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Author: WeBalkans

Decrease of data roaming fees between the Western Balkans and the EU

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38 telecommunication operators from the EU and the Western Balkans have agreed to make data roaming between the Western Balkans and the EU more affordable for citizens and businesses in both regions, in a process supported by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the European Commission. This agreement aligns with the Roaming Declaration signed at the December EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana.  
Through their voluntary agreement, the operators committed to significantly reducing the gap between roaming and domestic fees for data usage in both directions between the EU and the Western Balkans. Maximum retail price levels (‘price caps’) for 1 gigabyte will decrease from October 2023 to 2028 as follows: €18 from 1 October 2023, €14 from 2026, and €9 from 2028. Yearly reviews are foreseen to assess impacts and next steps.  
Ahead of the agreement, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “Building on the success of the Roam Like at Home regimes in both the EU and the Western Balkans, I welcome the signature of the voluntary agreement between the 38 telecommunication operators. Lowering roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans from 1 October this year will bring benefits to the EU and Western Balkan citizens and businesses alike. We are committed to do our utmost to speed up the real integration of the Western Balkans into our Single Market.”  
Introducing the price caps is expected to decrease data roaming prices for consumers traveling between the EU and Western Balkans. This price capping encourages and simplifies business, cultural, tourism, and other exchanges between the EU and the Western Balkans, strengthening the links between neighbouring regions. The operators are currently working on creating products with prices below the agreed price caps, which will be available for purchase to the broadest possible number of consumers.  
Other EU and Western Balkans telecommunication operators are invited to join the initiative.

Winners of the 2023 EU Award for Roma Integration in the Western Balkans and Türkiye announced

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On 27 April, the European Commission announced the 14 winners of the fifth EU Award for Roma Integration in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. This year’s award recognises achievements promoting the Roma inclusion dimension in the Digital Agenda and Green Economy. The award ceremony took place in the framework of the 2023 EU Roma Week (24-27 April 2023) hosted by the European Parliament.

 

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said: “Congratulations to all the winners for their great work! I hope this award will help expand their important activities, so that they can inspire other actors who want to change Roma community for the better.”

 

Launched almost 10 years ago, the EU Award for Roma integration in the Western Balkans and Türkiye aims to highlight the importance of Roma integration in the EU Enlargement process and to show the EU’s determination and commitment to improving the social inclusion of Roma people into society and to provide tangible results on the ground.

 

With the Award, the EU recognises all efforts and tangible results to empower Roma people to reach their full potential as full members of the societies where they live and work. The focus of this year’s edition was Roma inclusion in the digital agenda and the green economy, which represent new opportunities for improving the position of vulnerable Roma women and men, and young Roma in the region in the future. Roma inclusion dynamics is affected by the society progress, including the field of digital agenda and green economy and we need to be sure that Roma are not left behind. Therefore, in order to be ahead in improving the living conditions of Roma people and their participation, it is important to build strong measures that respond to these challenges, by providing opportunities to facilitate the access in education and employment, health and social services and as well community mobilisation.

 

The winning civil society organisations received a monetary award of €7,500 for the first prize, and €4,500 for the second prize. While private and public sector winners received non-monetary awards. All winners were awarded with a study visit in Brussels, a trophy and an award certificate.

MADE OF US campaign reaches North Macedonia today

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Made of Us – An EU-Western Balkans road trip” campaign, funded by the European Union and brought to you by WeBalkans reached North Macedonia this week.  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 Delegation in North Macedonia hosted a media brunch today to announce the start of the journey in North Macedonia. David Geer, the EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, welcomed the vloggers and commended them for their contribution to the promotion of the EU and North Macedonia.

 

The vloggers, Elena Vasilevska (@vasilevska_elena) from North Macedonia and Nick Van Putte (@traveltower) from Belgium, set off on their journey today. They will be on the road for a total of seven days between 2-8 May, showcasing the best of North Macedonia as well as EU investments in the region.  They will visit various locations, including the historic city of Ohrid, innovative projects, and tourism businesses supported by the EU.  Among the EU-funded projects they will be visiting are Adventure Park Skopje, a project which allows people of Skopje to have adventurous fun, and scout camp Struga, a well-known holiday camp near city of Struga as well as Heraclae Bitola, one of the most significant archaeological sites in North Macedonia.

 

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.

Kick-off for Montenegro Broadband Infrastructure Development Technical Assistance Project

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On 24th March 2023 the kick-off meeting for the Technical Assistance (TA) project for the Montenegro Broadband Infrastructure Development was held in Podgorica. The project includes updating technical documentation, procurement and contract strategies, procurement plans, market models, tender documents, and environmental and social action plan and follows on from the Feasibility completed in 2020. The European Union provided a grant of €525,000 for this project through the Western Balkans Infrastructure Framework (WBIF) which will be implemented by Infrastructure Project Facility 11 (IPF 11) with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as the lead International Financial Institution (IFI).  
The Government of Montenegro places great importance on the digital sector which is included in all relevant strategic documents in the country. The Strategy of Digital Transformation of Montenegro 2022-2026 acknowledges the need for further development of the digital infrastructure, especially in the context of balanced regional development.  
The current situation in Montenegro includes four main telecom operators, with most rural areas being served by one operator for mobile connectivity. Copper technology is still the main solution for internet service in most suburban and rural settlements with many rural areas are served via ‘broadband wireless access,’ mainly Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.  
The overall objective of this Project is to strengthen the economic and social development of Montenegro through the deployment of Next Generation Access (NGA) fixed broadband infrastructure. Increased access to information and communication technologies (ICT) will boost digital connectivity between Montenegro and other countries in the region and the EU, reduce the digital gap and contribute to the balanced regional development and inclusion.

Speech by President von der Leyen at the Roma Week 2023, via video message

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Honourable Members of the European Parliament, Dear representatives of Roma communities, Roma youth, academics, social partners and civil society, Ladies and Gentlemen,  
Our democracies are built on a basic promise: Equal rights for all citizens. It shouldn’t matter what you look like, what language you speak, and what surname you have. Democracies must deliver for all of us. We know this isn’t always the case. For too many of the six million Roma Europeans, these equal rights are not fully granted. Roma people still struggle when they look for a job or an apartment. It was sad to see that many Roma people fleeing Ukraine faced difficulties and discrimination when they crossed into our Union. Roma in Europe are still confronted with insults and slurs in the streets, in the media, and too often, even in political discourse. This must change. And it can change. In democracy, progress is always possible, Even the most entrenched prejudices and discriminations can be eradicated, if public authorities and civil society work together with a shared sense of direction, towards equality and equal rights.  
This is why in 2020, we put forward a new EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation. And we have seen some positive change happening all across our Union. In Romania, for instance, our European recovery plan, NextGenerationEU, is helping Roma families get access to healthcare and to a family doctor. In Belgium, young Roma people who look for a job receive training and coaching thanks to EU funds. Poland is hiring more cultural mediators to support Roma children in schools. And in Italy, for the first time ever, a “stumbling stone”, Stolperstein, was laid down to commemorate a young Roma man deported to a Nazi concentration camp. The stumbling stone was laid down in the square where he used to play his violin. These are important steps forward. Towards inclusion. Towards greater awareness of Roma heritage and its contribution to our European cultural heritage. Towards full equality for all Europeans.  
And progress must continue. We need to keep Roma rights at the heart of our political agenda. It is for this reason that last January, we took a first assessment of the new national Roma strategies. We highlighted encouraging initiatives and good practices from across Europe. But also the most critical issues where much more work remains to be done – for instance, in the fight against antigypsyism and segregation. In order to improve Roma’s quality of life the EU Roma Strategy has set precise targets to be met by 2030. They include cutting by half the Roma employment gap and the participation gap in early childhood education. Many Member States have set national targets. This will allow us to monitor and measure our progress. So that we keep advancing in our journey towards equality.  
Building a Union of equality requires the right policies and targets. But also, and crucially, a constant exchange with civil society. With Roma communities, with NGOs fighting for equal rights, with cultural associations promoting Roma culture in Europe. Your voice must be heard. Roma voices must be heard. Both inside our institutions, and in public debates within our societies. So thank you so much for organising and attending this important event. And let me wish to all of you a very good Romani Week.  
Thank you.

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.