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Author: WeBalkans

Energy Challenges Conference held in Tirana, Albania

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

On 10 March 2023, a diverse group of stakeholders from the public and private sectors, investors, project developers, and financiers involved in energy transitions came together for the “Energy Challenges towards Transition and Sustainability” conference in Tirana, Albania. The conference addressed various topics such as the ongoing energy crisis, strategies for transition, energy security, and decarbonization. A particular emphasis was given to financing investment in renewable and power sectors, examining the roles and perspectives of consulting and financial institutions. The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, highlighted the high level of interest from foreign investors in Albania and welcomed each investment in the energy sector.

 

Ms. Balluku also discussed developments in the energy sector and presented the Albanian government’s response to the energy crisis. This includes the use of floating oil-fired power plants, wind farms, and solar power plants. She noted that the construction of the power transmission line between Albania and North Macedonia, supported by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), is progressing at the same pace in both countries. Ms. Balluku also welcomed the upcoming Presidency of the Energy Community and Summit on the Berlin Process to be held in Albania in October.

 

The conference was jointly organized by the Foreign Investors Association of Albania, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), and representatives from various organizations, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), the World Bank in Albania, USAID, Albanian and foreign industry companies Verbund Green Power Austria VOLTALIA, STATKRAFT, PPC Renewables, and Shell Companies in Albania.

20 More Displaced Families Receive New RHP Homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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On 21 March, another 20 families celebrated receiving new apartments in Odžak, marking a significant milestone for the Regional Housing Programme (RHP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The event was attended by several key figures, including the Head of Operations for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross-Border Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to BiH and the Minister of Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Federation of BiH.   The RHP aims to provide homes for approximately 11,300 families across the Western Balkans region by the end of June 2023. To date, more than 2,500 housing units have been completed, and close to 34,000 people are expected to receive new homes by the end of the programme.   Gianluca Vannini, Head of Operations, congratulated the BiH authorities on their achievements and noted the success of the programme. Minister Ramić echoed these sentiments and praised the attention paid to detail in constructionand Jozo Križan, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the RHP donors, implementing partner organizations, national and local institutions, and was lost for words with excitement.

Project “o-dva-ja-mo” launched in Uzice,Serbia

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On March 3, 2023, in Sevojno, the EU funded Project for Household Waste Separation “O-DVA-JA-MO” was promoted in the city of Užice, which received 5,350 blue bins in which households will separate paper, plastic and metal. In addition, 570 blue containers for the same purpose and 124 yellow containers for glass were donated, as well as two trucks for the removal of separated dry waste.

 

The project aims to establish a system for waste separation at the point of origin in 17 municipalities across Serbia by investing not only in equipment but also in informing citizens about the advantages of separating household waste for its later successful recycling, in order to reduce the amounts that end up in landfills and the recycling rate in 4 regions increased to 15% in the next two years.

 

This project is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia with the support of the European Union and the Kingdom of Sweden.

Artificial Intelligence: The Present and Future

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According to the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize every aspect of society, including healthcare, transportation, education, and finance. It offers new opportunities for innovation and growth, and can improve people’s lives in ways that are yet to be discovered. His remarks were made at the “Age of Artificial Intelligence” ceremony and mini-conference, which celebrated the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia’s two years of work in Novi Sad.

 

The EU and Serbia have a robust research and innovation partnership, as evidenced by the grants awarded to the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia. The “It Takes Two to Tango” project, funded by the Horizon Europe 2022 program, aims to develop a synergistic approach to human-machine decision-making, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between humans and machines in AI development.

 

Ambassador Giaufret also announced the possibility of an EU-funded grant through the SAIGE project, which aims to support the strengthening and acceleration of the Serbian innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. These examples highlight the strong partnership between Serbia and the EU in promoting research and innovation, particularly in AI.

 

In 2019, Serbia adopted the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, making it the 26th country worldwide to have such a plan. In 2021, the country established the Institute for the Development of Artificial Intelligence and put a “supercomputer” into operation. Serbia has also been a member of the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence since last year.

 

The EU’s support for innovation and competitiveness in Serbia amounts to over €200 million euros since 2014. The funds allocated to this sector are intended to enhance the quality of science, innovation, and connections with European and international scientists and entrepreneurs, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the Serbian economy. Serbia has been a beneficiary of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation since 2014.

Working towards Reducing Flood Risks in Bosnia and Herzegovina with EU Assistance

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The European Union (EU) is continuously providing aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in the water management sector, specifically in flood protection. With funding from the EU, a project has been carried out to produce erosion maps for the Federation of BiH and the Brčko District of BiH. Furthermore, complete technical project documentation has been prepared for flood protection infrastructure for prioritized sections in the Sava River Basin and the Adriatic Sea Basin in the Republic of Srpska. The project’s primary objective was to identify areas susceptible to erosion processes, simplify and prioritize determinations, and conduct a better analysis of the costs required to decrease flood risks in BiH.   Thanks to extensive fieldwork, research, and excellent cooperation with local communities, the project has been able to develop the primary plan for regulating the Bosna River in the Modriča and Vukosavlje municipalities, the primary plan for draining Petrovo polje, the primary plan for rehabilitating and reconstructing the canal network in Ivanjsko and Lijevče polje, and the regulation plan for the Drina and Ćehotina rivers in the Foča municipality.   Through this initiative, the European Union is supporting the implementation of the Action Plan for flood protection and water management in BiH, thereby increasing the capacity of the country’s institutions to manage flood risks in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive and the Flood Directive. The EU has granted €1.45 million for the project “Development of Erosion Maps and Design of Flood Protection Infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The project is part of the EU’s broad support to BiH in the water management sector, specifically in flood protection.

Bosnia and Herzegovina takes a step closer to establishing full cooperation with EUROPOL

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Full cooperation between the EU’s Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s law enforcement agencies is now closer to being realised with the signature of the Rulebook on the operation of the National/Joint Contact Point for cooperation with EUROPOL. A signing ceremony to mark this step was organised today by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and attended by BiH Minister of Security Nenad Nešić, the Head of EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative to BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler, and the Head of Unit for Strategy and External Relations at EUROPOL Patrícia Silveira, as well as entity and cantonal ministers of interior, directors of state-level law enforcement agencies and the Chief of Brčko District Police.  
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the Western Balkans without an operational contact point for cooperation with EUROPOL. Putting into full operation the Contact Point will allow direct cooperation between EUROPOL and all police bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it will enable the deployment of a BiH liaison officer to EUROPOL to The Hague, which will be a major step forward in the fight against organised crime and terrorism. It will also enable the sharing of information on criminals through the EUROPOL Secure Information Exchange Network Application (SIENA) system, including the SIENA database on counter-terrorism.  
The EU continues to support the operationalisation of the Contact Point through the ongoing refurbishment of the premises that will host it, and the donation of IT equipment necessary for the operation of the Contact Point, which will be delivered under an IPA-funded project. The Ministry of Security has committed to transfer the SIENA servers allowing the operational work of the Joint Contact Point to begin in May 2023.

The European Union donates ten off-road vehicles to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies

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The European Union donated ten specialized off-road vehicles worth 725,000 BAM, to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in Sarajevo. Vehicles will primarily be used for carrying out monitoring activities, supporting joint operational actions, in their regional offices as part of the response to migratory flows, but also to fight irregular migration and smuggling of migrants, and other tasks as part of an effective response to the migration situation.  
Head of the Delegation of the EU to BiH and the EU Special Representative in BiH, Johann Sattler, handed over keys of 10 vehicles to the director of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies (DCPB), Mirsad Vilić, in the presence of the Minister of Security of BiH, Nenad Nešić, and, IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Mission and sub-regional coordinator for the Western Balkans, Laura Lungarotti.  
This donation is made possible through the Project “Individual measure to strengthen the response capacity to manage migration flows in Bosnia and Herzegovina” funded by the European Union through Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and is implemented by the IOM in partnership with UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

North Macedonia: EU provides €70 million investment grant for largest environmental protection project

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EIB Global, the arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for activities outside the European Union, has signed a €70 million EU investment grant with the government of the Republic of North Macedonia to build a wastewater treatment plant in Skopje. Signed on World Water Day, this is the largest EU investment grant allocated to the country under the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). This important environmental project that will enable better living conditions for some 500 000 people is part of the European Commission’s Economic and Investment Plan and of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

 

EU Ambassador to North Macedonia David Geer remarked, “The path towards the EU is a process of transformation, of improving lives and living standards. The investment by Team Europe in the Skopje Wastewater Treatment Plant is a practical example of exactly this. The plant will be able to safely treat and clean the wastewater generated by almost one third of the country’s population. It will contribute to the greener European future of this country.”

 

In its preparatory phase, the project has benefitted from various technical assistance grants from the EIB, EBRD, WBIF and the French government – a testament of the commitment of Team Europe to North Macedonia and its priority projects. Water sector is also among key priorities for EIB Global in the country. This is the second investment in this sector in less than five months, following a €50 million loan signed in November 2022 for the construction and rehabilitation of water supply, wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure, as well as emergency flood protection measures for the 80 municipalities across North Macedonia.

Third edition of ETF Green Skills Award champions global sustainability and growth

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The European Training Foundation (ETF) has unveiled today the latest edition of the ETF Green Skills Award. This significant initiative strives to enhance global sustainability and progress by fostering environmentally responsible education, training, and skills development. Since its inception in 2021, the award has rapidly gained recognition as a distinguished platform for showcasing best practices in circular and carbon-neutral economies.

 

The previous two editions of the award garnered 198 applications and 26,700 votes from around the world. Winning initiatives from countries such as Armenia, Croatia, Kenya, India, Nigeria, Palestine and Türkiyeconcentrated on topics including upskilling refugees in solar energy and raising environmental awareness in schools. The new edition is anticipated to attract an even larger number of entries, further emphasising the essential role of education, training, and skills development in fostering a green and thriving world.

 

The ETF invites submissions of good practice stories on the development of green skills, aiming to provide inspirational and innovative ideas for policy-makers and practitioners worldwide. The award is open to enterprises, training providers, industries, sectors, public institutions, public employment services, and schools implementing measures to prepare learners for the green economy.

 

An international jury composed of experts from EU bodies and institutions, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNESCO, will select the 10 finalists. One winner will be chosen by public vote, and the international jury will select two additional winners based on criteria such as relevance, innovation, replicability, and impact.

 

Successful finalists will receive the ETF Green Skills 2023 Award and various benefits, including an invitation to the award ceremony, the opportunity to be showcased in high-profile publications and online communications, and the creation of short films highlighting their stories.

Bontex: Innovating the Garment Industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The inspiring story of a successful entrepreneur’s return to his homeland.

Senaid Husić departed from his homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the late 1980s. As the economy of Yugoslavia was deteriorating, he relocated to Switzerland with the aspiration of providing a better life for himself and his family. Over the course of several years, he held various management positions in different industries, including the information technology sector. After a successful business career spanning more than 25 years in Switzerland, Senaid resolved to return to his country of origin in the early 2000s and establish a company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In consultation with his business associates and friends in Switzerland, he decided to invest in a factory dedicated to producing shirts, which led to the establishment of Bontex in 2004.

“Currently, we dominate around 80 % of the shirt market in Switzerland, and in due course, we will establish another international partnership in Austria, where we supply medical garments. In recent years, we have also collaborated with partners in Germany and other countries.”

Initially, Bontex hired approximately 50 employees and entered into a partnership with a Swiss company for the export of shirts to Switzerland. This partnership expanded significantly over time. Admira Basic has been serving as the General Manager at Bontex for more than seven years now. “Currently, we dominate around 80 % of the shirt market in Switzerland, and in due course, we establish another international partnership in Austria, where we supply medical garments. In recent years, we have also collaborated with partners in Germany and other countries,” Admira explains.

Further bin the context Amira continues: in addition to their high-quality products, the key to their success lies in the proximity of their factory to EU countries. Moreover, unlike their competitors, they are able to handle orders in small quantities.  Despite supplying numerous companies and brands over the years, Bontex had not previously sold under its own label. “We invested heavily in technology and our workforce and didn’t have the chance to focus on branding and marketing our own products,” Admira explains. However, an opportunity arose with the call for proposals launched by the EU-funded EU4 Business programme, which was aiding businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. With the support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex launched a new website and online store, established a design unit within the company to create Bontex-branded designs, and procure quality textile fabric for their new product lines.

“Our design team, consisting of five young colleagues, has delivered impressive results, and I am optimistic about the future of our company. We got a chance and we showed that we can justify that trust.”

About the project

EU4Business is an EU project that aims to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity for economic growth and employment by fostering competitiveness and innovation in selected sectors. It has a budget of €16.1 million: €15 million funded by the European Union and €1.1 million by the Federal Republic of Germany.

EU4Business is part of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Local Development Strategies – Local Self-Government and Economic Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With the recently received support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex anticipates a 30% growth in revenue in the near future. “Our design team, consisting of five young colleagues, has delivered impressive results, and I am optimistic about the future of our company. We were given an opportunity, and we have demonstrated our ability to justify that trust.” Admira says.

At present, Bontex has a workforce of 200 employees, and they are planning to expand this number to over 300 in the years to come. Additionally, they plan to continue investing in technology and marketing their brand.