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Author: WeBalkans

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

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

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

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.

WeBalkans Announces Winners of ‘Made of Us’ Vlogger Competition

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

WeBalkans is pleased to announce the winners of the competition call for vloggers as part of the ‘Made of Us’ campaign, which ran online from 7 December 2022 to 7 January 2023. The names and profiles of all selected vloggers are available at the following link.

 

The Made of Us campaign aims to promote a positive image of the EU to the people of the Western Balkans, and vice versa. It will showcase the opportunities that are already present in the region to ensure a thriving common future, with the help of EU support. The format features 12 young vloggers from both the WB6 and the EU as the campaign’s protagonists. They will travel across the region in pairs, one EU and one WB vlogger for each destination, and share their experiences of special landmarks, unique cultural heritage sites and EU projects that they visit.

 

After being selected, the winners participated in a training activity at European Commission premises in Brussels on 14-15 March. During the training, they had the opportunity to meet each other and to learn more about the purpose of the campaign, as well as topics such as storytelling to communicate EU values. They also had the privilege of meeting high-level EU officials such as Mr. Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

 

The vloggers are expected to embark on their trip in the second half of April after final preparations. They will become the official content creators of the third WeBalkans campaign, and the audience will see the EU-Western Balkans road trip directly through their eyes. They will document their experiences and share the content through WeBalkans’ social media and their own Instagram channels.

 

Discover who they are by visiting the official Made of Us campaign webpage.

Fatima Đulović

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA of the month.

YEA of the Month February 2023

My name is Fatima, I’m an 18-year-old high schooler, youth worker, activist and passionate about psychology.

I have been volunteering for the Centre for Autism and Developmental Disabilities since I was 14. I was on many Erasmus projects so I met and learned a lot about different cultures and became interested in organizing events for young people and raising awareness of the importance of youth activism in my community.

I am also very passionate about photography. The photo exhibition ‘Naši Heroji’ (Our Heroes) that I had in the museum Ras, Novi Pazar, represented black and white portraits of children with autism and Down syndrome. In my first project in 2021, funded by the U.S. Embassy, I tried to make a deep connection between teenagers from my school and children with developmental disabilities, and help them with understanding each other while developing their social skills.

Being a YEA can help me be even more successful and give me more experience in every aspect of youth activism.

RHP stakeholders celebrate the opening of Home for Elderly in Nikšić, Montenegro

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Regional Housing Programme (RHP) stakeholders gathered on 15 March to mark the final major RHP event to take place in Montenegro – the official opening of a Home for the Elderly in Nikšić, which will accommodate up to 104 most-vulnerable elderly or disabled RHP beneficiaries. The RHP will come to a close in June 2023, by which time it should have provided homes to close to 34 000 people across the four Partner Countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was hosted by Admir Adrović, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Montenegro, assisted by Budimirka Đukanović, Director at the Ministry – was attended by Riccardo Serri, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro; Marja Seppälä, Head of the RHP Unit at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), and  Marko Kovačević, the Mayor of Nikšić, in addition to representatives from the other three RHP Partner Countries, UNHCR, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

 

On behalf of the European Union – the largest Donor to the Programme, Riccardo Serri reflected on the contribution of the EU to the future of Montenegro, including via programmes such as the RHP. “The EU integration process is not only preparing the country for membership but is also bringing concrete benefits to its citizens,” he said. “We try to pay special attention to the most-vulnerable groups in our society – the elderly, people with reduced mobility, people with disabilities, refugees… That is why I am so glad to be in Nikšić today, and… to see EU funds spent for such a humane purpose.”

 

The opening ceremony also featured regional choir and dance performances by Montenegrin cultural societies – which showcased folk dances from Montenegro and the other Western Balkan countries, in honour of all Partner Country guests – in addition to folk dances by the Macedonian cultural ensemble, Ljupčo Santov. Introducing the performances, the moderator, Žarko Božović, thanked each of the Partner Countries for joining the celebration, and remarked: “For the past ten years of the RHP, we have co-operated together. Today, we dance together.”

 

Apply now: new Culture Moves Europe call for residency hosts

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Cultural organisations regularly organising artistic and creative activities or/and those that have the capacity to implement an international artistic and cultural residency project may apply. The first call for residency hosts under the Culture Moves Europe mobility scheme opens on 15 March. The call provides financial support to organisations and individual artists registered as a legal entity that want to host international artists and cultural professionals for a residency project.

 

The residency action targets hosts working in the following sectors: architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion design, literary translation, music, performing arts and visual arts. This first call for residency hosts is open from 15 March 2023 until 15 June 2023. To fill in the online application form, applicants must first create an account on the Goethe-Application Portal. 

 

The applicants whose residency projects have been selected will be informed at the end of July 2023 by Goethe-Institute, the organisation in charge of Culture Moves Europe and they will be invited to proceed with the selection of artists participating in their projects.

 

Selected hosts will have one year starting from the date of signature of their grant agreement to complete their project.