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RCC convenes major Western Balkan stakeholders for workshop on media literacy and countering hybrid threats and disinformation

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On 18 April 2023, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in partnership with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) and with support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, held a one-day workshop at the Hybrid CoE Headquarters in Helsinki. The workshop brought together 20 key Western Balkan stakeholders, including government officials, institutions, media outlets, media regulatory authorities from the Western Balkans, and civil society representatives.

 

The seminar, titled “The Importance of Media Literacy”, provided participants with insights into the importance of media literacy in combating hybrid threats and investing in countering disinformation. The workshop included ex-cathedra presentations, practical lectures, and interactive sessions, focusing on the proper techniques, strategies, and tactics to counter disinformation. The participants expressed interest in continuing to explore these topics, building capacity, and transferring and applying the know-how in the region.

 

The workshop aimed to build a strong narrative on understanding hybrid threats and disinformation and increase awareness of their detrimental impact on various aspects of society in the Western Balkans. It is the fourth in a series of RCC-organized events on disinformation and a follow-up to discussions from the third disinformation conference held in June last year.

EU Member States Delegation from Brussels visit Belgrade

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A delegation of representatives from the Council of the EU Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA), along with the European Commission and the European External Action Service, visited Belgrade and Novi Sad.

 

The delegation consisted of 27 representatives from EU Member States, led by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. During their visit, they met with Serbian President Vucic, Prime Minister Brnabic, State Secretary Ambassador Aleksic from the Foreign Ministry, Minister for EU Integration Miscevic, Minister of Justice Popovic and Minister for Energy and Mining Djedovic. The delegation also met with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Parliament’s Committees on EU Integration and Foreign Affairs, as well as civil society representatives from the National Convention of the European Union. They also visited EU-funded projects.

 

This visit aimed to foster better mutual understanding and facilitate exchanges of views on key issues relevant to Serbia’s EU path, including justice reform and rule of law, media freedom, alignment with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, environmental protection, climate change and energy, and the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

EU Opportunity Week – Discover What the EU Offers You

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The European Union provides various opportunities to Serbian citizens, institutions, companies, and organizations, ranging from financial assistance to free travel and exchange programs. This is the primary message of the EU Opportunity Week – a one-of-a-kind event taking place from 15 to 21 May in Belgrade (MTS Hall), Niš (Ambassador Hotel), and Novi Sad (Novi Sad Fair). The EU Opportunity Week is jointly organized by the EU Delegation to Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Over six days, more than 120 information sessions and panels will take place, providing attendees with the chance to learn how to apply for EU programs, projects, and funds. There will be numerous opportunities presented for entrepreneurs, businessmen, farmers, students, pupils, teachers, innovators, institutions, local governments, media, citizens’ associations, and other organizations.

Numerous speakers will analyze economic topics and offer specific information about funds from different areas such as business, innovation, education, culture, and other segments of cooperation. The EU Opportunity Week will conclude with a focus on agriculture, and the sessions will take place during this year’s Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad.

Italy, Albania, and Montenegro Strengthen Cross-Border Cooperation

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Institutions and organizations from the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise, Albania, and Montenegro are successfully collaborating within the Interreg IPA programme for cross-border cooperation between Italy, Albania, and Montenegro. Even better results from trilateral cooperation are expected within the new Interreg IPA Adriatic-Ionian programme.

 

This was announced in Kolasin, where the Joint Monitoring Committee for cross-border cooperation programmes between the three states met to discuss the perspective of 2014-2020, as well as the Steering Committee for the Adriatic-Ionian programme, which is being implemented under the financial perspective of 2021-2027. Delegations from Italy, Albania, and Montenegro, as well as the European Commission, attended the meeting.

 

“Through the Interreg IPA programme for cross-border cooperation between Italy, Albania, and Montenegro 2014-2020, 100 projects with a total value of around 82.4 million euros were supported, of which around 70 million euros were allocated by the European Union,” said Bojan Vujović, Acting General Director of the Directorate for European Funds in the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro.

 

As he noted, 81.3 million euros have been allocated for the new Interreg IPA Adriatic-Ionian programme.

 

The participants expressed their satisfaction that a total of 128 project proposals were submitted to the first call of the Interreg IPA Adriatic-Ionian programme, of which the most successful ones will be supported with a total of 5 million euros. In Montenegro, a total of 119 institutions and organizations expressed interest, of which 14 are in the position of the lead partner in project proposals.

 

Europe House donated and installed birdhouses in Bar

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Europe House has partnered with the Tourist Organization of Bar and the Center for the Study and Protection of Birds of Montenegro (CZIP) to celebrate Earth Day by donating and installing birdhouses in Bar. The birdhouses have been placed in three locations in the city parks of Bar and donated by Europe House.

 

Saša Palibrk from Europe House said, “We are very pleased to be here and to be able to make a small, symbolic contribution to environmental conservation. We believe that such actions are important for raising citizens’ awareness of nature. This campaign reminds us that in order to preserve our planet, we need to start listening to the birds.”

 

In collaboration with the Tourist Organization of Bar and an expert from CZIP, ten birdhouses were installed in the parks in front of and behind the Cultural Center, in the park behind the old Music School, and on the lawn in front of the Bar Municipal Assembly. The Tourist Organization of Bar stated, “With this campaign, we want to make our parks more beautiful and contribute to a better stay in the green areas that our city is known for.”

 

Established in 1970, Earth Day aims to awaken and strengthen people’s awareness of environmental threats and engage the broader public in protecting the environment. This action by Europe House is one of several events planned to mark Europe Day, with the central event being organized on May 6 on the promenade in Bar.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brčko District institutions have revealed their plans to implement the EU Energy Support Package.

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On 20 April 2023, representatives of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina met with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as representatives from relevant institutions of the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska and the Brčko District of BiH, in Sarajevo. They presented the methods and criteria for distributing funds, including the expected number of beneficiaries and deadlines for implementation.

 

Immediate assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina totals €70 million, of which €50 million will assist vulnerable households, while €20 million will support energy efficiency improvements. Authorities in the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska and the Brčko District of BiH will work on the distribution of funds to end beneficiaries through Entity ministries and the Entity Environmental Protection Funds and administrative units of the Brčko District.

 

Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation with the EU Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina said, “The European Union has secured financial assistance to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to tackle the impacts of soaring prices, and the Energy Package offers support for energy efficiency improvement projects, as an investment in the future of this country. It is now up to the relevant government institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure that this support reaches citizens, households and companies, and to fully implement this package. At the same time, the implementation of this package will provide important benchmarks for future direct EU budget support to Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

 

Although the EU Energy Support Package for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be fully implemented by the relevant domestic institutions, the European Union will continue to provide technical assistance and audits of the expenditure of funds to support Bosnia and Herzegovina.

MADE OF US campaign reaches Kosovo today

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Made of Us – An EU-Western Balkans road trip” campaign, funded by the EU and brought to you by WeBalkans continues this week in Kosovo. This awareness campaign aims to promote a positive image of the EU to the people of the Western Balkans, and vice versa. Its protagonists are 12 young EU and Western Balkan vloggers who travel across the region in pairs. Each of the pairs share their experiences along the way by creating their own online content.

 

The EU Office in Kosovo hosted a media lunch today to announce the start of the journey in Kosovo. Alessandro Bianciardi, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the European Union Office in Kosovo, welcomed the vloggers and commended them for their contribution to the promotion of the EU and Kosovo.

 

The vloggers, Alb Muhaxhiri (@albfilmss) from Kosovo and Brian Rocca (@brianrocca) from the Netherlands, set off on their journey today. They will be on the road for a total of seven days between 25 April and 1 May, showcasing the best of Kosovo as well as EU investments in the region. They will visit various locations, including the historic city of Prizren, Rugova Mountains, and Film Festivals, Innovation projects, and tourism businesses supported by the EU. Some of the EU-funded projects they will be visiting are Labbox, a project which allows children to experiment with small-scale engineering and electronic projects, Dokufest, an internationally renowned film festival, and Balkan Natural Adventure, a tour operator company that attracts visitors from all over the world to Kosovo.

 

The campaign started on 18 April and will continue until 30 May, with each week focusing on one of the WB6 partners. The vloggers will cover a total of 18 EU-supported projects, 6000 km by car, and meet 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 will record 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 will be disseminated on the WeBalkans channels.

 

Don’t miss the highlights of this exciting journey – start following WeBalkans and the 12 EU and Western Balkan vloggers on Instagram now!

Shedding Light on Environmental Impacts in Albania’s Energy and Extractive Industries

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An EU funded project support Improving Environmental Accountability in Albania’s Energy and Extractive Sectors.

Albania is a country with a rich variety of natural resources, including minerals, oil and water resources, which are exploited by the extracting and hydropower industries, respectively. However, these industries have had significant impacts on the environment, which have been the subject of much debate and controversy especially in the last decades.  Extracting industries lack on environmental monitoring and rehabilitation. Lack of statistics and/or unreliable data. This is coming especially from the weak environmental monitoring capacities and infrastructure at the local and central levels. Therefore, there is a weak law enforcement on rehabilitating the environmental pollution.

The Polluter-Pays Principle (PPP) continues to not work, which makes the rural areas even more vulnerable towards pollution with negative environmental impacts, including the destruction of forests, soil erosion, water pollution, and the release of toxic substances into the air, soiland water. The burden remains with the local population. In recent years, there have been concerns about the environmental and health impacts of chromium mining in particular, which has been linked to increased rates of cancer and other diseases in local communities.

On the other hand, the hydropower industry in Albania has also had significant environmental impacts, particularly on the country’s rivers and aquatic ecosystems. Albania has been blessed with hydro resources, and the government has pursued an ambitious program of hydropower development in recent years, including the construction of large dams and the diversion of rivers for power generation. However, these projects have often been criticized for their impact on local communities and the environment, including the loss of valuable habitats, the disruption of fish migrations, and the displacement of people and communities. For these reasons, the Non-Governmental Organisation Eco Partners for Sustainable Development (ECOP) has taken initiative for addressing these problems.

“The overuse of the natural resources such as oil, minerals and water without any control in Albania, has taken the attention of ECOP . We are working for over a decade on environmental governance and especially on the aspects of enforcement, and we have noticed that Albanian legislation, which is on the process of aligning with the EU Acquis, is lagging behind in implementation of legislation, in administrative, institutional and financial capacities to address environmental protection and degradation, especially in the rural areas. Therefore, we decided to contribute in this regard.”

In 2018, the European Union-funded” Rural Watch – improving the role of CSOs in supporting the transparency and accountability of public authorities and businesses in rural areas.” project was launched by EcoP with the aim of addressing environmental problems in Albania caused by the energy and extractive industries. Entela Pinguli, the executive Director of  EcoP, explains that the need for the project was urgent, stating: – “The overuse of the natural resources such as oil, minerals and water without any control in Albania has taken the attention of our organization. We are working for over a decade on environmental governance and especially on the aspects of enforcement, and we have noticed that Albanian legislation, which is on the process of aligning with the EU Acquis, is lagging behind in implementation of legislation, in administrative, institutional and financial capacities to address environmental protection and degradation, especially in the rural areas.

The project selected five Energy and Extractive Industry (EEI) spots as pilot regions where there are operating businesses with practices not in compliance with the national legal requirements. including two extracting sites in Patos Marinez and Bulqiza, as well as three energy sites, Shushica River Hydropower (in Vjosa River Basin), and Qarrishte hydropower in Shebenik and Jabllanice National Park and Mat River Hydropower. The capacity building program provided training to civil society organizations, media outlets, and lawyers in these fiveEEI locations. The project also conducted with advocating activities through monitoring groups composed of a journalists, lawyers, technical experts, and representatives from civil society organizations or local communities. In addition to the direct benefits of the advocating activities, the aim was to introduce good practices to local communities so that they could continue to implement them in the long term.

The project advocated on the name of environment towards local and central authorities as well as raise awareness of the local civil society organizations and communities on the consequences of the environmental pollution, their rights and obligations, bringing this  topic to the next level especially by providing the legal assistance component, which further empowered local communities to take action in this regard.The project helped with drafting requests for access to environmental information and challenging refusals to provide information before the Commissioner for the Right to Information or in court. Legal assistance was also provided for the legal counseling of civil society organizations and local communities in environmental procedures such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and in court debates on issues related to compliance with environmental law.

 “Centralized decision making, especially for the management of the strategic natural resources such as oil, water, forest, coastal line etc does not help in sustainable use of the natural resources and in the policy implementation at the local level.”

About the project

The Rural Watch Albania project tackled some of the most pressing issues in rural development in Albania, particularly those concerning the quality of life and standards for a clean and safe environment. With increasing pressure and economic development in the targeted project areas through the Energy and Extractive Industry (EEI) – specifically in Bulqiza with its chromium industry; Bulqiza with its hydroenergy on Mat River; Prrenjas/Librazhd with its hydroenergy on Shkumbini River in Shebenik Jabllanice National Park; Fier/Patos with its oil extraction in Patos Marinez; and Selenice with its hydroenergy on Shushica tributary to Vjosa River – there is an even greater need for strong civil society organizations (CSOs) on the ground that can hold competent public authorities and businesses accountable for environmental, health, and safety standards and regulations.

The project also incorporated best practices in rural development from Bulgaria, specifically related to the transparency and accountability of the Energy and Extractive Industries (EEI) with regards to increasing public awareness, access to information and justice, and public engagement through innovative media channels.

This was accomplished in collaboration with the Bulgarian organization Blue Link, which provided support for the implementation of an information campaign. As part of this campaign, the Rural Watch portal was launched, providing information on various cases of rural sustainability covered by the project, as well as useful information sources for the targeted rural locations. Entela emphasizes the project’s contribution to elevating the issue of environmental impact to a higher level, saying, “Centralized decision making, especially for the management of the strategic natural resources such as oil, water, forest, coastal line etc does not help in sustainable use of the natural resources and in the policy implementation at the local level.”

Closing the Education Gap

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An Inside Look at the Mentorship Programme, financed through a grant from the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Building Capacity for Inclusion in Education – INCLUDE”.

Hyrije Kryezi, a 15-year-old high school student from Prizren, faced the challenge of deciding her future career and university studies, but was unsure of making the right choice for her financial and professional stability. Luckily, she received an invitation to join a support mentorship program from Roma Versitas. The programme is financed through a grant from a joint European Union and Council of Europe project, aimed for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian students in upper secondary level of education. She was assigned a mentor who provided guidance on career and other school-related issues. Reflecting on her experience, Hyrije acknowledges that the support and advice from her counselor helped her gain clarity on her dreams and opened her eyes to new possibilities. She now aspires to become a policewoman and has shown marked improvement in her overall academic performance.

“Support and advice from my counsellor helped me gain clarity on my dreams and opened my eyes to new possibilities.”

Genc Broqi is one of the Project Managers in Roma Versitas Kosovo (RVK). RVK has been working on similar projects for over a decade, and their positive impact on the community makes the need for continuing these projects apparent. “Most of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian families in Kosovo live in poor economic and social conditions, with limited levels of education among adults who cannot assist their children with homework or other academic work. As a result, Roma children often fall behind in education, making this type of project essential,” says Genc

The support from the project is two-fold. Firstly, it involves assigning one mentor to monitor the attendance and academic progress of up to five students, and the mentor regularly updates the project on any issues faced by the students. This allows the project to provide customized support to address these issues. Secondly, there is also the tutoring program, which provides additional classes to students who struggle with certain subjects. In the past, high school teachers were selected as mentors, but now, successful graduates from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian community are being engaged as mentors. According to Genc, community members who have already faced similar problems are the best individuals to understand the issues faced by students from this community.

Additionally, the project offers soft skills training to final year high school students, which includes topics such as CV preparation, job interview skills, and time management.

“Without the assistance from the Council of Europe and the EU, we would not have been able to continue this support, as a result of which, we now will have dozens of candidates for university-educated doctors, engineers, and other professionals from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian community.”

About the project

The objective of the “Strengthening secondary school students through mentoring “project is to foster quality inclusive education in Kosovo and one of the specific objectives is to improve access to education for children from Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. The mentorship programme is financed through a grant from the joint European Union and the Council of Europe Project “Building Capacity for Inclusion in Education – INCLUDE” and implemented by the Roma Versitas Kosovo. The project started in January 2023 and it will be carried out over a period of 12 months.

The school dropout rate among high school students from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian community was a serious issue, with over 80% of students dropping out in 2013. However, thanks to initiatives like this project, the dropout rate has decreased to around 10-15%. Initially, the project had low participation rates, with only 40 students, 80% of whom were male and 20% were female. Now, however, there are hundreds of participants, with over 100 going on to university each year after finishing high school.

The project provides support to over 600 students in total. Genc emphasizes that the project would not be possible without the support of the Council of Europe and the European Union. “Without the assistance from the European Union and the Council of Europe, we would not have been able to continue this project, and as a result of this support, we now will have dozens of candidates for university-educated doctors, engineers, and other professionals from the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian community,” Genc adds.

Improving the Quality of Life for Elderly Montenegrins

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How UNDP and EU Support Transformed the Lives of Elderly Andrijevica Residents.

The elderly population in Montenegro, particularly pensioners, experience a low standard of living due to their material, social, and health status. This is particularly evident in smaller and more remote municipalities, such as Andrijevica, which has a population of approximately 4,500 inhabitants. Situated in the eastern Polimlje region of Montenegro, the elderly in Andrijevica face economic challenges as well as a lack of recreational and social activities, including sports and cultural events, and access to health care facilities. This situation was exacerbated during the pandemic, prompting the elderly in Andrijevica to take action to improve their quality of life.

“Recognising our situation and limited economic capacity, we sought assistance from donors to improve their quality of life and the UNDP and EU responded positively to our request.”

Doko Elezovic, a 70-year-old former state-owned company manager, currently serves as the president of the Andrijevica Retirees Association, a non-governmental organisation funded by the membership contributions of those with low economic incomes. According to Mr. Elezovic, “Until recently, the situation for retirees in Andrijevica was dire due to their low wages, as well as the lack of recreational, social, and informational activities. “Recognising our situation and limited economic capacity, we sought assistance from donors to improve their quality of life and the UNDP and EU responded positively to our request,” said Mr. Elezovic.

The Andrijevica Retirees Association, under the leadership of Mr. Elezovic and with support from the UNDP and EU, launched the “Veterans” project. The project was funded through the Regional Programme for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2). The project aimed to adapt space for the Pensioners’ Club, organise various recreational and social activities, and inform retirees about easier access to health care facilities. With this support, the association of retirees organised tours to nearby mountains, sessions on health, technology and computer use, and thematic evenings. “These activities were highly beneficial for elderly people in our municipality and literally transformed our lives in many ways,” said Mr. Elezovic.

“The support provided by the EU-funded and UNDP-managed ReLOaD programme was highly crucial for us, as without it, we would not have been able to revitalise our association and make it useful for our members.”

About the project

The Regional Programme for 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). The overall objective of the project is to strengthen participatory democracies and EU integration in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society and encouraging young people to actively take part in the decision-making process, and by improving a supportive legal and financial environment for civil society.

The services provided by the “Veterans” project ensured better utilisation of pensioners’ time, encouraged their participation in the work of the Pensioners’ Club, connected the elderly in remote rural areas, and increased their satisfaction in various aspects of life. “The support provided by the EU-funded and UNDP-managed ReLOaDprogramme was highly crucial for us, as without it, we would not have been able to revitalise our association and make it useful for our members,” said Mr. Elezovic.

Mr. Elezovic and other members see a brighter future for the Andrijevica Retirees Association. They are already planning upcoming activities and hoping for more support from the government and donors.