necessary equipment, organizing cultural public programs and events, and facilitating the exchange of contemporary cultural and artistic programs. The project also involves convening network member assemblies, producing an independent culture magazine, publishing blog articles online to cover the independent culture scene, conducting workshops and training sessions for young artists, and supporting 24 collaborative arts exchanges and co-productions between Kosovo and Serbia.

“We also sought to explore and experiment with new modes of cultural cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia, learning from each other to enhance the understanding and possibilities to think of new ways of working and collaborating while sustaining the many activities already existing.”

About the project

The Fostering Sustainable Partnerships and Dialogue: Arts and Culture Collaboration between Kosovo and Serbia project is supported by the EU-funded “EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme/Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023 (IPA III)”. Launched in 2023, the project is scheduled to run for 48 months. Its overarching goal is to strengthen and cultivate sustainable, inclusive, and participatory contemporary cultural collaborative practices and structures between Serbia and Kosovo.

Through these collaborative efforts, the partners aim to deepen their understanding of the differences and similarities between the cultural and societal contexts of Kosovo and Serbia. “We also sought to explore and experiment with new modes of cultural cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia, learning from each other to enhancethe understanding and possibilities to think of new ways of working and collaborating while sustaining the many activities already existing,” expresses Luka.

Cultural organizations and initiatives in the region have consistently taken the lead in promoting important cross-cutting issues such as human rights, gender equality, democracy, good governance, and environmental sustainability. Anibar and ICSS, in particular, have been instrumental in advocating for innovative models of civic public partnerships to govern public infrastructure. Through this project, the implementing organization will have the opportunity to forge partnerships and integrate these issues into cultural and artistic programs held at the cultural spaces.

BIRN Serbia and IJAS Report: Journalists Feel Undefended From Online Attacks

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Online threats against journalists are more intense and common than physical ones, but most newsrooms have not set up safety protocols to help them respond to these attacks, while laws do not provide efficient protection, BIRN and IJAS’s new report reveals. Working in an environment that is becoming primarily digital has left journalists and media more exposed to online to attacks, insults and threats, but many newsrooms have not established mechanisms to deal with such cases and legislation does not provide adequate protection either.

 

These are some of the findings from the latest report, “Journalists’ Safety in the Digital Environment”, which BIRN Serbia and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, IJAS, published on July 18. The report also notes the lack of professional solidarity with attacked journalists and the fact that journalists and editors mainly turn to the public – which is the only thing they still trust – hoping that publicising attacks and threats will save them from potential attackers.

 

The full report in Serbian and English is available on BIRN Serbia’s website.

Grant agreement for the solar plant in Oslomej signed

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The European Union and WBIF bilateral donors, together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), are consolidating their support for solar energy projects in North Macedonia with grant financing for the first large-scale solar plant. A WBIF bilateral donor grant agreement of €1.6 million was signed on 30 June 2023 in Skopje, complementing an EBRD loan of €5.9 million. The grant will support Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM), the country’s state-owned electricity company, in financing the final construction stages of a 10 MW solar plant being built on the site of the exhausted coal mine in Oslomej. Test operations began in April last year.  
The photovoltaic power plant, built in the vicinity of the thermal powerplant Oslomej, is the first example of energy transition in Southeast Europe, where electricity will be produced from the sun through panels placed on top of the old and exhausted coal mine. It is the first in a series of power plants that should completely replace the installed capacity of the thermal power plant. The new photovoltaic power plant Oslomej is expected to have an annual production of 15-17 gigawatt-hours of electricity, to emit 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year and to provide the electricity needs of about 2,800 households.  
As well as providing financing, EBRD is working with the authorities of North Macedonia to address the implications of inequality in the energy transition and to identify opportunities for economic diversification in the area, including for redeployment and reskilling. The EBRD is helping the country conduct a ‘just transition’ diagnostic and establish an action plan through inclusive policy dialogue with the authorities. The ‘just transition’ project is expected to act as a model for the wider Western Balkans region, which faces similar challenges and requires a green, inclusive and just transition in the energy sector.

Regional Cooperation Council published the results of Balkan Barometer

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For the 9th time in a row, the Regional Cooperation Council is publishing the results of Balkan Barometer – the annual survey among six thousand people from the entire Western Balkans, giving an overview of their opinions on regional cooperation, EU integration, trust in the public institutions and media, their biggest concerns, employment, climate change, security, digital life, transport, rule of law, travel, etc. Results are available in the database athttps://www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer/.

 

“The Balkan Barometer reveals 3 main public opinion trends in the Western Balkans. First the good news, 76% of people believe regional cooperation is good for their economy. Moreover, 69% agree that what brings the Western Balkan citizens together is more important than what separates them. The second one is that the support to EU membership in the region is now 59% or 3% less than in 2021. And the third one is depopulation concern as 44% think to live abroad, 5% more than in 2022. It is also extremely worrisome that 71% of young people are considering leaving their home country,” said RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu.

 

Balkan Barometer 2023, Public Opinion edition main findings:

 

-1 in 5 associate the Balkans with hope or cooperation

-For 15%, the Balkans means confidence, but for 1 in 10, it means fear

-51% are not satisfied with the economic situation

-27% say corruption is the biggest problem

-69% say the law is not applied to everyone equally – 7% more than in 2022

-45% feel threatened by illegal possession and misuse of weapons

-71% say the war in Ukraine affected their purchasing power significantly

-75% do not trust political parties

-65% expressed an increased concern regarding the spread of fake news

 

“The Balkan Barometer tells a story of people worried about their jobs, wellbeing and how everything what is going on around us is affecting our vulnerable region. It tells a story of willingness to make our home a better place of living, so that we can feel safe, secure and with a better future ahead for us and our children. In regional cooperation and the things that unite us, people see hope and opportunity to better themselves,” concluded Bregu.

Support for five projects in the field of human rights promotion and development of a democratic political culture

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Representatives of four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and one informal group in the field of human rights promotion and the development of a democratic political culture have signed contracts as part of the grant scheme “Right on Time,” receiving support totalling € 76,752.

 

Jovan Bojović, Legal Advisor at Juventas and coordinator of the “Right on Time” grant scheme, stated that, within the € 350,000 grant scheme, three public calls for proposals are being implemented.“The Commission has decided to support five projects in the first round. Specifically, out of the available €105,000, about €76,752 will be allocated, while the remaining amount of £28,248 will be distributed through the second round of evaluation and the second public call,” Bojović explained.

 

He mentioned that the supported projects include the informal group SveMir’s project “Media-Gender Literacy” and the projects of the non-governmental organisations Association for Support of Roma and Egyptians – “The Right Time for Us,” Bunt Scene – “Exposed Violence,” the Network for European Policy “Master” – “I Have the Right!” and the Legal Centre – “FREEDOMKEEPERS: Mobile Teams in Local Communities Combating Human Trafficking.” Bojović announced that the second public call is scheduled to be launched on 1 December of this year, while the final public call is planned for 1 March 2024.

Generation Change: An inspiring story about friendship and cooperation among BiH students

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As part of the EU’s Generation Change project, 40 students from 10 faculties among Bosnia and Herzegovina’s eight public universities took part in a Media Boot Camp in May. Split into 5 teams, these teams worked together on video ideas and scripts that have now been turned into five videos by professionals.

 

Each of the five videos tells a story about Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each presents a distinct topic, highlighting the creative solutions and fresh perspectives that young Bosnians hope to contribute to the European Union. One team chose to highlight Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attractiveness as a destination for digital nomads. Another chose to highlight the entrepreneurship of the country’s young people. Culture, and this country’s young artists was the theme of one of the videos, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unique cultural traditionswas another. The power of youth activism was the theme of the final video.

 

Members of the public will have the chance to vote for these videos online on the channels of the EU Office in BiH. The team behind the most video with the most engagement will win a trip to the capital of the European Union, Brussels. The students behind the videos were selected following a series of engaging discussions for university students in Zenica, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar, Bihac and Banja Luka from February to April this year involving the Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in BiH Ambassador Johann Sattler, Ambassadors from EU member states, experts, and youth activists. By pooling their collective ideas, the teams have created a campaign that captures the innovative ideas and remarkable potential that the country and its youth possess. Their innovative ideas, when combined with country’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, form are a genuine asset for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

North Macedonia: EIB Global unlocks €100 million of EU investment with Development Bank of North Macedonia to boost green transformation of SMEs

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In cooperation with the Development Bank of North Macedonia (DBNM) and local commercial banks, EIB Global, the arm of the European Investment Bank for activities outside the European Union, will provide €100 million to boost development and the green transition of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps in the country. The funds will address the liquidity and investment needs of local businesses, and finance energy and green transition projects. This will support low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in North Macedonia, in line with the European Union’s Economic and Investment Plan and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

 

The funds are part of the set of measures adopted by the Government of North Macedonia in 2022 to support households and businesses amid the economic slowdown and the energy crisis. Additional technical assistance will be signed in the coming months to support the DBNM, local commercial banks and Macedonian companies in achieving their green finance ambitions.

 

This is the seventh cooperation agreement between the DBNM and the EIB. The previous six agreements saw €550 million go towards supporting 2 362 local companies. This is the banks’ first joint credit line with a climate action and environmental sustainability component, aiming to support the green transformation of the local economy. This is the seventh cooperation agreement between the DBNM and the EIB. The previous six agreements saw €550 million go towards supporting 2 362 local companies. This is the banks’ first joint credit line with a climate action and environmental sustainability component, aiming to support the green transformation of the local economy.

YEAs Organize Panel Discussion in Skopje, North Macedonia, Advocating Against Unpaid Internships

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Young European Ambassadors Renata Penchova, Damjan Zlatanovski, and Stanisha Stankovikj organized a discussion targeting young individuals, focusing on the implementation of a ban on unpaid internships. This issue has gained significant attention across Europe, especially after the European Parliament recently adopted an initiative led by the European Youth Forum.

 

The event, expertly moderated by YEA Damjan Zlatanovski, prominently featured YEA Renata Penchova as one of the main speakers. Renata, who is also an ambassador for the #BanUnpaidInternships campaign, emphasized the importance of aligning Macedonian law with the proposed ban, as well as the crucial role of youth in advocating for this change.

 

During the event, attendees were treated to a screening of a recent interview between the president of the European Youth Forum and European Commissioner Schmit. This interview served as evidence of the Commissioner’s support for the proposed law, which is expected to gain acceptance from the European Commission in the near future.

 

The event took place at Europe House Skopje.

A YEA Pop-Up Event at the University of Regensburg Draws Interest from EU Students

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A Pop-Up Event took place at the University of Regensburg as part of the Sommerfest on 13 July. Jovana Jaćimović, a YEA host and student at the university, presented the YEA Network along with the webalkans project and Made of Us campaign. This served as an opportunity to showcase the region and its offerings. Students from various EU countries participated in the event and showed great enthusiasm for the YEA network, expressing their desire to learn more about YEA and the Western Balkan region. The event was graced by the presence of Silvana Farruku, a YEA from Albania, who is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Regensburg.

Screening of Resources, agriculture and cohesion cluster kicks off with Albania and North Macedonia

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On 17 July the first explanatory meeting on the resources, agriculture and cohesion cluster (Cluster 5) was held. Cluster 5 covers agriculture and rural development, food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary policy, fisheries, regional policy and coordination of structural instruments as well as financial and budgetary provisions. The first two days of meetings focused on agriculture, rural development and fisheries, followed by food safety and budgetary provisions. Bilateral screening meetings on Cluster 1, 2 and 3 and 4 have been finalised.

 

The analytical examination of the body of EU laws (acquis), the so-called screening, enables candidate countries to familiarise themselves with the EU laws and standards and the obligations they entail. It also allows to examine the countries’ levels of preparedness and plans to further alignment, and thus to obtain preliminary indications of the issues that will most likely come up in the negotiations. Screening is the first step in the accession negotiation process. The screening process is structured along six thematic clusters. These clusters encompass the relevant acquis chapters along broad themes related to good governance, internal market, economic competitiveness and connectivity.

 

For Albania and North Macedonia it started already on 19 July 2022, immediately after the Intergovernmental Conferences, and resumed in September with Cluster 1 – Fundamentals, October with Cluster 2 – Internal Market,  February with Cluster 3 – competitiveness and inclusive growth and June with Cluster 4 – the Green agenda and sustainable connectivity.

 

The Screening exercise consists of two phases:

 

-the explanatory session where the Commission departments explain chapter by chapter the EU acquis.

-the bilateral session where each candidate country is invited to present where it stands, by chapter, in its preparations to adopt and implement the acquis.

 

The European Commission will evaluate and report to the Council on the degree of preparedness of a candidate country on a given cluster, on the candidate country’s plans for future preparations and on preliminary indications of the issues that will most likely come up in the negotiations.

 

The Council will decide, by unanimity, whether to define opening benchmarks on each negotiating cluster, on the basis of the proposal from the Commission in the screening report.