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Author: WeBalkans

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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.

Overcoming Water Challenges in North Macedonia

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North Macedonia transforms its water infrastructure with the support of the European Union.

Božin Spasov, a long-time resident of Leski village in the eastern part of North Macedonia, has witnessed the challenges of accessing clean water for nearly seven decades. As a primary school teacher, he consistently emphasized the importance of being cautious while drinking the local water and understanding its unreliable availability. “Living in such a hot climate, we have faced consistent water supply issues,” Spasov explains. “Especially during the summer, we would be deprived of drinking water almost every day.”

“Now we have access to water both in summer and winter. There is no one in Leski who is not satisfied.”

Outdated and poorly installed water pipes exacerbated the water shortages and compromised the quality of drinking water in the village throughout the year. The water often became contaminated with organic substances, posing a health hazard. To address this problem, the local government made the decision to connect Leski to the water supply system of Vinica, a larger town nearby, through a 3.5-kilometre pipeline. Simultaneously, a state-of-the-art filtration station for purifying drinking water and a pumping station were installed in Vinica.

In February 2023, the European Investment Bank approved a €50 million loan to North Macedonia to address water-related challenges in the country. This development brought significant improvements to the situation in Leski. “Now we have access to water both in summer and winter. There is no one in Leski who is not satisfied,” Spasov joyfully remarks.

The loan approved in North Macedonia will extend its benefits beyond Leski, reaching other cities and towns facing similar water challenges. Referred to as a “framework loan,” it offers financing for a variety of projects. With the support of a guarantee from the European Fund for Sustainable Development, an EU programme, this framework loan will facilitate the construction and renovation of water supply, wastewater, and flood protection infrastructure in 80 cities or towns across North Macedonia. Additionally, the European Investment Bank has granted €1.2 million for technical assistance.

The project’s impact will be substantial, benefiting approximately 700,000 people and fostering new economic opportunities. It will also enhance the country’s resilience to climate change, benefiting around 40% of the population.

“It is a priority for providing better living conditions and on the path to EU accession while aligning with EU standards. The investment will help close a significant investment gap in the water sector and provide our local partners with long-term financing to meeting their needs and sustainability goals.”

About the initiative

Launched in 2016, ERI is part of the European Union’s response to the challenges in the Southern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, such as forced displacement and migration, economic downturns, political crises, droughts and flooding. ERI creates jobs and economic growth in the region by investing in key infrastructure and in private sector development. It also may help migration flows. ERI offers a package of loans and innovative financial products, while blending funds from the donor community with EIB financing. The initiative is implemented in close cooperation with EU countries, the European Commission and other partners. Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom were the first countries to contribute to ERI.

The allocated funds will enable selected municipalities to upgrade and modernise their water and wastewater infrastructure, including distribution and collection networks. Additionally, emergency flood protection measures will be implemented to enhance resilience. The municipal water investment programme will be implemented by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, with technical support from the EIB amounting to €1.2 million. This initiative is part of the Economic Resilience Initiative, which aims to mobilise additional financing to support growth, essential infrastructure, and social cohesion in the Western Balkans.

EIB Vice-President Lilyana Pavlova, responsible for operations in North Macedonia, emphasized the strategic nature of this investment, supported by Team Europe. “It is a priority for providing betterliving conditions and on the path to EU accession while aligning with EU standards. The investment will help close a significant investment gap in the water sector and provide our local partners with long-term financing to meeting their needs and sustainability goals,” Pavlova said. Pavlova further highlighted the social and economic benefits that will arise from improving environmental and living conditions, while also enhancing water infrastructure resilience to climate change—a key objective for the EIB as the EU climate bank.

RCC, EESC set to deepen civil society and youth engagement in region’s reform processes

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, and the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Oliver Röpke, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two organisations, in Brussels today. The purpose of the MoU is to further and streamline cooperation in strengthening the inclusion of civil society and youth in regional agendas such as South East Europe 2030 Strategy, Common Regional Market, Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and others.

 

Following the signing ceremony, the RCC Secretary General took part in the EESC 580th plenary session and a debate dubbed “The future role of civil society in the enlargement process”, together with Mr Röpke, Oliver Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Dorin Racean, Prime Minister of Moldova, and other high-level officials from the region and representatives of civil society organisations.

RCC’s trademark digital competition – BALKATHON 4.0 – is on! apply now!

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For the fourth year in a row, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching region’s trademark online competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans – Balkathon 4.0. Applications are open until 13 September.

 

This year, we are looking for fresh, innovative and unique ideas in 3 categories:

 

–Sustainable Tourism (sustainable mobility, sustainable fashion and performance arts, etc.) –Green Economy (renewable energy, green buildings, sustainable transport, water management, waste management, or land management) –Entrepreneurship (web3 business ideas, AI-based entrepreneurial business ideas, customer services, predictive analysis, automated Data Entry, e –services & digital tools)

 

The Balkathon 4.0 shortlisted teams will have the opportunity to get a two-day mentoring programme with experienced experts, chance to implement their solution in the Western Balkans region and win one of the six awards from the 60.000 EUR award pool. We will award six winning ideas – two in the each of the categories with 10.000 EUR.

 

Since its inception in 2020, Balkathon resulted in creation of 15 “Made in Western Balkans” original products. Last year, the RCC awarded six from Western Balkan economies with a total of 60.000 EUR for their best innovative solutions, four in eCommerce, agriculture, Food-Tech & Rural Development, renewable/sustainable energy, transportation & logistics categories and two in theme of their choice. Teams have used the financial support given to fully develop their digital solutions.

New investments given green light at WBIF 4th Operational Board

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WBIF Operational Board members gave a positive opinion on 30 June in Oslo, Norway, to 14 new investments flagships in transport, energy, environment, human capital, and private sector support in the Western Balkans, worth, in total €2.1 billion.

 

The European Commission contributes with €528 million in EU grants from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), whilst the rest is provided by bilateral contributions from EU Member States and Norway, loans from international financing institutions, and contributions from the economies of the Western Balkans. In addition, a total of 11 technical assistance grants totalling €11.2 million were green-lighted to prepare project investments.

 

The endorsement of these new investment and technical assistance grants for public and private blending operations represents a new push towards the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans 2021-2027. A summary of these most recent investments can be found in the updated WBIF Endorsed Flagship Investments booklet 2020-2023.

EBRD, EU and Sparkasse Bank finance digital transformation of Bosnian SMEs

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina will have more opportunities to invest in digital transformation with new financing made available to Sparkasse Bank, provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU). The EBRD has provided an €8 million loan that Sparkasse Bank will on-lend to local SME clients. The proceeds will be used to help small firms invest in the automation and digitalisation of business processes to improve productivity, operational efficiency and resilience.

 

SMEs will be able to apply for funds to invest in hardware and software for various digital transformation projects in the areas of production, internal processes and services. The aim is to boost the digital transformation of SMEs as well as making them more competitive in EU markets and compliant with the standards required by EU Directives. In addition to loans, SMEs will benefit from EU-funded grant incentives worth up to 15 per cent of the total loan amount. The credit line is extended under the joint EBRD-EU Go Digital in Bosnia and Herzegovina programme, for which the EBRD has secured €40 million in loans, while the EU has secured grants of €9 million for incentive payments, advisory services and technical assistance.