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Author: WeBalkans

Advancement of digital trends and market competitiveness in BiH with the support of the EU and the German government

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The first Digital Innovation Hubs Forum (DIH Forum) was held in Sarajevo this weekend, as part of the Sarajevo Maker Faire, which is also the first initiative of the Centre for Digital Innovations (DIH) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Sarajevo Maker Faire, which was visited by about 12,000 visitors and innovation enthusiasts during the weekend, is among the world’s largest family-friendly festivals of invention, creativity, and technology, where all digital innovation centres presented their activities in Sarajevo.

 

The EU4DigitalSME project established four digital innovation hubs (DIHs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (two in Sarajevo, one in Tuzla and one in Banja Luka), with the aim of developing digital technology in order to increase the competitiveness of domestic goods and services on the market, which would result in new jobs, economic growth and development. DIHs are of vital importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina because they enable small and medium-sized enterprises to develop skills, stimulate innovation and attract investments by mastering the possibilities of digital technology. An important moment is certainly the establishment of a platform for cooperation, whereby Bosnia and Herzegovina remain a competitive player on the global market.

 

The establishment of digital innovation hubs and the establishment of a digitalization ecosystem in Bosnia and Herzegovina are jointly financed by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ) through the project Innovation and Digitization of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bosnia and Herzegovina/EU4DigitalSME.

Kosovo Journalists Trained on Digital Rights Reporting

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On May 26–28, BIRN Kosovo held a National Training on Digital Rights Reporting for journalists in Brezovica. The three-day training program was designed to address rising concerns over digital rights and freedoms violations in Kosovo and in the Balkan region. The training brought together 14 journalists, of whom eight were women and one from the Serbian community. They received a comprehensive understanding of the issues at stake, helping them to identify and report on digital rights violations more effectively.

 

Special focus was put on topics including: Reporting Digital Rights in Kosovo and their impact on journalism; Digitalization and Protection of Privacy based on the Legislation of Kosovo; Violations in the Collection of Data in Kosovo; Data Protection of Children and other Marginalized Groups in the Era of Digitalization; Identifying and Collecting Digital Rights Violations in Kosovo; Reforms, Strategies and Challenges in the Process of Digitalization; Fact-Checking and Verification Techniques for Digital Rights Reporting; and Open-Source Investigations for Journalists.

 

Participants heard case studies on successful reporting on Digital Rights Violations and received guidance on how to develop their ideas for investigative stories. The training was organized as part of the “Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms” project that is funded by the European Union.

Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum

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Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum

“Check against delivery”

Fellow leaders,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The war against Ukraine is a pivotal moment for Europe. And we must meet this moment. It is of course a blatant attack against the principles of the UN Charter. Principles we have collectively signed up to. But it is also a war against our values, and a war against the idea of a united and free Europe. For the first time in our history, a country is under attack because of its desire to be part of the European family. It is Ukraine’s sovereign decision – and the clearly expressed will of its people – to embrace our Union’s values. And in doing so, they are also fighting for our freedom and our values; democracy and the rule of law, free speech and the freedom to determine your own destiny. That is what Ukraine is fighting for, and that is what President Putin is trying to extinguish. President Putin is trying to destroy the work of peace that we have built together since the end of the Second World War and later the fall of the Iron Curtain. And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the origin of this war. Here at GLOBSEC, I understand you have been discussing the causes of this war.

 

So let me be clear, Russia started this unprovoked and unjustified war. Without cause, it invaded Ukraine to wipe the country off the map. And Russia refuses to accept Ukraine as an independent country. But Ukraine’s will to fight and to be free has amazed the world. They know with ironclad certainty where they belong. The Ukrainian people have for years been the architect of Ukraine’s move towards the European Union and they have proven their courage and determination time and again. Never can we match the sacrifice and the bravery of the Ukrainian people. But we can and must stand firmly by their side.

 

The immediate need – you know it – is the military assistance to sustain the efforts of the Ukrainian armed forces. This is why we have just proposed an ammunition production act – we call it ASAP. We want to push our defence industry to ramp up production of badly needed 155-millimetre and 152-millimetre artillery shells. And those who can, should provide long-range artillery and weapons systems that can help Ukraine level the battlefield gap in range to the invading forces. Our support is also needed for military training of Ukrainian forces. The Member States are doing a lot and we, at the European level, are doing our fair share, too. By the end of the year, we will have trained 30,000 servicemen and servicewomen.

 

Second, there is much discussion of peace plans and ceasefires. Above all, there must be the principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Together with Ukraine, we want a just peace, one that does not reward the aggressor, but one that upholds the principles of the UN Charter and the Ukrainian people’s right to be masters of their own future. President Zelenskyy is very clear on that. A ceasefire resulting in a frozen conflict will not bring lasting peace. After all, a ceasefire was in place after 2014 and we know what happened to that agreement last February when Russia invaded. A ceasefire would be inherently unstable and would destabilise the region along the contact line. Nobody would invest or rebuild, and the conflict could flare up again at any time. No, a just peace must result in the withdrawal of Russian forces and their equipment from the territory of Ukraine. President Zelenskyy has come forward with a Peace Formula that we wholeheartedly support. Every one of his ten points is based on the UN Charter or UN resolutions. And he has invited countries around the world to join in and build on the Peace Formula. So that our starting point for peace is the rules-based order.

 

A just peace for Ukraine must also be a lasting one. And to be a lasting peace for Ukraine, it must be strengthened in two vital ways. The first is: ensuring the long-term security of Ukraine. I welcome ongoing discussions on how Ukraine’s security can be guaranteed. There are different models and historical examples that can be used. A collection of such guarantees by like-minded states can offer what some have called ‘deterrence by denial’. In other words, providing Ukraine with the military equipment to fortify itself against Russian attacks in the future.

 

What is important is that, at the end, there is clarity. Clarity that Ukraine’s friends will be there for the long haul for Ukraine’s security. Such an arrangement with security guarantees will need to be accompanied by a broader framework of Ukraine’s democratic reforms. And here, Ukraine’s path towards joining our Union will play a fundamental role. Although everyone knew that we were embarking on a challenging journey, we have given Ukraine candidate status – rightly so. Now we must be by their side every step of the way. Fact is that even as they fight for their survival, Ukrainians are passing crucial reforms to strengthen their democracy. Ukraine keeps advancing towards our Union against all odds. And we will keep doing our part to bring Ukraine much closer and much faster towards a just and lasting peace.

 

Today, there is a new awareness inside the European Union. We finally realise that it is not enough to just wait for our friends outside the Union to move closer to us. It is not enough to say that the door is open. We must also take responsibility to bring the aspiring members of our Union much closer to us. The shock waves sent by Putin’s war of aggression have also reached our six Western Balkan partners. But this has only brought us closer together. We extended to the Western Balkans the very same solidarity measures that we have taken inside our Union. We have supported vulnerable households against high energy costs. We are building new infrastructure to reduce the Western Balkans’ dependency on Russian fossil fuels. And this practical cooperation has run in parallel with progress on the EU path. Recent tensions are of course concerning. I echo calls on all sides to step away from confrontation and to take measures to restore calm.

 

Today, I want to present a new initiative to seize this important moment in the region. It is a new growth plan for the Western Balkans. We want to build on the progress achieved in recent months. But we also want to bring some of the benefits of EU membership to the people of the Western Balkans already today. The growth plan we are proposing today is built on four pillars: First, to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU Single Market. Second, to deepen regional economic integration. Third, to accelerate fundamental reforms. And fourth, to increase pre-accession funds. To a certain extent, this is a new approach for the European Union: We do not only ask our partners to take new steps towards us. We also take a big step towards them. Our shared goal is to speed up their journey towards the EU. And for this, we bring our Union closer to the Western Balkans. Let me introduce these four points briefly.

 

For all countries that joined the EU in the last two decades, access to the Single Market has been the main driver of economic growth. But countries that are already on a promising EU path should also benefit from our Single Market. For example, the Western Balkans could join our Digital Single Market in areas such as e-commerce or cybersecurity. We could facilitate our trade in goods and payments. I want our Single Market to be a driver of change, not only for countries that have already joined the family but also for those that are still on their way.

 

This closer association with our Single Market should go hand in hand with a common regional market. A common regional market is crucial to unlock the economic potential of the region. It is crucial to make the Western Balkans a more attractive place for European investors. And, if based on EU rules and standards, this common regional market can also help accelerate accession to our Union. We want to offer the Western Balkans some of the advantages to membership in advance. But this means that certain requirements of membership also have to be met in advance. Some of the reforms that are part of the accession process are key for investors’ confidence. Think about building an independent and efficient judiciary, ensuring sound public procurement and stepping up the fight against corruption. Or think about the energy market. The Western Balkan region has a huge potential to diversify away from Russian fossil fuels. But it needs to increase energy efficiency, step up diversification and accelerate the deployment of more renewables. The Western Balkans can achieve both: energy independence from Russia and closer alignment with the European Union to speed up accession.

 

My final point is straightforward. We stand ready to support the Western Balkans with increased pre-accession funding. There is a dire need of investment in the Western Balkans. These investments will make people’s lives better. And they will also smooth the way into our Union. For this reason, we should increase the resources dedicated to the Western Balkans. In these turbulent times, this four-point plan is the right offer for the Western Balkans.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

History is on the move. Putin wanted to grab Ukraine for Russia. He calculated that the European Union would just accept it. Instead, Ukraine resisted bravely and is beating him back. And we in Europe, rightly and steadfastly, stand with Ukraine. We are meeting this pivotal moment in history. And we must stay the course. Ukraine will emerge stronger from this war. Huge crowds are waving European flags in Moldova and Georgia, where the yearning for a place in the European Union burns resolutely. The Western Balkans and the Union are getting closer and closer. This is the moment to seize, to forge a more united Europe.

 

Thank you and long live Europe.

35th WBIF Project Financiers’ Group (PFG) Meeting, 24-25 May 2023

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On 24 and 25 May 2023, the WBIF Project Financiers’ Group (PFG) met in Brussels. The strategic session of the meeting was co-chaired by Holger Schröder, Head of Unit Western Balkans Regional Programmes, Economic Investment Plan at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, and Matteo Rivellini, Head of Division at the European Investment Bank. The meeting was attended by about 90 representatives from international financial institutions, EU Member States and Norway bilateral donors, and representatives from the six Western Balkans economies.

 

The beneficiary partners updated on the state of play of the implementation of the Economic and Investment Plan in their territories, notably investments in public infrastructures financed through WBIF. The participants discussed the role of WBIF as a platform to implement policy priorities and reforms through investments, in particular, in areas of strategic importance such as transport and energy. The International Finance Corporation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank shared their experiences with crowding-in private investments in view of advancing the socio-economic convergence of the Western Balkans with the EU.

How Creative Europe aims to go green

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A new study sets out the steps that the Creative Europe programme should take to become more sustainable and support the EU’s climate change goals.

 

The European Commission has been seeking insights on how to make its programmes more sustainable. In 2021, it commissioned the study “Greening the Creative Europe programme” to help achieve its objectives of fighting climate change and to support its efforts to make the Creative Europe Programme more environmental-friendly.

 

Cultural and creative activities can support the transition to a green economy by promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. At the same time, the programme itself will strive for carbon-neutrality by promoting sustainable means of transport and environmentally responsible behaviours.

 

The authors of the study worked to elaborate guidance for applicants and beneficiaries develop recommendations for monitoring and evaluating the green aspects of project proposals, collect good practices that support awareness-raising on the need for a green transition in the cultural and creative sectors, document the progress under the previous Creative Europe programme (2014-2020) in terms of projects that pursued sustainability goals.

 

The Commission will work on developing capacity and knowledge in the area of greening at all levels involved in the programme implementation.

Europe House in Podgorica celebrated its first birthday

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Europe House celebrated its first birthday in the most beautiful company – with children. They dedicated this day to their dearest guests, the future residents of the European Union, for whom Europe House prepared a special surprise.The comic book ʺSuper Stellaʺ saw the light of day. The comic book was illustrated by Luka Cakić. ʺSuper Stellaʺ follows adventures of a heroine with a blue cloak through the depths of space, where new discoveries await, as well as some interesting characters and lots of new friends.

 

Her superpowers symbolise the core values of the EU, such as solidarity, unity, friendship, guardianship – which were the topics of conversation between EU Ambassador Oana Cristina Popa and the pupils from the elementary school ʺOktoihʺ and TV show ʺ Zvjezdice.ʺ Along with the EU ambassador and illustrator Luka Cakić, the youngest panelists that Europe House had the honour to host spoke about each of the EU’s superpowers. The young panelists were: Iva Šoć, Vuk Jovović, Irina Vlaović and Vuk Matanović.

 

As part of the birthday celebration, Europe House also organised the first in a series of planned concerts without electricity. The first one was reserved for the guitar duo Marko Prentić and Dražen Joković, who played classical and film music, mixed with pop, ethno, and jazz genres for the guests of the birthday party. The event was attended by the young artists whose took part in the art exhibition, along with their parents, friends, partners of Europe House, and its indispensable neighbourhood. Through the celebration of its first birthday, Europe House (former EU Info Centre) aimed to showcase that it is a gathering place for dialogue, new ideas, and creativity, where anyone interested can learn about the European Union in Montenegro, its initiatives, policies, and projects.

EU Launches Kosovo Home Affairs Programme to Strengthen Cooperation and Rule of Law in Kosovo

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The European Union (EU) has announced the launch of the “EU Kosovo Home Affairs Programme,” a significant initiative aimed at strengthening the alignment of Kosovo’s home affairs sectors with European standards and best practices. The programme, funded by the EU, will be implemented by the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, in collaboration with the French Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Belgium Federal Police.

 

Starting from 1 March 2023, the EU Kosovo Home Affairs Programme will be implemented with a budget of €6,5 million and a duration of 40 months. The main objective of the programme is to promote the rule of law and fundamental rights in Kosovo by facilitating joint investigation teams and enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The project will also provide operational support, transfer skills, and competences to improve the effectiveness of investigations in Kosovo.

 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Police in Kosovo will be the main beneficiaries of this programme, which will follow the major reform process of the Kosovo Police and Ministry of Internal Affairs, aligning them with EU standards. In close collaboration with Eurojust, Europol, and other relevant EU law enforcement agencies, the project will foster the establishment of joint investigation teams, improving the capacity for international and cross-border investigations.

 

Furthermore, the EU Kosovo Home Affairs Programme will address critical areas of reform in Kosovo, including the protection of critical infrastructure and cybersecurity. The project will provide assistance to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in identifying and designating national and European critical infrastructures, as well as support in developing operator security plans. Additionally, efforts will be made to establish a Cybersecurity Agency and align the legal and institutional framework of Kosovo with EU standards.

 

EU transfers EUR 72 million to Albania as part of Energy Support Package

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The European Union has transferred EUR 72 million to the Government of Albania as part of EU support to cope with the socio-economic consequences of the energy crisis. The funds are part of the Energy Support Package announced at the Western Balkans Summit in Tirana in 2022 and signed with the Government in March 2023 under IPA Annual Action Plan 2023.

 

The package supports the Government in applying measures to protect consumers in Albania from the impact of the energy crisis.

 

These Government measures include: Subsidising energy prices (possibly below a certain monthly threshold of consumption) for households and small and medium enterprises in Albania to provide similar rates as before the energy crisis (estimated 1 million households and 168,000 SMEs covered); and providing financial aid to 11,200 vulnerable persons.

 

In addition, the package supports Government efforts to diversify energy sources through new wind and solar investments, new renewable energy legislation in line with EU standards, and support schemes for consumers to install solar energy water heaters.

 

 These funds are grants that do not need to be repaid by Albania. A further EUR 8 million will be transferred in 2024 pending progress in implementing the relevant Government measures.

 

Other EU support to the energy sector in Albania includes the revitalisation of the Fierza hydro power plant, the installation of a floating solar array in Vau i Dejes, as well as support to energy efficiency measures in business via IPARD.

Revolutionizing Livestock Farming in Serbia

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Meet the RoboShepherd invented at the Science-Technology Park in Niš

Most likely, many of you are familiar with RoboCop, the protagonist of an 80s film who was half-human and half-machine. During that era, the concept of robots replacing humans in various roles was merely a notion portrayed in science fiction movies. However, over the following decades, this idea gradually transformed into reality, and nowadays we witness robots assisting us in diverse tasks. Recently, a notable example of this has emerged in Serbia. Nevertheless, this time, the objective is not to substitute human labor but rather to address tasks associated with animal behavior, specifically those pertaining to sheepdogs.

 

Coming Computer Engineering, a Serbian information technology company, has collaborated with engineers from the University of Niš’s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering to develop and introduce a state-of-the-art, multifunctional robot known as the RoboShepherd. This innovative creation tackles one of the major challenges faced by agricultural producers in Serbia: the scarcity of available workers.

“The RoboShepherd has been designed to revitalise traditional livestock farming, encompassing the rearing of cattle in pastures.”

“The RoboShepherd has been designed to revitalise traditional livestock farming, encompassing the rearing of cattle in pastures,” states Dušan Krstić, the project manager at Coming Computer Engineering. “Given the limited agricultural workforce available, our objective was to replace humans with robots. These robots will guide the animals to the pastures, protect them from predators, and ensure they graze the appropriate amount of grass.” The prospect of seeing robotic shepherds tending to a flock of 620 sheep could become a familiar sight in Serbian pastures. In addition to livestock care, Coming Computer is also developing robots for various other agricultural tasks, such as planting, irrigation, harvesting, and ploughing.

Unlike many machines, these electronic assistants are capable of operating on exceedingly steep terrains.

“We have tested the prototype’s ability to pull 345 kilograms up a 30% incline, employing an automatic levelling system,” explains Nikola Velčev, an engineer at Coming. “This system allows the robot to lower its front section when encountering steep slopes, preventing it from toppling over when carrying substantial weights or towing a trailer.” The robot is also adaptable for ground-level operations, such as picking strawberries, and can instantly adjust its robotic platform to raise its arm up to 2 meters in height. “Our aim is to develop a platform that can incorporate various add-ons for different activities,” elaborates Velčev. “The robot is controlled using a joystick, equipped with sensor-supported movement that can detect obstacles and avoid them. With the assistance of GPS navigation, it will be capable of autonomously returning from the pasture to the stable.”

Over the next three years, the robots will enter production, with a pricing strategy intended to make them affordable for small-scale agricultural producers. Presently, robots of this kind cost over €100,000, rendering them inaccessible to the majority of farmers in Serbia and the surrounding region.

“The Science-Technology Park’s essence lies in establishing a community of innovative companies, fostering knowledge exchange, mutual support, and active participation in organized activities.”

About the project

The Public Sector Research and Development (R&D) project concerns a series of investments aimed at revitalising the country’s public R&D activity. The investments include the upgrading of existing infrastructure, the creation of a center for promotion of science, the construction of accommodations for students and young scientists’ accommodation and creation of centres of excellence in priority research fields. The cost of the project is estimated at an estimated investment cost of €420 million. The project is fully in line with the EIB’s lending priorities for the strengthening and development of activities in support of the Candidate and Potential Candidate Countries. The European Investment Bank, the long-term financing institution of the European Union, supports viable capital investment projects furthering the policy objectives of the Union. In the countries of the Western Balkans, the financing operations of the EIB contribute to facilitating the integration process with the European Union. Since 2001, the EIB has extended €2.6 billion in favour of projects in Serbia.

Elevating the Standards in Advanced Farming

Typically, it would require five to ten years to develop such distinctive agricultural solutions based on artificial intelligence. Even for global high-tech companies based in prominent information technology hubs like Silicon Valley.  However, the innovators at the Science-Technology Park in Niš accomplished this feat in a remarkable three years, aided by support from the Republic of Serbia’s Innovation Fund and the European Union.

Among the numerous enterprises operating within the Science-Technology Park in Niš, an innovation hub inaugurated in 2020, lies Coming Computer Engineering. The Park has emerged as a regional focal point for the advancement of inventive scientific and technological projects, along with their international promotion. It collaborates closely with the university and academic community, uniting over 500 young IT engineers to propel the region towards becoming a global hub for cutting-edge technologies.

“The Science-Technology Park’s essence lies in establishing a community of innovative companies, fostering knowledge exchange, mutual support, and active participation in organized activities,” asserts Milan Ranđelović, the director of the Science-Technology Park. “Our goal is to bolster local high-tech entrepreneurs and enhance awareness while strengthening the entire innovation ecosystem within the region.”

Together with its virtual members, the companies situated within the Park employ approximately 5,000 individuals. The construction of the Science-Technology Park’s premises was financed by the Serbian government and a loan from the European Investment Bank secured in 2010 for the research and development sector in Serbia.

2023 Young European Heritage Makers competition announced

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Young European Heritage Makers is a competition for the young people of Europe. It is an opportunity for them to explore their surroundings, learn about their local tangible and intangible cultural heritage and share a story of Europe. The objectives of the Young European Heritage Makers competition is to collect experiences and stories of how children and young people understand the European dimension of their local heritage. This can include tangible heritage such as monuments and buildings, features of the natural landscape, or intangible heritage shared by their community, such as dancing, singing or local cultural traditions. Creative interpretations are very much encouraged.

 

This competition is part of the European Heritage Days. With up to 70 000 events organised each year in the European States signatory to the European Cultural Convention and an estimated 30 million visitors, this joint action of the Council of Europe and of the European Commission is a unique example of a grass-roots initiative organised and shared by millions of people living in Europe. Check out the European Heritage Days website for more information about the competition, including how to register, your country’s participation status, the role of mentors in the competition.