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Author: WeBalkans

GenChange in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a catalyst for progress and personal change

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

The European Union strongly supports the networking of young people, access to information, and their active involvement in discussions on issues of public interest. In this context, the EU supports the Generation Change (GenChange) project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose third cycle began in October 2025. The programme brings together undergraduate students from public universities in Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica and Bihać.

The first phase consists of 90-minute discussions in which the EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luigi Soreca, ambassadors of EU Member States in BiH, and young professionals engage with students, sharing their perspectives, examples of good practice and the opportunities offered by the EU. Each meeting is hosted by one university, with students from one or more other universities attending as guests, thereby fostering connections for future encounters. Bihać hosted students from Banja Luka, East Sarajevo hosted students from Sarajevo, Tuzla welcomed students from Zenica, while in Mostar a joint event was organised with students from both public universities. In this way, more than 1,800 students have taken part in discussions on a wide range of topics relevant to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards EU membership.

“The topics change and are adapted each year, depending on the faculties involved. The aim is to engage students in a fun and dynamic way, which is why these Student Talks are much more than traditional panel discussions. We have music, entertaining ice-breaker activities, interactive cards and an open microphone that circulates constantly around the room, encouraging dialogue with all panellists, including ambassadors”, representatives of the EU Delegation to BiH explain.

At the end of each cycle, students are selected to move on to the next phase of the programme – the Media Boot Camp. This is a competition in which mixed teams of two students from different universities create campaigns and videos.

“Last year, they produced a video celebrating the traditional dance kolo as a unique element of cultural heritage that connects all people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as part of the heritage that BiH, as a future EU Member State, brings to the European Union. The video achieved more than 2.1 million views”, the EU Delegation to BiH explains.

This year, among those selected were students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of East Sarajevo.

“These discussions have been a wonderful experience. We had the opportunity to meet important people working for the benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to talk about the use of artificial intelligence both in everyday life and in the learning process, to gain new ideas, and even new friends, as we met students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo and from the Faculties of Mechanical Engineering in both Sarajevo and East Sarajevo. We have stayed in touch”, says Marko Popović.

Una Mojsilović, also from this Faculty, welcomes the opportunity to meet new people and hear different viewpoints.

“We discussed artificial intelligence, its advantages and challenges, as well as important issues of ethics and digital privacy. These events represent an excellent opportunity for networking, exchanging experiences and learning. They allow our voices to become part of international discussions, while also enabling us to contribute to building a safer and more responsible digital world”, Una says, emphasising the importance of young people from BiH having a voice within the EU.

Student Dženana Beširović from Tuzla believes that these meetings represent potential for every young person.

“We talked about the importance of green energy, environmental protection and techniques for putting knowledge into practice. Meetings and discussions like these awaken a sense of responsibility towards the environment in which I live. They encourage me every day towards personal progress and initiating small changes that ultimately lead to major results, because if everyone improves their own actions and their relationship with the environment, even slightly, the world can become a much better place”, Beširović says.

Professors and teaching assistants coordinating the activities also highlight the benefits of these encounters.

“These are excellent opportunities for students to apply the knowledge acquired at university in practice, and to transfer it into the communities in which they live. They are also a great chance to ‘cross-fertilise’ perspectives with students from other cities and disciplines, thereby further refining their ideas. This is an excellent complement to formal education. In addition, my students travelled from Banja Luka to Bihać for the first time and returned with very positive impressions of both the city and the organisation and comprehensiveness of the event. They are looking forward to the next activities, particularly the part in which they will move from a passive to an active role”, says Nikola Vidović, Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka.

Nada Cincar, Vice-Dean for Teaching and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the University of East Sarajevo, says that the event gave students an open and free space for dialogue.

“It is extremely important for them to hear different views on education, employment and mobility, as well as on the role of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union. As far as I am informed, the students have remained connected, formed groups in which they collaborate, and I am confident that some ideas for the future have already emerged”, Cincar says.

The European Commission’s office in BiH recognises the importance of involving their students in discussions about the country’s European path and motivating them to be proactive and to participate in initiatives such as these.

Empowering Women for the Green Transition

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

The European Union is strongly committed to expanding the use of green energy and, in this context, supports numerous programmes in candidate countries for EU membership. One such programme is SME Go Green, implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with EU financing. As part of the programme, a workshop for women entrepreneurs was held in Serbia. The aim was to provide participants with practical knowledge on green investments and access to finance that enables the sustainable development of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises. According to the organisers, each of the approximately 40 participants left the workshop with clear information on how to apply for a project, which documentation to prepare, and where to seek support.

“SME Go Green supports small and medium-sized enterprises across the Western Balkans in adopting green technologies and sustainable practices, helping them to become more competitive in both local and EU markets. The focus is on reducing energy costs and emissions, aligning with EU and international standards, while also providing support to agribusinesses and enterprises owned or led by women. We have allocated around EUR 400 million for financing, while the EU has provided grants covering 10–15% of the loan amount. Our objective is for at least 33% of the loans disbursed to go to agribusinesses and at least 25% to women-led enterprises”, explains Arita Hasani, Principal Banker and Operations Leader for SME Go Green in the Western Balkans at the EBRD.

Local SME Go Green programme experts Maja Krstović and Vladimir Đorđević explain that the structure of the workshop was designed on the basis of a survey conducted among women owners of small businesses. Discussions focused on the reality of climate change and its impact on sectors managed by women, ranging from agriculture and the food industry to manufacturing activities. Participants analysed how extreme weather events, droughts and floods directly threaten their supply chains, and why climate resilience is just as important as profitability. Practical technological solutions were presented, including photovoltaic power plants, solar thermal collectors, geothermal heat pumps, and energy-from-waste systems such as biogas and biomass. Financial figures, investment payback periods and examples from the region were also shared. The workshop additionally provided an opportunity to discuss resource efficiency and the circular economy in the day-to-day operations of small and medium-sized enterprises. Through case studies, participants learned what it means to reduce water consumption by 40%, cut electricity use by one third, or convert waste into raw materials — and how this has already been achieved in Serbia and neighbouring countries.

One of the participants was Aleksandra Šakotić, Chief Financial Officer of Meter&Control d.o.o. She emphasised the importance of highlighting the economic benefits of such investments, including grant support and more favourable financing conditions, as financial sustainability and return on investment are often key factors in investment decision-making.

“Operating in line with the principles of sustainable development is no longer a matter of choice, but an imperative for business sustainability and for the broader impact that business decisions have on society as a whole. I see it as an opportunity for long-term business improvement rather than an additional cost or obligation, as the benefits are multiple: reduced negative environmental impact and more responsible resource management”, says Šakotić, stressing that sustainable business practices can generate both environmental and economic value. She notes that the green transition requires a change in mindset and a consistent, systematic approach, and that the greatest internal challenge lies in understanding and accepting the concept itself.

“Sustainability principles must be fully integrated into all business processes, but it is crucial that all employees understand why these principles matter and how they relate to their everyday work. This requires a comprehensive view of all aspects of business operations, from production processes and human resources management to decision-making and investment planning. When the green transition is not perceived as an imposed obligation, but as a shared goal and part of a company’s culture, the process becomes much easier and more sustainable in the long term”, Šakotić explains adding that sustainable business is a broad and comprehensive concept which, with the right approach, can be successfully applied across almost all segments of business operations.

The SME Go Green workshop: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Green Transition was organised as part of the European Green Diplomacy Week 2025 held from 14 to 25 November, with a focus on water protection and sustainable development. The initiative is part of a global European Union campaign that promotes cooperation in tackling climate change and inspires climate action. The EBRD has announced that similar workshops under the SME Go Green Programme will be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Kosovo where the programme is also active.

Follow Me Club: EU for Clean Air

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

By Nikola Mihail Angelovski

It’s that time of the year, and not just a cozy winter but polluted air as well!

 Hi, I’m Nikola, a Young European Ambassador from Skopje. Recently, I visited the “EU for Clean Air” project alongside Damjan and Jana, to see how they’re helping tackle pollution in our country. What I discovered is that the EU isn’t just talking about supporting our region – they’re investing real money, real effort, and real solutions into making our cities healthier. So come check out what I found and why I think this matters for all of us.

Understanding the problem: Why air quality matters

Before we take you through our recent visit to the EU for Clean Air project, let’s pause and address something fundamental that many people in our region experience but don’t always fully understand: air pollution and why it matters so deeply.

Every winter, the reality becomes impossible to ignore in cities across North Macedonia. When temperatures drop, heating systems turn on, and traffic increases, the air becomes visibly thick with pollution. Skopje, along with Bitola, Kumanovo, and Tetovo, regularly appears on lists of the world’s most polluted cities. But behind those rankings is a health crisis that affects real people, particularly the most vulnerable.

You might hear technical terms like PM2.5 and PM10. Here’s what they actually mean: PM stands for particulate matter, referring to tiny particles suspended in the air that we breathe directly into our lungs. PM2.5 are particles so small that they measure just 2.5 micrometers in diameter. To put that in perspective, a human hair is about 70 micrometers wide. These microscopic particles penetrate deep into our respiratory system and can even enter our bloodstream. PM10 particles are slightly larger but still incredibly fine. Both are harmful to human health, and North Macedonia’s major cities regularly exceed safe exposure limits for 100 or more days per year.

Beyond health, air pollution affects our quality of life. Visibility decreases. Public spaces become less inviting. The simple act of breathing becomes something we notice, something that requires caution rather than being natural and unconscious. For students, workers, parents, and everyone navigating our cities daily, this invisible threat shapes our experience of home.

This is the context in which the EU for Clean Air project was born, and understanding this background helps explain why what we witnessed during our visit felt so significant.

The roads we travel: Green transport revolution

Our first stop revealed something that made an immediate impression: electric buses rolling through Skopje’s streets. When the director of JSP walked us through what these vehicles mean for our public transport network, the picture became crystal clear. These aren’t just buses that look good – they’re a fundamental shift in how we move around our city.

With a passenger capacity of 96 and equipped with the latest EURO 6 standard technologies, these buses cut emissions dramatically. We’re talking about just 9 grams of CO2 per passenger per kilometer and incredibly low nitrogen oxide emissions. The director emphasized how this isn’t merely about environmental metrics. It’s about cleaner air that residents actually breathe, reduced noise in our neighborhoods, and a transport system that respects both people and the planet.

What struck us most was learning that this transformation isn’t just cosmetic. It represents a genuine commitment to building a greener, healthier Skopje – one journey at a time.

Planting hope: 6,000 trees and counting

Then we met the scouts involved in the urban greening component. Their energy was contagious. While we discussed policy and infrastructure, they shared something more tangible: they’ve been part of planting 6,000 trees across Skopje, Bitola, Tetovo, and Kumanovo. Six thousand.

These trees aren’t decorative. Each one is an investment in absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing particulate matter, and transforming our public spaces into places where people want to spend time. The scouts spoke with genuine pride about their contribution to this green initiative. They understood something important that sometimes gets lost in bureaucratic language – that planting trees today means breathing cleaner air tomorrow, and creating spaces for community and recreation for generations to come.

Smart heating for a smarter future

Our final stop was particularly moving. At kindergarten 25 Maj in Skopje, we met the engineers implementing an innovative heating system in a building that had stood for fifty years. Here’s what makes this remarkable: they’re making a building built in the mid-1970s energy efficient through modern solutions. This isn’t about demolition and rebuild – it’s about intelligence, sustainability, and respect for what already exists.

The heating system they are installing is part of a larger effort across 70 public buildings in our four cities. When these upgrades are complete, they’ll reduce particulate matter by up to 98 percent. They’ll cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 99 percent. These numbers represent something tangible – they represent cleaner air flowing through healthcare facilities and schools, spaces where vulnerable people spend their days.

The engineers showed us the technical details, but most importantly, they showed us the vision. This isn’t about expensive, flashy solutions that work for a year then fade. It is about sustainable, intelligent adaptation that serves communities for decades.

What this means for us

As Young European Ambassadors, we often talk about how EU support benefits the Western Balkans. But this visit transformed those conversations from abstract to concrete. The EU for Clean Air project isn’t just policy. It’s buses carrying neighbors to work. It’s thousands of trees growing in public spaces. It’s kindergartens where children breathe cleaner air while they learn and play.

This €10 million initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented through the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, represents something crucial about the European integration process and the Western Balkans’ place within it. It demonstrates that Europe’s commitment to supporting our region isn’t just rhetorical. It’s measured in emissions reduced, in trees planted, in buildings transformed.

We came away from this visit with a clear understanding: the challenges facing our cities are real, but so are the solutions. And those solutions are already here, already working, already changing Skopje into the healthier, greener city we all deserve.

To everyone reading this in North Macedonia and across the Western Balkans: these projects exist for us. They exist because young people, communities, and committed institutions believe that we deserve cleaner air, better transport, and a more sustainable future. That’s not just an EU investment. That’s a promise being kept, one bus, one tree, one building at a time.

Building dreams at home: A story from Timișoara

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

By Olta Shehu & Sara Kënuti

Some places don’t need a big introduction. You walk in, look around, and immediately feel that something meaningful is happening.

That was our experience at FABER, a former industrial space in Timișoara, Romania that has been transformed into a hub for young people, work and creativity. The building itself carries a familiar story. An old factory, standing on the edge of the city, once quiet and unused, the kind of place many of us recognize from our own hometowns. Across Europe, and especially in the Western Balkans, these spaces are everywhere: reminders of industries that left and opportunities that never arrived.

But here, the story changed. Instead of being left abandoned, the factory was reclaimed by young people who chose to stay in the city instead of looking for their future abroad. In 2017, entrepreneurs from architecture, IT, and the socio-cultural field came together, bought an industrial hall in the AZUR complex, and began transforming it. Not just renovating walls, but rethinking what a space like this could mean for a city. Today, it lives again, filled with ideas, purpose, and creative work.

When we arrived, the space was in celebration mode. FABERLAND, their Christmas fair, had taken over the halls. Local artisans sold handmade jewelry, ceramics, candles, and textiles, each with a story behind it. We moved from stand to stand, talking to the artists and almost every conversation led back to the same feeling: gratitude. Gratitude for having a place like this. A place that offers visibility, opportunity, and a sense of belonging, something many creators spend years searching for.

The following day, the atmosphere shifted. No fair, no crowds. Just an ordinary working day. People focused in co-working spaces, ideas quietly taking shape. Musicians rehearsing with whatever instruments they had at hand. Coffee being poured at the “Ambasada” bistro in the 1st floor and cheerful conversations all over the place. The space was… alive.

This place now exists because someone once asked a difficult question: What if we don’t leave our hometown? What if we stay and build something here? As we walked through the space, filming and listening to the people who gave life to it, our thoughts kept returning to the Western Balkans. To Albania. To how many young people grow up believing that success only exists somewhere else, far away, abroad, always out of reach unless you leave everything behind.

FABER is a reminder to all of us that Europe doesn’t grow only through its capitals. It grows through its hometowns and through young people who choose to stay, invest, and believe that even small cities can dream big.

YouthIn for gender equality fundamentals

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Tringa Thaqi

As part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, I had the opportunity to organize and implement the bootcamp “YouthIn for Gender Equality Fundamentals” in Prishtina. The activity brought together 20 young participants from four schools in Kamenica, Cërmjan of Gjakova, and Prishtina. I intentionally designed the group to be diverse, including students from rural and urban areas, as well as public and private schools, in order to create an inclusive learning space where young people could meet, collaborate, and learn from one another. The participation of students from Kamenica was particularly significant, as the municipality is among the most affected by youth emigration, reflecting the challenges young people face due to limited local opportunities. This approach reflects the European Union’s core values of inclusion, equality, and participation, ensuring that different voices and experiences were equally represented.

Throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in interactive and youth-friendly methods to explore key topics such as gender roles, gender equality, and gender-based violence. Through open discussions and storytelling, young people were encouraged to express their views, challenge stereotypes, and reflect on how inequality can affect their everyday lives. By connecting personal experiences with broader social challenges, the sessions helped participants understand that gender equality is not only a global issue, but also a shared responsibility within their own communities.

A central element of the bootcamp was empowering young people to imagine change and see themselves as active contributors to more equal societies. Participants shared their hopes and ideas for more comprehensive communities, while learning how small actions and everyday choices can lead to meaningful impact. The exchange between students from different regions of Kosovo highlighted the importance of dialogue, empathy, and cooperation, values which are strongly promoted by the European Union in its work with youth and civil society across the Western Balkans.

The successful implementation of this bootcamp would not have been possible without the support of WeBalkans and Europe House Prishtina, as well as the generous contribution of Meridian. By investing in young people and creating safe spaces for learning and dialogue, initiatives like this help build a new generation of informed, confident, and engaged citizens who are ready to promote gender equality and stand against gender-based violence.

 

From childhood libraries to youth activism: Why I volunteer

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by YEA Alumni My volunteering story did not start with some fancy project, nor with the big idea of ​​”changing the world”. It started in elementary school, in the library. I was repairing old and damaged books. Glue, cardboard and worn covers that had to be saved – that’s all. Neither then or now, no one understood why I was doing it. Honestly, I never had a right answer, just the feeling that it’s so nice for me and that I should. I never saw volunteering as free labor. I have always associated volunteering with activism and for the need to contribute to society, but also to get something back. For me, volunteering means an exchange: you give time, energy and ideas in return you learn, grow, meet people and get to make mistakes without fear. So, in this blog, I want to answer a simple question: Why do I volunteer? People It might sound cliché, but it’s true: the most valuable thing volunteering gives you is people. New connections, meaningful relationships, people who inspire you and challenge you in ways that textbooks and offices never can. Learning without pressure When you do a “real” job – you have a salary, a contract and constant pressure to know more, better and faster. Volunteering is different. There is responsibility, but there is no such fear. It was through volunteering that I learned without panic and tried out roles that I didn’t know were mine and grew without someone constantly measuring me. And that’s a luxury you rarely get anywhere. If you’re thinking, “Not everyone can afford to volunteer,” that’s true. But almost everyone can dedicate two hours per week to something different. And that’s why I always choose volunteering and recommend it to young people. Because of its informality, volunteering gave me the opportunity to be skilled in many areas. I worked in communication, event organization, facilitation, negotiation, and public speaking. Not because it was my position, but because someone believed in me and gave me the space to learn and make mistakes. And through that, I learned more than if I had been doing just one thing for years. How volunteering pushes you later Many opportunities for youth came to me precisely through volunteering. It was not part of my well-developed plan or some hidden agenda. It just felt natural. Only later do you realize that you have gained experience, built a network and gained confidence. This is very important when you are at the beginning of your career and freshly graduated student. Once you fill your CV with different activities and experience from the volunteering project you will thank yourself.

From repairing books to now

Even though I have a full-time job and adult responsibilities, I still volunteer. Not because I have to, but because it’s fun, fulfilling, and sometimes, that’s enough.

One investigation in North Macedonia that refused to stop

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Interview with Aleksandar Dimitrievski and Mihail Milosevski

Over the past few weeks, the Western Balkan countries have been celebrating investigative journalism. Professional juries across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have gathered to evaluate some of the most compelling investigative journalism pieces.

We spoke to all first-prize winners across the region, and will publish the interviews with them in series. Through this series that we have titled “EU Celebrates Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans” we want to celebrate these exemplary journalists and get to know more about their investigation practices, the urgency of addressing these issues in their country as well as their reflections on the position of investigative journalism in their country and in the region at large.

In North Macedonia, the jury comprising Valentin Neshovski, Sonja Delevska, and Ognjen Zorić, awarded Aleksandar Dimitrievski and Mihail Milosevski from 360 stepeni the first prize for their piece Following Julia’s Footsteps, an investigation exposing abuse of power at the top of national security and revealing how those tasked with upholding the law misused their positions.

Aleksandar Dimitrievski is a journalist, editor and one of the co-founders of “360 stepeni”, a TV production company that publishes the online portal www.360stepeni.mk and the TV show “360 stepeni”, which currently airs on the public broadcaster.

His main engagements before “360 stepeni” were in the newsrooms of TV Alsat-M and Alfa TV, both privately owned television stations with national coverage. He is also an author of several publications and stories published by local or regional publishers. In the past few years, he was also actively involved as a lecturer in short-term programs and projects for development of young journalists, as well as programs for development of media literacy teaching in public education system.

Dimitrievski won the first prize of the EU Delegation award in Skopje in 2016. In 2024 he won the first prize of the “Nikola Mladenov” award for investigative journalism, and the third prize of the EU Delegation award in Tirana (as a co-author), among several other awards and recognitions.

Mihail Miloshevski is an acclaimed journalist with experience in investigative and multimedia reporting. Committed to ethical journalism and fighting disinformation, Mihail’s impactful work has earned him significant recognition, including the First Prize in the European Union Award for Investigative Journalism (2025) and the UNDP Award for creativity and ethics.

WeBalkans: What was your process of investigation for the piece “Following Julia’s footsteps”, abuse of power in state institutions, security ones included, is quite common in the region. Given this context, the investigation you undertook is quite sensitive. What were the risks you undertook in your process?

Aleksandar Dimitrievski & Mihail Milosevski: The investigative piece exposed a critical case of systemic credential fraud and ignorance towards rule of law involving high-ranking official in Macedonia. The story’s core finding was that the claim of the head of the State Agency for National Security (ANB), Mr. Bojan Hristovski, that he holds a valid TOEFL English language certificate issued in 2022 from a Bulgarian entity, “Julija Ko. DOO” located in Plovdiv, could not be true. A valid certificate for sufficient knowledge of English is a prerequisite for the appointment of a head of the Agency. Presenting a false certificate is a criminal deed in the country.

The first questions regarding the validity of Mr. Hristovski TOEFL certificate were already in the public sphere, when he agreed to an interview for “360 stepeni” on several topics. Questioned, why did he had the exam in Plovdiv (six hours of driving from Skopje and in a different country), he answered – because the waiting list was the shortest. He also said, although indirectly, that the entity in Plovdiv is recognized as a TOEFL center in Macedonian bylaws.

After the interview we tried the simplest way for verification of the facts – by calling the school in Plovdiv. It was clear from the start that we are not dealing with a regular school or an exam center as nobody answered. So, we started a comprehensive check of publicly available data, both in Macedonia and Bulgaria. The data from the Bulgarian Business register gave us the location of the HQ of the company, but also the names and locations of other business ventures of the owner of “Julia Ko. DOO”. We went to Plovdiv and found out that it’s been years since “Julia Ko. DOO” have moved out from their official address, and that there is no sign of a school or an exam center with that name whatsoever. It was the same thing with the related/connected companies. The owner, we were said, lives in Greece for several years. Quickly afterwards, while digging through the public databases, we found a document in the Bulgarian Business Register that “Julija Ko.DOO” doesn’t have any income from the year 2017. In the same time, we found out that the entity in question is NOT recognized as a valid TOEFL exam center in Macedonia. We also found Macedonian court cases in which lower ranking officials were convicted on suspended prison sentences for using false TOEFL certificates from the exact same entity “Julija Ko.DOO”.

In general, this was not a story of abuse of power by the head of the Agency for National Security. It was more a story about the lack of rule of law in the country, even among the ones that are given the confidence to deal with the most delicate of matters in the society. And, while it looks dangerous to shake the chair of the head of secret agency in the country, it won’t be fair if don’t admit that it wasn’t. The main reason for that outcome, we believe, is our rigorous and very careful approach towards the facts and their presentation. We tried very hard not to fall in the trap to assume things, as the smallest mistake might have compromised the credibility of everything else.

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism. In regions like Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this?

Aleksandar Dimitrievski & Mihail Milosevski: In a region where the judiciary and accountability mechanisms are frequently compromised or politically captured, journalists often serve as the last effective democratic check and balance. Unfortunately, less and less journalist have the chance to serve that public mission in the WB as the traditional media are less and less able (or willing) to sponsor quality in-depth and investigative journalism, and the new media are more infotainment oriented.

To put it more bluntly, Investigative journalism on the Balkans is dying out. Not because of threats and violence towards journalists, but because it is increasingly financially unsustainable. Look no further for proof than the winners of the EU Award in the past years. It’s mostly the smaller donor funded outlets that are keeping the ideal alive. And there is nothing in the horizon that seems it can really solve the problem.

Where Is Sara How Investigative Journalism Fights for Answers

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Interview with Jelena Jevtić and Mubarek Asani

Over the past few weeks, the Western Balkan countries have been celebrating investigative journalism. Professional juries across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have gathered to evaluate some of the most compelling investigative journalism pieces.

We spoke to all first-prize winners across the region, and will publish the interviews with them in series. Through this series that we have titled “EU Celebrates Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans” we want to celebrate these exemplary journalists and get to know more about their investigation practices, the urgency of addressing these issues in their country as well as their reflections on the position of investigative journalism in their country and in the region at large.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the jury comprising Davor Glavaš, Lejla Turčilo and Vuk Vučetić awarded the first prize to Jelena Jevtic and Mubarek Asani’s Where is Sara, a documentary uncovering the tragic disappearance of a newborn baby at the University Clinical Center of Republika Srpska and exposing unanswered questions about her fate.

Jelena Jevtić holds a Journalism degree from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Banja Luka. Before joining the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) in Sarajevo in 2017, she worked as a reporter for BNTV, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, the “Novi Talas” portal, TV Arena, Nezavisne novine, and Fokus. At CIN, Jelena worked as an investigative reporter, focusing on issues such as corruption, organized crime, abuse of office, and other social matters. She has also contributed to the development of CIN’s online databases aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in government institutions, particularly in areas such as asset declarations and public procurement.

 

Mubarek Asani is an investigative journalist and producer. He studied political science at the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2003, he was awarded an EU scholarship for a one-year journalism study, which he graduated as the most successful television journalist. His thesis focusing on minorities rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was presented through a short documentary TV titled “Confession of the Shadows”. After graduation he was invited to be a lecturer at the same journalism study course in Sarajevo. During his career, Asani took over complex journalistic tasks such as those on drug trafficking, tobacco smuggling, terrorism, prostitution, judicial crime, election vote-trading, and illegal exploitation of natural resources. He has been working for the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) since 2007.

 

WeBalkans: How did you come across the story of Sara, and what was your process of investigation? This is a documentary piece that required you to be in proximity with your subjects (Sara’s parents), what kind of ethical boundaries did you have in mind in this process.

Jelena Jevtic & Mubarek Asani: The story found its way to us. After Aleksandra (the mother) had fought unsuccessfully with the institutions in search of her baby, after she had even reported the case to the prosecutor’s office and received no answers from their investigation, she contacted CIN based on someone’s recommendation. She told us a short version of her story during that first phone call. She was upset and exhausted from everything.

From the beginning, we knew this was a story that demanded sensitivity, depth, and time. Our investigative process began with months of background research—reviewing police reports and medical records to understand what had already been said and, more importantly, what had been left out.

By analyzing the documentation, we realized that the authorities, during their investigation, had focused mainly on the mother Aleksandra’s pregnancy, on the procedures applied during her stay at the University Clinical Center of Banja Luka, paying particular attention to the events and their timeline on the day of the birth. But what stood out to us was that no one in the investigation had asked the most obvious question: where is the baby?

For us, the events from the moment the hospital informed the father, Miloš, that the baby had died—the way they did it, why they did not inform the mother who was there in the hospital, lying in their ward, why they did not allow her to see her child, alive or dead, and, most strangely of all, how the hospital allegedly took it upon itself to bury the baby without the parents’ knowledge—all of that was deeply troubling.

According to procedure, the parents must give written consent for a burial. That did not happen in this case. The hospital, in cooperation with the city cemetery, buried the baby without the parents’ knowledge. We focused our investigation on that part of the story—and we proved they were not telling the truth. Moreover, we questioned the objectivity of the investigation itself, because you must admit it is unusual that an investigation would focus on hospital procedures and whether the mother was treated properly during her stay there, while completely ignoring the question of where the baby’s body was.

This was the shared point of the problem that brought us together with Sara’s parents, Aleksandra and Miloš. Building trust with them was a slow and careful process. We were constantly aware that for them, this was not just a story — it was their lived trauma.

We made it clear to them that their participation in the film was essential, that they could not set boundaries regarding what would be filmed or discussed, and that their real emotional states were crucial for the documentary—real, not staged or exaggerated. Every emotional moment you see from Aleksandra and Miloš in the film represents their genuine, everyday emotional experience of our investigative process—it was not directed or prearranged. The best example of this is the moment when we confront Aleksandra with the DNA analysis results after the exhumation of the second grave. Jelena and I already knew what the envelope contained—we knew the DNA results. But Aleksandra did not. We only told her to be ready at home because we were coming with the results and that we didn’t know what was inside. What Aleksandra goes through on camera after opening that envelope is real, raw, and true—it was not staged. Our goal was to show how systemic failures intersect in real lives.

Unfortunately, we still haven’t found Sara, but we proved that she was not buried, that the hospital and the city cemetery are concealing something related to this case, and we compelled the prosecutor’s office to reopen the investigation.

In the end, Sara became more than an investigation—it became an act of bearing witness, highlighting the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to protect children. The film Where Is Sara sparked a powerful response not only from the public but also from those responsible for law enforcement. The prosecutor’s office had to reopen the case immediately after the film was released. Some called it “the fastest reaction of a prosecutor’s office acting ex officio, based on a journalistic investigation.” Questions were raised and debates opened in local parliaments, demanding that the executive authorities finally resolve the case.

The greatest success we achieved through this investigation was precisely that—we forced the prosecutor’s office, after closing the initial investigation, to open a new one. And most importantly, today the prosecutor’s office, to close this case, must answer the question Where is Sara?

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism. In regions like Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this?

 

Jelena Jevtic & Mubarek Asani: In the Western Balkans today, journalism finds itself in a paradoxical position: it’s simultaneously more necessary than ever and more fragile than ever. Watchdog institutions such as the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies or regulatory bodies, are either under political control or suffer from chronic underfunding and inefficiency.

 

That means investigative journalists have taken on the role of informal accountability mechanisms, uncovering corruption, organized crime links, and abuse of power that might otherwise never come to light. This responsibility puts enormous strain on small teams and independent outlets that are often under-resourced and face legal harassment and smear campaigns.

When facts lead the way – Montenegro’s story through investigative journalism

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Interview with Tatjana Ašanin and Nikola Milosavić Aleksić 

Over the past few weeks, the Western Balkan countries have been celebrating investigative journalism. Professional juries across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have gathered to evaluate some of the most compelling investigative journalism pieces.

We spoke to all first-prize winners across the region, and will publish the interviews with them in series. Through this series that we have titled “EU Celebrates Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans” we want to celebrate these exemplary journalists and get to know more about their investigation practices, the urgency of addressing these issues in their country as well as their reflections on the position of investigative journalism in their country and in the region at large.

In Montenegro, jury members Lamija Alečković, Marijana Camović Veličković, and Leila Bičakčić crowned Tatjana Ašanin and Nikola Milosavić Aleksić as winners for the second year in a row. Their documentary Target: The State of Relatives — different in topic from last year’s Murky Waters yet equally of high public interest — investigates how relatives of high-ranking state and local officials from ruling parties obtained well-paid public administration jobs after the 2020 elections.

Tatjana Ašanin is a veteran journalist at TV Vijesti. She first became known to audiences through Radio Antena-M, after which she moved to TV Vijesti to serve as Editor-in-Chief. Taking over when the station was on the brink of bankruptcy, she transformed it into the most-watched and trusted television station in the country. She held that position for nearly a decade. Today, she is the editor and host of the show Nedjelja u retrovizoru (Sunday in the Rearview Mirror).

Nikola Milosavić Aleksić is an investigative journalist with extensive international experience. He began his career in Slovenia as a correspondent for Planet TV covering the Slovenian coast. He continued his career at TV N1 – CNN exclusive news channel affiliate in Belgrade as an investigative journalist and producer, where he published numerous exclusive stories, including the revelation of secret contracts between the State of Serbia and the Italian car manufacturer FIAT, which had been classified for 15 years. After N1 Belgrade, he moved to TV Vijesti in Montenegro, working as an investigative journalist and editor of the investigative program. He has produced three investigative documentaries and is a two-time recipient of the EU Award for Investigative Journalism. He later moved from TV Vijesti to Al Jazeera, serving as their correspondent from Slovenia until the network ceased its operations in that specific market. He is currently employed at N1 Slovenia.

WeBalkans: What was your process of investigation for the piece “Target: The State of Relatives”. This is quite sensitive for a region like ours where employment of relatives in public institutions is ‘a public secret’. What were the risks you undertook in your process? A short overview of the piece and your investigative process is what we are looking for with this question.

Tatjana Ašanin & Nikola Milosavić Aleksić:  It has always been known that nepotism is a cancer of Montenegrin society, but the sheer scale of it remained unknown. When the government changed for the first time in Montenegro’s modern history after 30 years, the new political establishment promised a meritocracy. The reality was the exact opposite: not only was nepotism not eradicated, it was exacerbated by more than 5,000 new hires in public administration and state-owned enterprises.

Following our initial suspicions, the process involved hundreds of meetings with various sources across the entire country from north to south, east to west. Once we obtained the information, we conducted a thorough verification of all data and collected employment contracts. It was incredibly difficult to prove family ties beyond the immediate nuclear family, but we executed that aspect flawlessly.

The biggest obstacle was that state-owned companies were violating the Law on Free Access to Information. The director of the national power company even admitted on camera that they were consciously breaking the law by refusing to provide information to the media. This necessitated a longer production period as we had to gather evidence from secondary and tertiary sources. Securing interviewees was also a grueling part of the process, as potential subjects tried to impose conditions that we, as professionals, could not accept.

The film treats the subject of nepotism non-selectively, covering all parliamentary political parties, including those representing national minorities. In the film itself, we displayed over 100 employment contracts belonging to family members of the highest state officials, providing direct proof of nepotism multiple times. Although the Prosecutor’s Office announced an investigation, it has yet to materialize.

WeBalkans: This is the second time you are awarded the EU Investigative Journalism Award, your collaboration for “In Murky Waters”, was also awarded last year. How do you feel about that, and most importantly, what was it like to collaborate again? Do you feel like you share a mission in your work? 

Tatjana Ašanin & Nikola Milosavić Aleksić:  There is a significant gap in age and experience between us, but we are united by fundamental journalistic values: facts, truth, exclusivity, and most importantly results. When I came to the initial meeting with Tatjana, presented the evidence I had for the first film, and asked if she wanted to make a documentary, she said yes instantly, without hesitation.

The second film we made was her initiative, focusing on the abuse of the secret service for political purposes. The third film followed logically from the first two. In a world where free media is being suffocated and journalism is dying out, collaborating with Tatjana was exceptionally productive. Our work began as a partnership between two ambitious professionals and evolved into a sincere friendship, which is a rarity in the world of journalism.

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism. In regions like Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this? 

Tatjana Ašanin & Nikola Milosavić Aleksić: Journalism in the region is dying, if it ever truly existed. The only two free television stations in Serbia are under immense pressure from a government attempting to shut them down and ban them, doing so both publicly and secretly through backroom deals with media owners. Specifically, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, aside from labeling journalists as terrorists, foreign mercenaries, and traitors, has arranged to take political control over media outlets belonging to United Media. This was revealed in a secret recording published by the international investigative network OCCRP.

United Media owns outlets in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Greece, and beyond. In almost every market where they operate, their media are examples of professionalism, yet they often stand alone in that status. The changes and scandals shaking United Media suggest that the Serbian government aims to control media across the entire region and extinguish the last independent voices in Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The current regime is already attempting to subjugate the region through franchises like Euronews and Newsmax, which are owned by the state firm Telekom Srbija (Telecom Serbia). Furthermore, major professional outlets like Al Jazeera and Voice of America have largely neglected our region recently.

Journalists in the Western Balkans are targets of attacks, threats, and physical violence; a significant number live under 24-hour police protection. Consequently, investigative journalism in our area is at the lowest point in its history. By definition, investigative journalism targets crime, corruption, and the abuse of power, which is exactly why it bothers the political elite. The leaders of the Western Balkans have not moved far from the philosophy of Louis XIV and the maxim “I am the State”.

Our role as journalists is to prevent the total control of institutions by individuals and to promote democratic values, freedom, equality, and love. The Western Balkans is a region scarred by national hatred, and the only cure for this disease is journalism that strives for reconciliation, emancipation, and equality. Either we succeed, or the entire region will remain an isolated backwater on the map of Europe.

When investigative journalism exposed online harassment arrests followed

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Interview with Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti 

Over the past few weeks, the Western Balkan countries have been celebrating investigative journalism. Professional juries across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have gathered to evaluate some of the most compelling investigative journalism pieces.

We spoke to all first-prize winners across the region, and will publish the interviews with them in series. Through this series that we have titled “EU Celebrates Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans” we want to celebrate these exemplary journalists and get to know more about their investigation practices, the urgency of addressing these issues in their country as well as their reflections on the position of investigative journalism in their country and in the region at large.

Kosovo was the latest to announce the winners. Jury members Anamari Repić, Jeton Mehmeti and Kosovë Gjoci awarded the first prize to Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti for her series “Albkings” presented at Kiks Kosova. Thaçi Mehmeti refers to this investigation as a combination of professional documentation, personal resilience, and public exposure. Albkings looks into digital safety of women and uncovers an organized online harassment campaign mainly against women journalists.

Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti is an investigative journalist, author, and television producer. With over 20 years of experience in the media sector in Kosovo, Thaçi Mehmeti has become one of the strongest voices in critical and investigative journalism, with work that has directly influenced important social, political, and human rights issues.

Thaçi Mehmeti began her journalism career in 2005 at Kohavision, where she stood out for her analytical style, bold approach, and in-depth reporting. For nearly fifteen years, she worked as a journalist and author, also contributing to the political show Rubikon with Adriatik Kelmendi and the documentary Cosmo. Her continuous work led her to complex investigations, often in areas that touched corruption, rights violations, and phenomena of social marginalization.

Thaçi Mehmeti is the co-founder of Kiks Kosova, a media organization that produces investigative programs and documentaries with wide public impact. Since 2020, she has been the author, journalist, and producer of the investigative show Kiks Kosova and the documentary Alibi, broadcast on Klan Kosova five times a week. Through this work, she has built a strong reputation as a journalist who challenges taboos, opens sensitive topics, and gives voice to silent or unheard individuals and communities..

Her contribution has been widely recognised with national and international awards. She is a two-time First Prize winner for Reporting on Poverty from UNDP & AGK (2009, 2016), recipient of the Human Rights Reporting Award from BIRN, ACDC, and the Office of the Ombudsperson (2018), as well as third place in the EU Investigative Reporting Awards for the Western Balkans and Turkey (2019).

She has also received the UNDP Award for Journalism Against Corruption (2019), the “Rexhai Surroi” Award for written journalism (2019), and recognition for reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic from KosovaLive (2020). In 2022, she was honored with the First Prize for Best Reporting on Inter-Community Cohabitation for the documentary The Silence that Killed, awarded by Peaceful Change Initiative and supported by the United Kingdom.

In 2024, Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti was named Kosovo’s Journalist of the Year by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo.

Throughout her career, Thaçi Mehmeti has worked in high-pressure environments, dealing with sensitive topics and often facing attacks, pressure, and personal risk. Yet she has remained committed to her mission of producing quality, independent, and verified journalism, demonstrating that investigative journalism is a crucial pillar of democracy and public transparency in Kosovo.

She continues to be active in producing new investigations, advocating for women’s rights, and strengthening the standards of independent journalism. Today she is considered one of the most trusted and influential journalists in the country.

WeBalkans: The safety of women in Kosovo remains scarce. There is even more limited knowledge and public discourse produced about the digital/online safety of women. What were the risks you undertook in your process? A short overview of the piece and your investigative process is what we are looking for with this question.

Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti: The investigation process for the “AlbKings” series began as a standard journalistic inquiry, but very quickly turned into a personal and extremely dangerous situation. Initially, as a newsroom, we had reported on a large group on Telegram that was distributing illegal material — including private data and images of girls and women, even minors. But the investigation took an unexpected turn when my phone number was published in the same group with around 100,000 men. From that moment, the case was no longer just a work topic; it became a direct form of pressure and violence against me.

The first step in my investigative process was going public and documenting every contact. While at work, I recorded every call, message, audio, and video in order to have evidence that would later be necessary for the police and prosecution.

At home, to cope with the psychological pressure, I sought the support of my husband, who often responded to anonymous calls — because the callers would immediately hang up when they heard a male voice. This also became evidence of how these networks functioned.

The main risks during the process were not technical or professional, but emotional and personal. Continuous harassment, calls day and night, and fear of unknown numbers created extraordinary psychological pressure. The danger became even greater when the groups began collecting information about my family, turning the investigation into a battle that affected people who had no connection to my profession. This was the most painful moment and the strongest indication of how deep the problem was.

On the methodological side, parallel to documenting everything, I reported the case to the police immediately. The institutional response was swift and professional, offering protection and treating the case with high priority. To protect myself and others, I made the decision to make everything public. Transparency became my strongest weapon and a call for all women experiencing similar forms of violence not to remain silent.

The publication of the material caused wide reactions: many women reported similar cases, institutions opened investigations, some of the networks were shut down, and perpetrators involved were arrested.

This process clearly showed not only the scale of the phenomenon, but also how fragile the digital safety of women in Kosovo is — and how necessary journalism is that documents and exposes this violence.

The “AlbKings” investigation was a combination of professional documentation, personal resilience, and public exposure, in a landscape where risk was not theoretical but real, constant, and directly targeted at me and my family.

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism?

Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti: In regions like the Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this?

The position of journalism in the region, especially investigative journalism, is complex and challenging. In the Western Balkans, the need for independent investigative journalism is more urgent than ever, because phenomena of violence, corruption, cybercrime, and public manipulation are becoming increasingly sophisticated. However, the pressure on journalists is equally high, constant, and often systemic.

My experience with “AlbKings” confirmed this reality. On the one hand, the institutional system responded strongly and seriously. Arrests, the shutdown of groups, and international cooperation — including with the FBI — proved that investigative journalism can trigger concrete action and bring about real change.

But on the other hand, the public reaction and the attacks against me revealed a deeper cultural problem in the region: the Balkan mentality where women are often blamed, even when they are victims. In our patriarchal societies, the victim frequently faces accusation, shaming, or doubt, while the perpetrator is protected by a kind of “male solidarity” on social networks or in anonymous groups. This deeply rooted prejudice makes the work of female journalists even more difficult — especially those dealing with sensitive topics and who challenge this mentality.

Nevertheless, I believe investigative journalism is more essential than ever. It creates transparency, enforces public accountability, and is often the only light that penetrates spaces where power is abused, where women are harmed, and where public safety is endangered. For this reason, despite the risks and pressures, I remain convinced that investigative journalism is one of the strongest tools our society has in the fight against injustice, violence, and mentalities that continue to blame the victim instead of the perpetrator.