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Author: WeBalkans

YEAs join Anibar Animation Festival as volunteers

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from Kosovo: Diellza Ibrahimi, Taulant Ferati, and Donarta Fetahu participated in the 14th edition of the Anibar Animation Festival from 17th to 23rd July in Peja.

 

Diellza volunteered in the social media department by writing web articles about the films screened. Her contribution was also valuable in writing copy for social media and related content.

 

Taulant volunteered with the Education Team where he assisted the instructors during the workshops. He was involved in the logistics and the preparation of the evening screenings at the Lake Cinema venue. The coordinator for the Education Team was led by Donarta.

 

Anibar Festival had a full agenda of animation screenings, workshops, events, and evening concerts. The star guest of this edition was Eric Sough, an animation director from the famous South Park.

 

This was a great way for YEAs to contribute to making Anibar happen, while also adding skills for themselves – the best was to mark the European Year of Skills and World Youth Skills Day.

YEAs attend Maglaj festival in BiH for the 2nd year in a row

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The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) joined the festival in the Maglaj castle at the end of July, where movie screenings and music entertainment gathered young people from BiH and the rest of the Western Balkans.

 

Apart from the topics of cultural heritage, for the second year in a row, YEAs had a chance to raise awareness about EU values and the activities of the Network.

 

This year’s edition was co-sponsored by an EU-funded project aiming to strengthen the cohesion of communities in BiH. The Municipality of Maglaj and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also financed the festival.

From Small Farm to Poultry Corporation

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

EU funded programme IPARD supports Montenegrin poultry company to grow bigger.

In his twenties, Radovan Jovovic graduate from the police academy in Belgrade’s with the intention of becoming a policeman.  However, everything changed during a journey through Europe when he stumbled upon a chicken farm that captivated his interest. Intrigued, he stopped to converse with the farm’s owner, unaware that this encounter would profoundly impact his life. “As I spoke to the owner of the chicken farm, I began to realize that this could be an intriguing business venture to explore,” reflects Radovan.

“As a family business, we managed to earn a respectable income, particularly considering the economic conditions of the 90s”

Upon returning to Montenegro, Radovan pursued his career as a police chief and inspector. Nevertheless, his fascination with starting a chicken farm persisted. With the support of his parents, he took the plunge and established a small farm housing around 700 laying hens. To his delight, the venture proved to be lucrative. The cost of chicken feed was reasonable, and the market prices for eggs were favourable. “As a family business, we managed to earn a respectable income, particularly considering the economic conditions of the 90s,” shares Radovan.

The conflicts and wars that occurred in the former Yugoslavia had a detrimental impact on the business; nonetheless, the company persisted despite the challenges. Radovan explains that economic sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia and the unstable market conditions made conducting business extremely difficult for them. However, around the year 2004, the situation began to normalize, and the market gradually stabilized. It was during this time that Radovan embarked on another visit to Europe, this time with the aim of sourcing equipment and technology that would enable them to expand their operations to accommodate over 10,000 laying hens.

In 2007, they successfully acquired state-of-the-art computer-based technology equipment from Europe. Concurrently, they expanded the physical space of the farm and constructed a new, modern facility with a significantly larger capacity of over 15,000 laying hens. “The investment marked a turning point in the history of our company, transforming it from a small family enterprise into a corporation,” affirms Radovan.

“As one of the pioneers to apply for the IPARD programme in Montenegro, I can confidently say that the support we received was a turning point and a catalyst not only for our company but also for numerous other businesses in our country.”

About the programme

Part of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) designed to support reforms in countries in the process of joining the EU, the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance for Rural Development (IPARD) focuses on the agri-food sectors and rural areas of those countries. Through this tool, the EU provides beneficiaries with financial and technical help to make their agricultural sector and rural areas more sustainable, aligning them with the EU’s common agricultural policy.

Radovan explains that in recent years, they have encountered additional challenges, including market issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and shortages of chicken feed and raw materials due to Russia’s aggression on Ukraine. “Nevertheless, we have successfully navigated these challenges, which further validates the sustainability and stability of our company,” asserts Radovan.

Being a sustainable and stable enterprise, Alkoset has also been able to capitalize on EU support through the IPARD programme for Montenegro. The company has benefited from assistance in construction, reconstruction, and equipment procurement, including aggregate, thermotechnics, equipment for raising chickens in cages, equipment for laying hens, and the construction of a new facility. “As one of the pioneers to apply for the IPARD programme in Montenegro, I can confidently say that the support we received was a turning point and a catalyst not only for our company but also for numerous other businesses in our country,” adds Radovan.

Regional Call for Civil Society Projects Supporting Youth

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The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) has issued a call for civil society organizations (CSOs) to submit projects supporting youth. The focus areas of the call include youth volunteering services, intra- and inter-community engagement, regional youth cooperation, and youth mobility.

 

ReLOaD2 is a continuation of the EU-UNDP partnership which aims to strengthen participatory democracies and EU integration in the Western Balkans by empowering CSOs and youth in decision-making. The Regional Public Call seeks to address the needs of young people, considering regional similarities and challenges. Projects should involve community actions, capacity-building, awareness-raising, and informal education, with cross-cutting elements like social cohesion, gender equality, environmental protection, and human rights.

 

CSOs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia are eligible to submit project proposals. Priority areas include youth cooperation and mobility through cultural and recreational activities, community engagement, environmental protection, and youth economic empowerment.

 

Project proposals must incorporate diversity and gender equality principles. The total funding available is EUR 240,000.00, with each approved project receiving between EUR 30,000.00 to EUR 60,000.00. UNDP may not award all funds if proposals fail to meet the specified criteria. This is a significant opportunity for CSOs to contribute to the well-being and development of youth in the region.

Highest gender inequality in areas of money and power

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The Gender Equality Index in Montenegro results were published by the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights which measures six domains: work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health.

 

“Unfortunately, we see that the highest gender inequality remains in the areas related to money and power. Even though there are more female than male university graduates, women are still concentrated in lower-paid jobs, and there is a significant underrepresentation of women in politics,” said Liselotte Isaksson – Deputy Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of European Union to Montenegro at the official conference.

 

The Index shows the highest gap in gender equality in the area of power, while the lowest gap in Montenegro compared to the average in the EU is in the area of health.

 

Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), praised Montenegro’s efforts in reducing gender inequality, highlighting the progress made thus far. “I am happy to see Montenegro’s progress, with a significant improvement of 4.3% in the Index,” she said, noting that the most significant advancement was in the area of power. Scheele emphasised that it would be beneficial to consider introducing quotas for women’s representation in business.

 

The Minister of Human and Minority Rights, Fatmir Đeka, stated that the freedom and emancipation of women and girls still represent challenges for Montenegro.

EU-funded ambulance vehicle for emergency institute in Montenegro

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The Emergency Medical Service of Montenegro received a new ambulance vehicle through the European Union Project 88, with the Ministry of Health providing support. This project aims to offer aid in situations involving nuclear, chemical, or biological accidents. The vehicle’s value amounts to €53,850.

 

The Minister of Health Dragoslav Šćekić handed over the keys of the new ambulance to the Head of the Emergency Medical Service unit in Bijelo Polje. Šćekić thanked the EU partners for their support and emphasised the importance of the health system’s preparedness for potential crises.

 

“All thanks and praises for the Emergency Medical Service and Director Vuk Niković, who is successfully leading the project with his team and creating conditions for our institution to be the first equipped to adequately respond in emergency situations related to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear accidents,” said Šćekić.

 

The Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro stated that the new ambulance, procured as part of the project, represents a crucial milestone in enhancing Montenegro’s capabilities for disaster response and emergency medical assistance.

SOCIEUX+ forges new partnerships in the Western Balkans

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The beginning of 2023 was the start of an important milestone for SOCIEUX+: the receipt of the first requests from partner countries in the Western Balkans region, following the extension of cooperation activities in the second half of 2022. From January to mid-June, 28 requests were submitted to SOCIEUX+ from new partners in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. 
 
The applications were centered around a few major topics. In the social protection sphere, child protection, health systems, disability, and pensions represent the thematic priorities of the requesting institutions, which intend to tackle these issues from the different angles of institutional, organizational, and individual capacities.  At the time of writing, the majority of the 28 received requests have already been converted into Actions, with SOCIEUX+ staff endeavoring to identify and subsequently mobilize European public experts to work with our new partner institutions.
 
The first missions in the Western Balkan region have started in May, 2023. In Kosovo, experts from Luxembourg and Portugal are supporting a national committee of experts to review the 2014 Law on Health Insurance, with the objective of reinforcing the role of the National Health Fund and ultimately advancing universal health coverage. Health-related peer-to-peer exchanges have also started between experts from the Ministry of Health of Montenegro and their partners from Croatia and Portugal, who are helping to analyze the Ministry’s quality control system in the broad area of governance of the health sector. Finally, the Institute for Social and Child Care of Montenegro is working with Croatian and Hungarian experts who are assessing the normative background, role of local and national authorities, capacities of case workers, and the referral and coordination systems that are essential components of a fully developed foster care system for children without parental support.
 
As the work is just starting, we hope that our partner institutions and participating experts will engage in fruitful peer-to-peer exchanges for a long time to come.
 

BIRN Albania and SCiDEV Present Studies on Disinformation, Propaganda and Fake News

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The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania, together with Science and Innovation for Development Center, SCiDEV, on July 14 presented the findings of four reports on information manipulation in Albania and the launch of a new website against disinformation.  
The study reports were financed by the European Union and analyze the circulation in Albanian-speaking media in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia of fake news on Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russian disinformation narratives, as well as Chinese and Iranian propaganda through state-sponsored media in Albanian language. The presentation of the reports was greeted by the EU Ambassador in Albania, Christiane Hohmann, who emphasized the need for media owners to put quality journalism at the top of their agenda. “We have to look into how we can actually improve the situation, fight misinformation and disinformation, while promoting ethical journalism,” said Hohmann.  
The reports were presented at Europe House in Tirana by BIRN Albania Editor Besar Likmeta and SCiDEV’s Executive Director Blerjana Bino in the presence of media, journalists, civil society activists and media experts. The reports are published in the newly launched website: DisInfo.al, which also contains a database on fake news on the war in Ukraine, as well as educational resources against disinformation, fact-checking links, video tutorials, etc.

Winners Announced: 3 Best Entries of the Berlin Logo Competition 2023 Awarded by RYCO, Albanian and German Governments

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The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), in partnership with the Albanian government and German Federal government, proudly announces the top three winners of the highly anticipated “Open Call for Young Designers: 2023 Western Balkans Berlin Summit Logo Competition.”

 

The outstanding winners are:

 

-First prize: Marvi Hoxha (Albania)

-Second prize: Enida Mulamujic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

 -Third prize: Nikola Stojanovic (Serbia)

 

The awarding ceremony commenced on Monday, July 24th, where Marvi Hoxha, the first prize recipient, received the financial award. Awarding ceremonies will be organized by the Local Branch Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second place winner Enida Mulamujic, as well as by the Local Branch Office in Serbia for the third place winner Nikola Stojanovic.

 

The competition, held from June 2nd to June 18th, attracted some 150 aspiring young designers between the ages of 18 and 30 from across the Western Balkans. Their task was to create a compelling logo for this year’s Western Balkans Berlin Process Summit, scheduled to take place in Tirana this October.

 

After an extended evaluation process, the selection committee, consisting of last year’s first place winner of the Logo Competition, the RYCO Secretary General, a representative from the Ministry of Youth and Children in Albania, a representative of the German Embassy in Tirana and the RYCO Head of Programs, evaluated all the eligible applications according to a well-defined methodology.

 

The logos submitted reflect the diverse and dynamic perspectives of the youth and resonate with the spirit of the Berlin Process. RYCO Secretary-General Albert Hani highlighted during the process that the logo submissions serve as a testament to the region’s youth’s visionary aspirations. The upcoming Western Balkans Berlin Process Summit in Tirana promises to be an exceptional platform for regional cooperation and growth, championed by the shared visions of the youth.

Support for regional cooperation among Western Balkan business people has risen from 69% last year, to 74%

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

Last week, the Regional Cooperation Council published the results of the annual Balkan Barometer 2023 Public Opinion Survey. To complete the picture of our region’s opinions about 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, the opinion of the Western Balkan business community is now published and available at https://www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer/.

 

“When asked to grade factors that affect the growth of their business, Western Balkan business people placed macroeconomic instability at the top of the list, followed by the labour availability and brain drain plus the political or social instability. The support to EU membership has increased by 11% for businesses and now is at 71%, reaching an all-time high since the launch of Balkan Barometer in 2015. Nonetheless, support for regional cooperation among business people has risen from 69% last year, to 74% this year, since it is perceived as important for their business. Western Balkan businesses see the situation as slightly more favourable than in the previous year, as their satisfaction index rose by 5 points to 58” the RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu said.

 

“The red alert is that 70% of businesses do not see climate change as a significant concern for their business environment. Yes, in the Balkans, this may still not sound like an emergency, and unlike an illness, it is not directly perceptible to our senses. But this is quite alarming. From pollution, rising insurance costs, agriculture, wine, energy, goods transport to the diminished availability of food and water, all are influenced by climate change. Almost all industries are threatened by the effects of climate change, either directly or indirectly. But there is some good news too. Half of regional businesses said they have experienced direct benefits from the Regional Roaming Agreement. These findings might not be to everyone’s liking. But whatever the Balkans is, it is never bland, but a colourful region,” concluded Bregu.