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Overcoming Water Challenges in North Macedonia

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

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Outdated and poorly installed water pipes exacerbated the water shortages and compromised the quality of drinking water in the village throughout the year.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

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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.

Distribution of equipment for primary waste separation continues in the city of Uzice

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Since the beginning of the implementation of the project Odvajamo in the City Municipality of Sevojno, 4.56 tons of primarily selected waste have been collected from bins, as presented at the promotion of the Project for Household Waste Separation in Užice on June 15th 2023.

 

“Primary separation of waste for the city of Užice is a very important topic, which we have been approaching very seriously for several years now, both through our strategic plans and decisions, as well as through the implementation of numerous projects”, pointed out Dragoljub Stojadinović, Deputy Mayor of Užice, speaking at an event dedicated to the promotion of the “Odvajamo” project, the implementation of which began in March.

 

The “O-DVA-JA-MO” project is implemented in 17 municipalities in Serbia with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, the European Union and the Embassy of Sweden. The goal of the project is to recycle part of the waste generated in households, in order to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills and increase the recycling rate in these municipalities to 15%.

 

The Waste Management Program in Serbia 2022-2031, adopted by the Government of Serbia as part of EU accession, aims to improve the municipal waste management system through an increased rate of recycling, reduced disposal of biodegradable waste in landfills and reduced disposal of waste in unhygienic landfills.

Dialogue and understanding in the region for a safer path to the EU

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In order to make smart and meaningful youth-oriented policies, cooperation between policymakers and youth is needed, based on a credible policy dialogue. This is exactly the main goal of the “POLITEIA Regional School for Youth Participation” which started in Niš and will last from July 6 to 12 with the participation of students, activists and young experts from Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.

 

POLITEIA school is organized by the Centre for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with civil society partner organizations from the Western Balkans within the framework of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe project, which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union.

 

The EU Youth Strategy 2027 encourages all young people to engage socially and participate in democratic life. The main mechanism of EU youth participation in the decision-making process is the Youth Dialogue, which is implemented at the local, national and sub-national level in order to use their opinions and ideas. Seeking to respond to the challenges faced by young people as one of the most vulnerable population groups, the EU provides numerous mechanisms that encourage greater participation of young people and the openness of institutions to communicate with young people.

 

Regional cooperation is supported through various initiatives and programs such as the Erasmus+ and the introduction of the Youth Guarantee in the region. Based on the conclusions and goals of the Berlin Process, strong youth-oriented initiatives aimed at reconciliation and cooperation are supported – such as the programs of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office, but also regional projects such as POLITEIA. The European Union will continue to support initiatives that improve the quality of life and the perspective of young people in the Western Balkans and will additionally intensify cooperation with the region for successful accession to the EU.

Final conference of project “COVID Complementary measure ─ Support to SME in Montenegro

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“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Montenegro has received €130 million in EU grants and loans, aiming to save lives, improve public health, and help the local economy,” said Domagoj Denačić, Task Manager at the Delegation of European Union to Montenegro, during the final conference ─ “COVID Complementary Measures ─ Support to SMEs in Montenegro.”

 

He stated that, despite the rather modest budget, this project covered a wide spectrum, from supporting the development of the strategy for circular transition; providing advisory support and coaching for MSMEs in preparation and implementation of digital transformation; providing advisory support and coaching to skilled craftworkers; providing technical assistance for the development of authentic rural touristic offers, and conducting an evaluation of COVID-19 support to the Montenegrin private sector.

 

Istra Danailova, team leader of the project, gave her insights into the detailed analysis of the project, explained the activities that were carried out as part of the project, and presented the concrete results that were achieved.

 

“We developed a strategy for the circular economy until 2030 together with a financial plan for the implementation of the strategy, and, as an added value to the project, we prepared a detailed goal report whose purpose was to support decision-makers to better align national legislation with the strategic and political framework of the circular economy of the European Union. We also had several panel sessions led by our project team. We provided advisory support to micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in the preparation and implementation of digital transformation and circular economy to increase competitiveness. We organised eight different capacity-building sessions and prepared 11 case studies.”

 

The results of Components 2, 3, and 5 were presented by Goran Pastorović, Darko Pekić, Slavica Marković, and Istra Danailova.

European Union donates specialized equipment to the BiH Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies

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As part of continuous support for the development of capacities for managing migration flows in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union donated equipment worth 170,900 KM to the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH in Sarajevo.

 

Karel Lizerot, Head Section for Justice and Home Affairs, Migration and Public Administration Reform, at the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina handed over the equipment to  Enes Karić, Director of Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH. “The European Union invests in building the capacity of agencies that are involved in the response to migration flows in BiH, including the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH. Our support will continue in the coming period,” Lizerot said.

 

This equipment includes specialized protective clothing and footwear and is part of comprehensive support for the work of the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will significantly facilitate the work of police officers in the field. Namely, the European Union donated ten specialized all-terrain vehicles worth 725,000 KM to the Directorate in March this year, which will help police officers increase their mobility and operational efficiency.

 

The European Union remains committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in managing migration flows in the country. Through joint efforts and continuous support, the EU aims to ensure the well-being and protection of migrants while supporting the leading role of the state in responding to migration flows, and sustainable solutions. The project is implemented by IOM in partnership with UNHCR, UNICEF and UNFPA.

Fostering Inclusion and Creativity among children of Gradiška

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An EU funded project supports an initiative for inclusion of children with developmental difficulties in Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nevena Gvozdenac is a psychologist based in Gradiška, a small town in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a population of just over 14,000. Her particular focus is working with children, specifically those with developmental difficulties. While studies conducted by international organizations indicate some improvement in the overall situation of children with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past 20 years, it still falls far short of the standards set by international legal frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), as well as the legislation and Disability Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Mrs. Gvozdenac personally experienced these challenges during her work in Gradiška and decided to take action by providing additional free activities to support the social integration of children with disabilities. She designed workshops where children with disabilities could interact with typically developing children, aiming to foster acceptance among the former and empathy among the latter.

“This is not a segregated workshop for children with developmental difficulties. Nevena has facilitated their inclusion, and we can see that these joint workshops pose no significant challenges for them, which is crucial for us as parents.”

Her concept was well-received by the Youth Center “Petar Kočić, which collaborated with Mrs. Gvozdenac to develop the project called “Creative Buddies implemented in Gradiška since May 2022 as part of the ReLOaD2 project (Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans), financed by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Žana Kovačević, the project coordinator and President of the Youth Center, shared her perspective as a mother of a child with developmental difficulties. She saw Nevena’s idea as an opportunity to approach these children differently by integrating them with typically developing children. “This is not a segregated workshop for children with developmental difficulties. Nevena has facilitated their inclusion, and we can see that these joint workshops pose no significant challenges for them, which is crucial for us as parents,” Kovačević explained

Throughout 2022, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” in Gradiška organized a series of creative and educational workshops for children with developmental difficulties and their typically developing friends. Under the guidance of professional staff, these young ones spent valuable time together, contributing significantly to their growth and social inclusion. Throughout the summer, the streets of Gradiška often witnessed the sight of playful children engaging in various handicraft activities. The story behind their imaginative play carries an important message recognized by the local community.

Žana Kovačević from the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” emphasized that parents usually come up with ideas for additional educational and creative activities themselves or with the support of therapists. “These children primarily need informal education, such as these workshops. Many of them struggle to acquire the skills taught in primary school. They may struggle with writing or speaking correctly, but it is crucial that we continue teaching them. The most important thing for them is to spend time with other children and to engage in collaborative creativity,” Kovačević emphasized.

“All the workshops were designed to foster teamwork, and we made an effort to include children randomly. Our focus was primarily on creative activities that allowed the children to unleash their imagination and create various crafts using natural materials.”

About the project 

The Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) is a continuation of EU-supported initiatives – Local Democracy Strengthening Project (LOD, 2009-2016) and the subsequently expanded Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans (ReLOaD, 2017-2020). As the previous ones, this project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ReLOaD2 is implemented in the Western Balkans, in particular Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The Youth Center “Petar Kočić” organized the first series of youth workshops in early June 2022, which continued until October of the same year. Nevena Gvozdenac highlighted, “All the workshops were designed to foster teamwork, and we made an effort to include children randomly. Our focus was primarily on creative activities that allowed the children to unleash their imagination and create various crafts using natural materials.”

Through the workshops conducted under the “Creative Buddies” project, the Youth Center “Petar Kočić” has introduced a new model for promoting the culture of Gradiška. The center’s staff members explain that the handicrafts created by the children during the workshops were utilized to construct a map of the city and the village, which was exhibited at the Cultural Center of Gradiška. This exhibition, held at the end of 2022, showcased the remarkable creativity of children with developmental difficulties.