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Author: WeBalkans

Queering at Europe House, it happened

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

An evening dedicated to queer art, titled “Queering, it happened,” was organised at Europe House to commemorate Pride Month. What does queer activism art in Montenegro look like? Do you know who wrote the first lesbian novel in Montenegro? Europe House and the LGBTIQ association Queer Montenegro have the answers to these questions. Non-governmental organisations played an important role in shaping the queer cultural and social reality in Montenegro.

 

The exhibition “Our Stories” presents the stories of the transgender, gender variant, and intersex community through different methods and tools, empowering the engaged and alternative art scene.The exhibition, which features the works of over 15 authors, including works created through workshops by the non-governmental organisations ŠkArt and Spektra Association, also includes individual works by artists from the community, the Gender Attack performance, as well as the personal items of those who have gone through the transition process.

Rural Tourism for Stronger Local Communities

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Journalists from Montenegrin electronic media visited non-governmental organisations in northern Montenegro, which, as part of the ReLOaD initiative, organised improved offers in rural tourism. Together with representatives from the European Delegation and UNDP, they visited new hiking trails in Bjelasica and Sinjajevina, a medicinal plant nursery, and a practical beekeeping facility near Kolasin. They also participated in workshops on solar cooking and natural cosmetics production in Pljevlja.

 

Through the ReLOaD2 grants, 42 non-governmental organisations in Montenegro implemented projects in the past year that truly enhance the quality of life in local communities. A hiking trail was opened in Vranjina, a digital tourist guide was created for Budva, the first Social Club for people with disabilities was established in Niksic, a Pensioners Club was launched in Andrijevica, landfills were removed in Zagarac, a documentary dedicated to the palm trees of Boka Bay was filmed, and much more. During this study trip, media representatives were presented with the work of non-governmental organisations whose ideas contribute to reducing the migration of citizens from the north to other cities and countries.

EU approves €303 million in grants for four new flagship infrastructure projects in BiH

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The European Commission announced on 30 June a new financial package to support 14 investment flagships in transport, energy, environment, human capital, and private sector support in the Western Balkans. Of these, four infrastructure projects are in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the country will also benefit from four regional projects. The 14 new investment flagships in the Western Balkans are worth a total of €2.1 billion. This includes €528 million in EU grants from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), additional bilateral contributions from EU Member States and Norway, loans from international financing institutions, and contributions from the economies of the Western Balkans.  
The investments are made through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), which is a joint financial platform of the European Commission, financial organisations, EU Member States, and Norway aimed at enhancing cooperation in public and private sectors investments for the region’s socio-economic development and contributing to the European integration of the Western Balkans. The WBIF is the main financial vehicle for implementing the EU’s ambitious Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. This is the fifth investment package under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. Projects have been prepared in close cooperation with the Western Balkans partners and the international financial institutions to accelerate the European perspective of the region.

North Macedonia joins the LIFE programme for environment and climate action

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Yesterday afternoon, in Brussels, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius and the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia, Kaja Sukova, signed an agreement on North Macedonia’s association to the LIFE programme for environment and climate action. North Macedonia is the fourth non-EU country to join the programme after Iceland, Ukraine and Moldova. By joining the LIFE programme, North Macedonia will have the opportunity to benefit from LIFE’s support for mobilising public and private resources for climate action, biodiversity protection, circular economy and clean energy transition.

 

Commissioner Sinkevičius said: “The association of North Macedonia to LIFE is an opportunity to strengthen our joint action to tackle climate change, address pollution, boost the clean energy transition, achieve a circular economy, and protect and restore biodiversity. Closer cooperation will benefit citizens, businesses, and civil society in North Macedonia, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable continent in line with the European Green Deal objectives.”

 

Public and private organisations from North Macedonia will be able to receive financial support for projects on environment and climate action, such as for example to increase energy efficiency, clean polluted areas, improve the management of water resources, and support the development, monitoring and enforcement of laws similar to the ones in EU.

Applicants from North Macedonia can submit proposals under the LIFE calls for proposals launched in 2023.

Erasmus+: New funding for European Universities alliances boosts cooperation in higher education

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Today, the Commission announced the results of the 2023 Erasmus+ call for the European Universities initiative, which provides support to alliances of higher education institutions. These European University alliances are bringing together a new generation of Europeans who are able to study and work in different European countries, different languages, and across sectors and academic disciplines. Thanks to these alliances, students can obtain a degree by combining studies in several European countries, which contributes to the international competitiveness of higher education institutions in Europe.  
With today’s results, adding seven new European Universities alliances, the total of 50 alliances now involve more than 430 higher education institutions in 35 countries. These comprise all EU Member States and Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Türkiye.  
The students of these institutions can benefit from a unique transnational and innovative educational offer, allowing them to acquire essential skills and competences for the future. Furthermore, by partnering with almost 1 700 associated partners among NGO’s, enterprises, local and regional authorities, the 50 European Universities alliances bring broad-scale innovation to Europe’s regions.  
With a record overall budget of €402.2 million from the Erasmus+ programme[1] for this call, each alliance receives a budget of up to €14.4 million for four years.  
The 2023 call opened the possibility to higher education institutions from Western Balkans countries, not associated to the Erasmus+ programme to participate as full partners in the call. As a result, higher education institutions from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro have joined the initiative, on top of those from North Macedonia and Serbia.  
As last year, the alliances can involve higher education institutions from Bologna Process countries as associated partners. Under the 2023 call, close to 30 higher education institutions from Ukraine have also joined the alliances.

Digital Europe Programme opens to candidate countries Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia to access calls for funding

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On 30 June, the Commission signed association agreements for the Digital Europe Programme with Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia, on the margins of the Regulatory Dialogue with the Western Balkans. Following the signatures, and upon the completion of the related ratification processes, the association agreements will enter into force. Businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in these neighbouring countries will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme, which has an overall budget of €7.5 billion in the 2021-2027 period.

 
In particular, participants from these four countries will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence, and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in their own regions.  
This will bring them closer to the EU economy and society, benefit their technology capabilities and support digitalisation overall, notably of small and medium-sized businesses.  
The Digital Europe Programme’s funds will complement funding available in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, as well as  Albania, through other EU programmes such as Horizon Europe. The objectives and specific topic areas that are currently eligible for funding are detailed in the Work Programmes.

European Commission launched an additional €2.1 billion investment package for the Western Balkans under the Economic and Investment Plan

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On 30 June, the European Commission has launched a new financial package to support 14 investment flagships in transport, energy, environment, human capital, and private sector support in the Western Balkans, worth, in total €2.1 billion. This is the fifth investment package under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. Projects have been prepared in close cooperation with the Western Balkans partners and the international financial institutions to accelerate the European perspective of the region.

 

EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “With this new investment package we are sending a loud and clear message to our Western Balkans partners: their future is within the EU and we are making steady progress to close the economic development divide. These projects will better connect the region from within and with the EU, help decarbonise their economies, and support the competitiveness of the private sector in the region. Now, I call on our Western Balkans partners and international financial institutions to rollout these projects as soon as possible so citizens and businesses in the region can reap the benefits from these investments.”

 

The €2.1 billion investment package, which includes €528 million in EU grants from the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III), additional bilateral contributions from EU Member States and Norway, loans from international financing institutions, and contributions from the economies of the Western Balkans, has been endorsed today by the Operational Board of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

 

The 14 new projects approved cover the following priority sectors:

 

-Sustainable transport: construction of motorway sections and subsections in Road Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Corridor VIII in North Macedonia. These projects will facilitate regional trade, reduce travel times, and spur sustainable economic growth.

-Clean energy: rehabilitation of hydropower plants in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy efficiency in North Macedonia. Other projects include strengthening North Macedonia’s transmission network or  deploying  green transport in Tirana.

-Environment & climate: rehabilitation of Sarajevo water system to enhance public health, boost commercial infrastructure, and improve the overall efficiency of water supply in the Sarajevo canton.

-Human development: improvement of energy efficiency and integrated energy management of the University of Belgrade.

-Private sector: supply of financing for renewable and efficient energy measures in the region, sustainable access to finance for entrepreneurship, and a combination of specialised financing for digitalisation and competitiveness for micro and small businesses (MSMEs). These projects will help reduce inequality, increase job creation, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Young European Ambassadors (YEA) join Anibar Animation Festival

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This year Anibar is organising the 14th edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival. This is considered to be one of the biggest cultural events in Kosovo, as well as one of the biggest gatherings of the animation industry in the region. The festival has evolved throughout these years and contributed to the initiation and development of the animation industry in Kosovo, by promoting animation as an art form, but also as a medium to raise awareness for societal issues.

Young European Ambassadors will join the festival for the first time and will contribute to the organisation of the Festival, social media promotion, video and content creation and through volunteering actions during the Festival.

Supporting art and culture is what #YEADO.

Young European Ambassadors Participate in Panel Discussion: “The Future of Pride and LGBT+ Rights in Serbia”

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On 29th July, Young European Ambassador (YEA) from Serbia, specifically Velimir Milosev (@v_signature), moderated a panel discussion titled “The Future of Pride and LGBT+ Rights in Serbia.” The panel primarily focused on two key topics: fostering inclusivity within Pride events and enhancing the legal framework surrounding LGBT+ rights.

 

The panel featured notable speakers, including LGBT+ activists and a representative from the EU Delegation in Serbia. Key messages conveyed during the discussion highlighted the necessity of a comprehensive approach to improving LGBT+ rights, involving both top-down and bottom-up initiatives. This includes support from international actors like the EU, who should assist grassroots local groups. Additionally, there was an emphasis on establishing local support networks for LGBT+ youth residing outside major urban centers.

 

The panel was part of the Pride Week activities held in Novi Sad, Serbia, from 26th June to 2nd July.

Young European Ambassadors from Serbia Participate in the Final Conference Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health

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On 20th and 21st June, Young European Ambassadors from Serbia, namely Adrijana Nikitovic, Anja Kafedžiska, Maja Trajkovic, and Sava Dokmanovic, took part in the Final Conference Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health. The conference aimed to provide a platform for sharing and showcasing the diverse activities carried out by Working Groups in the region. It also aimed to present the outcomes and recommendations resulting from their dedicated efforts to address mental health among young people in their respective economies.

 

After the development of 13 regional recommendations and extensive work conducted by the Working Groups, representatives from each Western Balkan economy presented their progress thus far. Albania accomplished the Youth Component of the economy-wide Mental Health Action Plan 2023 and conducted an Assessment of Youth Mental Health services. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Framework for the development and implementation of promotional and preventive activities focusing on mental health for young people aged 14 to 18 was established. Kosovo* introduced an Administrative Instruction Amendment on Mental Health. Montenegro created an economy-wide Programme for Youth Mental Health and a Guideline for Youth Workers. North Macedonia drafted an economy-wide Youth Mental Health Strategy. Additionally, a Coordination Body for Youth Mental Health was established within the Ministry of Health.