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Author: WeBalkans

Montenegro: Joint Statement by High Representative/ Vice-President Josep Borrell and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the elections

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On 11 June, Montenegro held parliamentary elections, which were free and calm, as observed by local and international observers accredited by the State Electoral Commission. The EU looks forward to the constitution of a new parliament and the formation of a new government, which will be able and committed to take forward EU-related reforms, in the shortest possible timeframe.  
We encourage Montenegro’s political stakeholders to focus swiftly on building consensus on the priority actions required to advance Montenegro on its EU path, most notably in the area of Rule of Law. The EU greatly values Montenegro’s commitment to the path towards EU membership, and is ready to intensify its support to progress, which is the wish of an overwhelming majority of Montenegro’s citizens.  
The joint election observation mission from OSCE/ODIHR, the European Parliament, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe characterised the elections as competitive and well-run, despite having taken place in the context of a protracted institutional and constitutional crisis. The international election observation mission’s preliminary conclusions also note that the elections were efficiently managed by the election administration, and that the campaign was free and voters were offered a wide choice  – while noting the polarised media environment.  
The OSCE/ODIHR mission has again highlighted that the legal framework should be comprehensively revised to address a number of gaps and inconsistencies. Furthermore, the mission’s preliminary conclusions note that the inclusion of women in Montenegro’s political process still remains low and is undermined by insufficient state and public efforts to overcome gender stereotypes and most political parties’ failure to promote the participation of women.

YEA participate in public debates on media right to justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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On 1 and 5 June, Young European Ambassadors (YEA) from Bosnia and Herzegovina have participated on two public debates – “Media and Civil Society: Critical Voices Under Pressure” that was organized in Banja Luka, and public Debate on Right to Justice ‘Pravo na pravdu!’ that was organized in Sarajevo.

 

Young European Ambassadors (YEA) had the opportunity to discuss on these two very important topics with many officials inclduing EU Ambassador, Mr. Johann Sattler, Minister of Justice, Mr. Davor Bunoza, Ambassador of Sweden, Mrs. Johanna Strömquist and many other officials from government institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Non-Governmental sector. The debates were the opportunity to reflect on the central importance of rule of law and fundamental freedoms for citizens in a continued challenging political context, but also media.

Local Empowerment for Albania’s European Integration

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An EU-funded initiative is empowering Albanian municipalities to play a more influential role in the process of European integration.

In 2014, Albania embarked on a significant initiative to reform its local government system, striving for a genuine and essential decentralization, building upon previous but insufficient efforts. This initiative sought to empower local self-government with substantial financial and economic authority, rights, and responsibilities. It aimed to enhance administrative, investment, regulatory, and service capabilities in essential functions while also encompassing the transfer of additional responsibilities. Simultaneously, the territorial administrative reform aimed to streamline the country’s administrative boundaries by reorganizing fragmented local government units. This restructuring aimed to address the issues of unsatisfactory public services provided to local communities and the absence of economies of scale, which resulted in excessive administrative costs. The goal was to create a more cohesive and efficient territorial system that could better serve the needs of the population.

“However, this perception is inaccurate, as a significant portion of legislation is actually implemented at the local level. Finally, it was recognized that EU integration is a comprehensive practice, and municipalities play a crucial role in this process.”

Another crucial aspect addressed within the local government reform in Albania pertained to the role of municipalities in the process of European Union (EU) integration. Jolanda Trebicka,  Executive Director of the Civil Society Organisation Europartners Development Albania (EPD) at that time was among the experts actively involved in the reform process. She highlights that there was a prevailing opinion among authorities that EU integration primarily focused on the approximation of legislation at the central level, neglecting the significance of local governance. “However, this perception is inaccurate, as a significant portion of legislation is actually implemented at the local level. Albania has started the process of harmonization of national legislation with the EU legislation. Like in the EU countries, assessment in Albania confirmed that 70% of the harmonized/approximated legislation with EU legislation is implemented at the local level. Finally, it was recognized that EU integration is a comprehensive practice, and municipalities play a crucial role in this process,” states Trebicka. Consequently, the initial decentralization strategy aimed to establish EU corners in 30 municipalities of Albania by the year 2020.

In 2017, the EU in Albania initiated the project “Municipalities for Europe” . This project aimed to elevate the role of municipalities in the EU integration process to a higher level. Commencing almost from scratch, the project provided comprehensive support in various areas, including assisting all 61 municipalities in establishing EU units and enabling them to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently. The project organized several training sessions to enhance the municipalities’ capacity to access EU funds and supported the EU units in organizing local community events to disseminate information relating to the EU.

“There are areas that require further enhancements. However, I can confidently assert that we have laid the groundwork for municipalities to assume a much more significant role in the EU integration process in the future.”

About the project

The overall objective of the Municipalities for Europe project was to trengthen the municipal governance capacities and reach out to Albanian citizens and Albanian local administrations with information about the EU, its policies, programs and funds. All project activities were organised around the following components: EU Integration and Donor Coordination, institutional building and training, networking and online communication, visibility and events, and crosscutting issues. The Technical Assistance project provided support for the establishment and effective functioning of EU affairs Units in each municipality. The EU Units are of key importance for the management of internal (within municipalities) coordination processes on EU-related matters and serve as the main structure to coordinate and implement community outreach activities. The overall project financial value (both phases) is €3.6 million.

Furthermore, the project has provided its support to the EU Delegation in implementing information and communication activities in municipal level. This includes assisting in campaigns against illegal migration, promoting the ERASMUS+ programme to young individuals in municipalities, and raising awareness about EU rural support programmes at the local level. An important campaign was ‘Europe is Here” that consisted on informing the local population on the EU contribution to social and economic development of local communities.

In general, the project has made a significant and substantial contribution to enhancing the municipalities’ governance capacities concerning EU-related matters, yielding positive outcomes. The project is considered as a best practice in Western Balkan countries during the event organized by the Committee of Region in the framework of the Enlargement Day, in 6 July 2022.  Nevertheless, Mrs. Trebicka acknowledges that there is still room for improvement. “There are areas that require further enhancements. More needs to be done to inform and raise the capacities of entire local administration and support the city councils to play a more proactive role in the important processes of EU integration on the ground. However, I can confidently assert that we have laid the groundwork for municipalities to assume a much more significant role in the EU integration process in the future,” Trebicka affirms.

WeBalkans at the European Youth Event 2023 in Strasbourg

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The European Youth Event (EYE) convenes annually at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, as well as online, gathering thousands of young individuals from across the European Union and the globe. Its purpose is to exchange and shape ideas concerning the future of Europe. Once again, this exhilarating and significant event sparked fresh ideas and fostered new connections in Strasbourg, the city housing European institutions. This included the participation of Young European Ambassadors and EU vloggers involved in the “Made of Us” campaign.

 

The exceptional journey commenced on 8 June at the Council of Europe for the Young European Ambassadors from the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, Southern neighborhood, and the EU vloggers engaged in the WeBalkans “Made of Us” campaign. The interactive one-day event featured workshops dedicated to combating discrimination, championing freedom of expression, and advancing gender equality. Participants had the opportunity to visit the Council and engage in a high-level panel discussion featuring the EU Ambassador to the Council of Europe, Vesna Batistic Kos, the Director of Political Affairs and External Relations at the Council of Europe, Miroslav Papa, as well as the Directors of Human Rights and Democracy, Christophe Poirel and Matjaž Gruden, respectively. This platform aimed to bridge the gap between the Council of Europe’s work and the younger generation, emphasizing the ongoing imperative to promote the principles of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

 

The following two days were defined by the European Youth Event, the significant annual gathering for young people held at the European Parliament. Within this event, Young European Ambassadors from the Western Balkans and EU vloggers conducted a series of important panel discussions. Notably, one panel showcased the impressive “Made of us” EU-Western Balkans road trip, a part of the WeBalkans EU regional communication programme for the Western Balkans.

 

The “Made of us” campaign featured twelve young vloggers from both the EU and the Western Balkans, who embarked on a journey across the region. They shared their experiences, promoted EU projects, and highlighted the unique cultural heritage present in the Western Balkans. Additionally, the Young European Ambassadors collaborated with representatives from the Eastern and Southern partnerships to organize an engaging Thinkaton for youth. This Thinkaton addressed topics relevant to youth worldwide, such as social affairs, the digital realm, environmental protection, and climate change. They designed various quizzes to familiarize participants with the three regions and held a panel discussion titled ‘The role and impact of youth activism – Perspectives from the East, South, and Western Balkans’, which attracted a large audience. MEP Thomas Waitz participated in one of the most attended panels, discussing the EU accession of the Western Balkans and the East. Finally, the Young European Ambassadors and vloggers had the opportunity to meet in person with MEP Rookmaker to discuss real-life activism and the importance of active citizenship among young people.

 

All the activities and highlights from the youth adventure in Strasbourg were featured on the webalkans.eu channels. This provided young individuals from across the Western Balkans and Europe the opportunity to virtually participate in this exceptional event.

Young European Ambassadors participate in UN Youth Assembly in Kosovo

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The 5th Youth Assembly of the United Nations took place on the 7th and 8th of June in Prizren, Kosovo, under the theme “Activate Youth Power: Perspectives of Youth Participation in Kosovo and Western Balkans.” The United Nations Youth Assembly in Kosovo serves as the largest annual multi-ethnic platform, bringing together young leaders from diverse communities, UN officials, and decision-makers at all levels. Its purpose is to address youth-specific issues, foster inter-ethnic and inter-cultural cooperation among youth, facilitate synergies, and assess the progress made in implementing the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda. This year’s event convened 150 young leaders and decision-makers from the Western Balkans, including the participation of Young European Ambassadors (YEAs).

 

Amina Kaja had the privilege of being a speaker at the workshop titled ‘Youth in International Organizations,’ where she discussed the YEA network. She also attended the assembly as a delegate. Additionally, delegates Aleksandra Grbović Bitić, Arjana Rudari, Olta Shehu, Ardit Gërvalla, Kleidi Memo, Besfort Spahijaj, Filip Milenkoski, and Arijel Kurtagić represented the Young European Ambassadors. Viola Maksuti and Suhel Ahmeti were part of the organizational team.

 

Throughout the numerous workshops, the YEAs had the opportunity to share their experiences and engage in discussions with representatives from various organizations. By the end of the event, they developed their own project proposal, ready to be considered for funding.

The EU disburses €450 million to the Western Balkans partners delivering on the Energy Support Package for the region

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In December 2022, during the EU – Western Balkans Summit, when the EU re-confirmed its full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans, the European Commission announced an unprecedented €1 billion Energy Support Package to mitigate the immediate effects of the energy crisis and accelerate the energy transition in the region in the short- and medium terms.

 

As part of this Energy Support Package, between February and May 2023, the European Commission disbursed €450 million, anticipating 90% of the overall €500 million budget support foreseen to alleviate the rapid increase of energy costs for vulnerable families and SMEs, delivering on its commitments. This component, as the first part of the Energy Support Package, was designed based on the specific action plans of the Western Balkan partners outlining how the governments intended to address the energy crisis through a mix of reform and policy measures, as well as direct assistance measures to vulnerable families and small and medium-sized enterprises.

 

EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “The energy crisis is a common challenge for the EU and the Western Balkans. The European Union is the region’s first and most reliable partner. I am happy to report that we have delivered on our promise and that our support is making a real difference for our partners, in particular for vulnerable people, families and SME’s with difficulties to foot the energy bill. We look forward to the implementation of the national energy action plans of the Western Balkans to disburse the rest of the allocated funds.”

 

The measures, as outlined in the national action plans by the governments of the Western Balkans, include, along with other areas:

 

–Albania is subsidizing energy prices for households and SMEs, financial aid to vulnerable persons, and diversifying energy sources through new wind and solar investments.

–Bosnia and Herzegovina is supporting vulnerable families to mitigate the impact of high energy prices, as well as households and SMEs to improve energy efficiency.

–Kosovo is providing financial support to vulnerable households, incentivizing energy savings and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.

–Montenegro is supporting pensioners and the most vulnerable families affected by increased energy prices and efficiency improvements in households, companies, tourism, and industry.

–North Macedonia is also subsidizing household electricity bills, supporting SMEs to maintain business continuity and promoting state investments for energy transition, renewable energy sources, and energy efficiency.

–Serbia foresees gradually increasing the number of protected vulnerable households.

 

The second part of the package, consisting of the remaining €500 million in grants, is provided to advance the Western Balkans’ energy transition, efficiency, and independence in the short- and medium-term. Therefore, we provide financial support to renewable energy, gas, and electricity infrastructure, interconnectors, upgrading district heating, and renovating old infrastructure (e.g., of old blocks of flats, hospitals, and public buildings) projects.

 

Addressing the immediate, short-term, and medium-term needs in the Western Balkans in the context of the ongoing energy crisis, the substantial €1 billion energy support package will help the Western Balkans partners in the region to begin decreasing their dependence on Russian fossil fuels, accelerate decarbonisation, and improve the energy security of the region. 

The final conference of the ‘EU Support to the WB6 CIF’ project

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At the final conference of the ‘EU Support to the WB6 CIF’ project in Prishtina, organized by the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), members of the CIF Management Board called on the European Union to ensure the citizens and economies of the region enjoy the four fundamental freedoms that underpin the EU – free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. They assessed that this process could be completed in less than two years.

 

The European Commission – represented by Mr Thomas Hagleitner, thanked the project team for their excellent cooperation and welcomed the work achieved by the WB6 CIF to promote the benefits and opportunities of regional economic integration. As the voice of business in the Western Balkans, the role of WB6 CIF is now more important than ever. With a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities involved, WB6 CIF can help deepen the region’s economic integration – through the Common Regional Market and identify areas to bring the region closer to the EU’s Single Market.

 

Over the past three years, a large number of free services or activities were developed in the project involving more than 6,500 companies from all six economies of the Western Balkans. The main objectives of the project were to increase cross-border business cooperation in the Western Balkans by improving the regional legal and policy framework and facilitating direct cooperation through support services provided by the chambers of commerce. It also aimed to support private sector development by promoting access to finance for various types of businesses and market niches. Additionally, support services were provided to enhance competitiveness, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, pointed out the conference participants.

Energy efficiency in Sarajevo in images

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A photo exhibition was displayed until the end of May near the riverside in Sarajevo as part of the “Energy efficiency in public buildings of the Canton of Sarajevo” project. The exhibition presents the results of the successfully completed first phase of the project, during which 15 public buildings in Sarajevo were renovated. They included schools and kindergartens, as well as the Ilidža Health Center. As a result of investments in thermal insulation, installing LED lights and replacing energy sources, CO2 emissions are expected to be halved. With a higher quality of heating and cooling, the users of these public buildings will feel more comfortable, and the reduced energy consumption translates into significant savings in the Sarajevo Canton budget. The project is financed through the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), a flagship investment from the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans 2021-2027.  
Works on the facilities were financed with €2 million grant from the European Union and €8 million loan from the EBRD. The Austrian government provided funding for technical assistance. The project is part of the EBRD Action Plan “Green Cities” for Sarajevo. The exhibition was set up in front of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, where citizens could visit it from 16 to 29 May.  
The exhibition was officially opened by the Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, alongside representatives of the European Union, the Austrian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EBRD.

ETF Green Skills Award 2023: Ten Finalists Announced

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The European Training Foundation has unveiled the ten 2023 ETF Green Skills Award finalists. The award recognises initiatives at the forefront of driving the transition towards a sustainable and green future and have demonstrated exceptional commitment and innovation in promoting and developing green skills throughout the world.

 

This year’s ten finalists encompass a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, representing various countries. They were selected from nearly 600 applications from over 60 countries. The winners of the Green Skills Award will be selected by public vote open until 29 September (23:59 CEST) and will be announced at an award ceremony in late 2023. The stories of all finalists and the voting system can be found here:  https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/GoGreen.

 

The European Training Foundation is the EU agency supporting the countries of the EU neighbourhood to reform their education, training and labour market systems. In line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and the European Year of Skills, it actively supports progress towards sustainable, carbon-neutral, and circular economies and societies through skills development.

Commission wraps up roundtable meetings with cultural and creative sectors

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The roundtable discussions were initiated to identify ways to strengthen the ecosystem of cultural and creative sectors and industries and to discuss challenges, needs and opportunities for these sectors.

 

The third and final roundtable meeting on cultural and creative sectors and industries took place on 6 June. The objective of the discussions was to strengthen the ecosystem of cultural and creative sectors and industries and to enhance communication between the Commission and stakeholders in these sectors.

 

During the discussions, participants identified instruments and initiatives for each priority, for example a new online repository of good practices on sustainability and greening for cultural and creative sectors and industries.