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Author: WeBalkans

“YOU HAVE THE RIGHT!” – PROMOTING THE FREE LEGAL AID CAMPAIGN

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The promotion campaign for free legal aid in Serbia, titled “You have the right!”, was unveiled to the local media and the public in Niš. This campaign is part of the project activities of the “Facility Supporting Rule of Law in Serbia,” co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ. It was jointly initiated and developed in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government of the Republic of Serbia. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the free legal aid mechanism.

 

The Law on Free Legal Aid was enacted in 2019 with the objective of ensuring access to justice and legal protection for every individual, particularly the most vulnerable citizens. Despite the establishment of the free legal aid system at the end of 2019, there is still a lack of awareness among citizens about their right to free legal aid, as well as several shortcomings in the implementation of the law.

 

The “You have the right!” campaign will be implemented in phases over an extended period. It will primarily focus on local self-government units where the right to free legal aid can be exercised under the law. Additionally, efforts will be made to enhance capacities through field training sessions for officials responsible for budgeting and approving applications.

European Union Allocates BAM 1 Million to Enhance Climate Change Resilience in Agriculture

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As part of the EU-funded EU4AGRI-Recovery project, a new Public Call was initiated on Monday, 19th June, inviting potential grant beneficiaries to apply for support measures aimed at enhancing climate change resilience in primary agricultural production in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The total value of the grant is BAM 1 million.

 

The objective of the Public Call is to reinforce the resilience of businesses operating in the primary agricultural production sector by investing in tools and technologies that facilitate climate change adaptation. Through this initiative, the European Union intends to assist agri-food businesses in their efforts to make their operations more resilient to climate change, fostering sustainable agriculture, responsible use of natural resources, and the adoption of best practices.

 

Eligibility Criteria

 

The Public Call is open to craftspeople, independent entrepreneurs, agricultural cooperatives, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises actively involved in primary agricultural production for a period not exceeding two years prior to the launch of this Public Call. Under this Public Call, BAM 1 million has been allocated, and funding per application may range from BAM 30,000 to BAM 300,000 (excluding VAT). The funds can only be utilized to cover eligible costs. Project proposals, along with the necessary documentation, must be submitted exclusively through the online platform https://javnipoziv.undp.ba from 23rd June 2023 to 31st July 2023, until 15:00 hrs. Applications submitted through other channels such as mail or email will not be considered.

EU-funded outpatient clinic opens in Brus, providing enhanced medical services

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Starting today, the residents of Istočni Stari Grad municipality and visitors to the Olympic mountain Trebević and Brus picnic area will benefit from a newly established outpatient clinic. This fully equipped facility is capable of efficiently and swiftly delivering various medical interventions when needed. The European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has contributed 100,000 BAM to support the acquisition of essential medical equipment, office furniture, and an off-road vehicle, enabling prompt medical services to be provided in different locations.

   

The inauguration of the outpatient clinic on Mountain Trebević was officiated by Ambassador Johann Sattler, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with Bojo Gašanović, the Mayor of Istočni Stari Grad Municipality, and Tatjana Bekrić, the Director of Istočni Stari Grad Health Centre. This clinic is of immense significance for the residents of Istočni Stari Grad and the settlement of Brus, as they previously had to travel nearly 30 kilometres to access medical assistance. Furthermore, the new outpatient clinic will cater to the needs of numerous tourists visiting Trebević.

 

The equipping of the outpatient clinic and the acquisition of the off-road vehicle are part of the “EU for local communities” project, which has a budget of €1.7 million. This project, implemented by the Centre for the Promotion of Civil Society in collaboration with the partner organization Help, finances a wide range of interventions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. These interventions play a crucial role in strengthening local communities and improving the quality of life for citizens.

EU-funded TrotoArt Festival of street entertainers enchants Banja Luka

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From 16th to 18th June 2023, the streets of Banja Luka came alive with the vibrant TrotoArt Festival of street entertainers. This captivating event featured extraordinary performances by 34 groups and individual artists, captivating the audience with their rarely seen talents. The EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with the City of Banja Luka and City Tambourine Orchestra, provided co-funding for the festival, which showcased more than 240 performers across seven different locations in the city.

 

The Festival was part of the “Banjalučko proljeće 2023” program initiated by the City of Banja Luka. It brought together a diverse array of local, regional, and international amateur and professional artists from Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and France. The festival aimed to invigorate the city’s cultural scene after a two-year period of restricted events due to the pandemic, offering an opportunity for all citizens to enjoy a wide range of cultural, tourist, and sporting activities.

 

Not only did this event foster artistic collaboration in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it also contributed to promoting cultural exchange in the Balkans and beyond. It encouraged local artists to explore new forms of artistic expression. Moreover, the festival provided the audience with a taste of European experiences and cultures. Visitors had the chance to indulge in three distinct programs – international, local, and a specially designed children’s program. The local program included various participants such as “Baba Djex tribe,” Ensemble “Banjaluki vez,” City Brass Orchestra, Theatre and Dance Club “Dankan,” Đorđe Trninić (harmonica), Milica Cvijić (SFX make-up and 3D painting), “Padiosavijen Kvarting,” Dance Ensemble “Opušteno,” Ensemble “Lira,” Viktor Janković (guitar), Ensemble “Vrbaska svita,” “The Fandangos,” City Tambourine Orchestra, painters from the Art School (NUBL), Olenjuk (with Lidij), Aerial Silk – silk aerial dancing, and others.

MADE OF US: A Remarkable Adventure Successfully Comes to an End!

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The “Made of Us – An EU-Western Balkans road trip” campaign, supported by the EU and brought to you by WeBalkans, has concluded with great success. The campaign aimed to foster a positive perception of the EU among the people of the Western Balkans, and vice versa. It featured 12 young vloggers, comprising of dynamic individuals from the EU and the Western Balkans, who embarked on a journey together across the Western Balkans. Each vlogger pair documented their experiences and shared captivating online content daily along the way.

 

Last week on June 12 2023, the vloggers had the chance visit the Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission, and meet Members of Commissioner Varhelyi’s Cabinet as part of the closing event of the Made of Us campaign. The event was a chance for vloggers to showcase their best content and talk about their most memorable travel moments, as well as for the Made of Us team to present the campaign’s preliminary outcomes. After the first presentations, the vloggers moved to DG NEAR headquarters, where they were warmly received by Sigrid Brettel, the Acting Head of Unit of Inter-Institutional Relations and Communication Unit at DG NEAR. During this interaction, the vloggers had the opportunity to further share their personal travel and vlogging experiences, as well as valuable feedback and lessons learnt from the completed journeys. The event concluded with a sightseeing tour of Brussels that was especially arranged for the vloggers to say goodbye to one another and to celebrate the conclusion of the project.

 

The campaign started on 18 April and continued until 30 May, with each week focusing on one of the WB6 partners. The vloggers covered a total of 18 EU-supported projects, 6000 km by car, and met interesting and inspiring local personalities along the way, all the while showcasing the natural scenery, extraordinary landmarks and unique cultural heritage that the Western Balkans have to offer. The twelve vloggers recorded their experiences using their own equipment and social media channels, translating the journey into high-quality social media and web content, photos and videos, which were disseminated on the WeBalkans channels.

 

For more information on this exciting journey please the Made of Us campaign page

Promoting Healthy Growth and Development in Sarajevo’s Preschools

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

An EU funded project empowers educators and parents for optimal child development in Municipality Centar Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2019, the Institute for Population and Development (IPD), a civil society organization from Bosnia and Herzegovina, conducted a survey involving 127 educators in Sarajevo Canton. The aim was to identify their requirements for additional professional support in implementing the program for healthy growth and development, which receives backing from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Sarajevo Canton. During this process, IPD recognized the necessity for ongoing work with preschool children. Utilizing the 2019 survey findings and with the guidance of experts, they developed an educational package to enhance the emotional and social skills of children.

This package was specifically designed to address the needs of parents and educators. To provide proper guidance on its utilization and effectively cater to the needs of children aged four to six, IPD launched an additional project titled “Promoting Healthy Growth and Development of Children in Preschool Institutions in the Municipality Center Sarajevo.” This project is being implemented as part of the ReLOaD2 programme, which is financially supported by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“We have created the ‘Healthy Growth and Development’ web platform, enabling parents to participate in online training courses and gain practical insights they can practice together with their children.”

According to project coordinator Amer Džekman, the initiative encompasses 19 preschool institutions and involves 50 educators from this Municipality. These educators participated in two-day workshops aimed at enhancing their skills and competencies required for project implementation. Each preschool institution received a “kindergarten box” containing a selection of practical tools that facilitate engagement with children. Notably, the kindergarten boxes include dolls named Hana and Dado, which have become an integral part of the children’s daily lives in the Municipality Center Sarajevo.

Džekman elucidates that these dolls serve as a playful means for educators to impart valuable guidance on healthy growth and development. Through play, children effortlessly grasp the concepts of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, the kindergarten boxes feature worksheets, posters, picture cards, and emotion cards that align with the project’s activities. Moreover, Džekman emphasizes the crucial role of parental involvement in project implementation. “We have created the ‘Healthy Growth and Development’ web platform, enabling parents to participate in online training courses and gain practical insights they can practice together with their children,” Džekman explains.

“Physical violence tends to manifest later among boys, while various forms of verbal violence dominate among girls. Boys who experience early-age physical violence are twice as likely to become abusers themselves, engaging in fights, carrying weapons, and displaying violent behavior in relationships. These concerns emphasize the importance of implementing programs that share common goals with ‘Healthy Growth and Development’ during early childhood.”

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.

A total of 150 parents have completed the online training course on “Healthy Growth and Development,” with over 200 accessing consultation and support services through the IPD Facebook platform “Parent Advisors.”

Maja Alihodžić, a mother whose child participated in the program, expressed how the training has helped parents overcome daily challenges in raising their little ones. “For the first time, I felt that children were being treated and spoken to differently. The advice we received greatly assisted in addressing various topics while promoting open conversation and learning together. I believe we now have a better understanding of each other, and I feel more equipped to handle different situations. I hope similar programs will be available in primary schools, making parent participation and child education a standard practice in all educational institutions,” Alihodžić shares.

IPD highlights an increase in violence, harassment, and verbal abuse among both boys and girls, even in lower grades of elementary school. Džekman notes, “Physical violence tends to manifest later among boys, while various forms of verbal violence dominate among girls. Boys who experience early-age physical violence are twice as likely to become abusers themselves, engaging in fights, carrying weapons, and displaying violent behavior in relationships. These concerns emphasize the importance of implementing programs that share common goals with ‘Healthy Growth and Development’ during early childhood,” adds Džekman.

He further asserts that educating children about healthy lifestyles should be systematically integrated into all childcare institutions and agencies. The provision of quality education and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle align with the United Nations’ Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, supported by the EU-funded ReLOaD2 project.

BIRN Macedonia Holds Digital Rights Training for Journalists

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BIRN Macedonia organized a training on Digital Rights for Journalists between June 8-10 in Mavrovo, North Macedonia. The training was designed to shed light on digital rights and equip journalists with skills and tools to cover stories stemming from this increasingly important topic. Trainers included prominent legal and privacy experts as well as experts for FOIA and senior BIRN journalists. All training sessions were interactive and included numerous examples and exercises. The participants came from various North Macedonian media outlets including Lice v lice, Koha, MRT, Klan TV, Pari and Duma.

 

The training comprised seven sessions: Introduction to digital rights; privacy and protection of personal data; public interest versus protection of personal data; how to use open databases; how BIRN categorizes and documents violations of digital rights; fact-checking tools and techniques; and misinformation and manipulations on social networks. A separate session was dedicated to a case study about identity theft.Each session included theoretical and practical elements that provided the participants with a better understanding of the concepts presented. The participants found the training to be highly informative and beneficial and they particularly appreciated the practical nature of the sessions, which allowed them to apply the knowledge gained during the training immediately. They also commended the trainers’ expertise and ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.

 

The training was organized as part of the “Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms” project, funded by the European Union.

100 km of regional roads in Albania to be reconstructed this year with EU support

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Close to 100 km of local and regional roads in Albania are currently being reconstructed or extended, as part of a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Union (EU)-supported programme to improve connectivity to local tourist sites and the quality of the country’s tourism offer, boosting one of its key sectors.  
The programme, to which the EBRD is contributing €60 million in loans and the EU €40 million in grants, finances the rehabilitation of cultural and natural heritage sites and upgrading of municipal and environmental infrastructure across the country, as well as regional transport links to improve accessibility to certain tourist sites and villages. The programme also supports local small businesses active in the tourism value chain with targeted financing and advisory services, helping improve the overall competitiveness of the sector.  
Moreover, the EBRD and EU are also working with the Albanian government on improving the responsiveness of the education system to the needs of the labour market in the tourism and hospitality sector. The newly created Sector Skills Council in Tourism and Hospitality in Albania will help establish a list of the professional and vocational qualifications that are most urgently needed by tour operators, hotels and other tourism firms in Albania, and promote those qualifications in the local education system.

Closing the screening meetings of Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth cluster with Albania and North Macedonia

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Today, the European Commission held the last bilateral meeting of the screening process with Albania and North Macedonia on this Cluster 3 of the EU acquis. Experts from the European Commission, Albania and North Macedonia have been exchanging on countries’ levels of preparedness and discussing on authorities’ plans to further align with the EU acquis.

 

Cluster 3 on Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth encompasses digital transformation and media, science and research, enterprise, and industrial policy. It also covers social policy and employment, and education and culture, as well as customs union, economic and monetary policy, and taxation.

 

Eight bilateral screening meetings were held between European Commission officials and representatives of Albania and North Macedonia examining the state of play of both countries. The next step in the screening of cluster 3 will be the European Commission report to the Council on the degree of preparedness of Albania and North Macedonia for accession on this cluster, their plans for future work on this, and on preliminary indications of the issues that might arise during the negotiations.

 

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

Dive into the exciting world of EU Green Week

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This week at Europe House, there was a true celebration of nature, sustainability, and fun for everybody. With a wide range of events and activities, EU Green Week captured everyone’s hearts. A Workshop on Green Skills was held, during which youth worker Ivana Fuštić spoke to the youngsters at Europe House. She explained to them how to love nature and how to protect the environment. Marija Marković, better known as Marun, showed pupils what kokedamas are and how to make a terrarium. Through play, the children created spaces for whole little worlds, for grass, animals, and flowers inside the glass containers. The pupils created their own unique terrarium, which they will use to observe nature in a fascinating and extraordinary way.

 

The colour green also took over our social media feeds because of the greenest photo contest, “What’s Green in Your Week?” We received photos of nature from a whopping 100 participants. The winners of the photo contest were rewarded with Marun’s plants. This recognition will encourage them to continue exploring nature and nurturing their love for the environment.

 

In addition, in collaboration with the UNDP Montenegro, Green Week organised a Scavenger Hunt.

 

Young people gathered at Europe House to answer questions about environmental protection and the European Union. This activity was educational and immensely enjoyable, providing young individuals with an opportunity to learn something new and have fun.

 

To mark World Environment Day, in cooperation with the Agency for the Management of Protected Areas of Podgorica, Europe House installed eighteen permanent panels, which will serve as a permanent exhibition space on Gorica Hill. Representatives from Europe House and the Capital officially opened the first exhibition titled “Protect What You Love – Biodiversity of the Protected Areas of Podgorica.” EU Green Week was a true spectacle that combined entertainment, education, and environmental awareness. Organised with the aim of inspiring people of all generations, this week, we hope, has sparked a love for nature and reminded us of the importance of preserving our planet.