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Author: WeBalkans

BIRN Kicks Off Project Strengthening Quality Journalism in Western Balkans and Türkiye II

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

In the next three years, BIRN Hub will continue to provide systemic support to improve the quality and professionalism of journalism in the Western Balkans and Türkiye through the project Strengthening Quality Journalism II funded by the European Union.  
Different trainings will be provided to young and mid-career journalists followed by editorial support. At the same time, mainstream and public service media will be included in the project activities, especially oriented towards content production through cross-border collaborations. Through the already recognized EU awards scheme and the new regional award, the project will promote high standards in investigative journalism. Academia will be involved through different activities, among them working on a Master’s level programme for investigative journalism.  
Over the three days, BIRN Hub and its seven partner organizations met and planned project actions that aim to support 600 young and mid-career journalists to produce quality news and conduct investigative reporting, provide journalism training, funds for content production and awards for merits in investigative reporting.

Energy Support Package in action – The rehabilitation of six hydropower plants in North Macedonia

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Financing agreements totaling €36.2 million were signed on 23 February 2023, for the rehabilitation of six hydropower plants in North Macedonia. The investment consists of €11.2 million in EU grants, €25 million loan from the KfW development bank, and €200,000 from the German Government – all funds channeled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).  
The investment will be completed in the next two years and is the third phase of the rehabilitation of six large hydropower plants (HE Vrutok, HE Vrben, HE Raven, HE Tikvesh, HE Shpilje and HE Globocica) that provide between 20% and 30% of the total electricity production in the country.  
The investments will extend the lifetime of the plants, increasing their generation capacity by 13.5 MW. Electricity production will increase by about 47.5 G The project is in line with the commitment of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans to transition to clean energy and will contribute to the Energy Development Strategy of North Macedonia. This aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 61% compared to 2005 levels and increase the share of renewable energy sources to 45% by 2040.  
The loan, grant and guarantee agreements were signed between KfW Head of the Division for Energy and Transport Southeast Europe and Turkey, Pablo Obrador Alvarez; Minister of Finance of North Macedonia Fatmir Besimi; and Director of the public company AD ESM – Skopje Vasko Kovachevski. The signature ceremony was attended by the European Ambassador David Geer and the acting ambassador of Germany in the country, Otto Graf.  
The project, identified as Flagship 4 – Renewable energy in the EU Economic and Investment Plan, is part of the European Commission´s effort to improve energy security in the region, and follows the adoption of the €1 billion Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans. It is financed through the WBIF part of the package (€500m) that covers priority flagship investments to diversify energy supplies, boost renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.

Proton Cable: Pioneering Sustainable and innovative Cable Production in Kosovo

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

How the EU support enabled Proton Cable to lead the halogen-free cable market in Western Balkans and expand globally.

Proton Cable, a company specializing in electric wire and cable production in Kosovo, has quickly established itself as a key player in the Western Balkans since its founding in 2010. The journey to this point has been challenging, but successful with support from the European Union. Besim Dida, the managing partner at Proton Cable, explains that the company’s vision from the outset was to introduce novelty to the cable market.” Before we started production, cables in the market had no branding. Everyone knew it was a cable, but there was no type or brand name printed on the cable, and cables were not distributed in branded packaging,” says Besim.

”We also found out that there were no halogen-free cable producers in our region, and the cost of technology for their production was relatively high.”

In 2017, the company launched the section on copper wire processing, increasing their independence from raw material producers and their sustainability in the market. As a company focused on innovation and keeping up with developments in the international market, they discovered that the European Union had introduced a new directive stating that cables used in public spaces should be halogen-free. These cables, when in contact with fire, should not release harmful gases, which would harm the environment or human health. ”We also found out that there were no halogen-free cable producers in our region, and the cost of technology for their production was relatively high,” says Besim.

Proton Cable decided to become the first company in the region to introduce halogen-free cables compatible with EU standards. The company had successfully launched the cable and copper wire factory, but as this latest initiative was financially highly challenging, they sought help, and support came from the European Union. The EU support them in procuring technology for the halogen-free cable production line and for the Sheathing compound Granulator line.

Furthermore, the company was able to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the shortage of sheathing granulator producers caused by the war in Ukraine. “As we had the new technology procured with the EU support up and running, we decided to use this opportunity and expand our market,” says Besim. Proton cable began exporting to nearby countries and has now further expanded its market to include Austria and Croatia.

“ This grant from the EU was a turning point for us. We are the first halogen-free cable producers in the region, and now are exporting, including to EU countries.”

The EU-funded project “Fostering employment of disadvantaged groups and increasing global competitiveness of the electrical installation industry in Kosovo in line with the principles of sustainable and social inclusive development” was launched in 2020. The purpose of the project was to foster employment, increase social inclusion, and create sustainable models of enterprises in Kosovo.

Proton is looking forward to further expanding its market and is lobbying with institutions to adapt the EU directive for electric cable use on public spaces in Kosovo.” This grant from the EU was a turning point for us. We are the first halogen-free cable producers in the region, and now are exporting, including to EU countries,” says Besim.

Thanks to the support received, Proton also increased its number of employees. 129 people were trained basics of electrical installation and use of Halogen-Free cables, and 17 of them found immediate employment in Proton Cable Factory. Fifty of them completed internships, while the remaining 58 increased their skills and found jobs in other companies.

Primary school in Sarajevo gets new look with EU and EBRD support

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Constructed close to 40 years ago and heavily destroyed during the war, Ćamil Sijarić primary school is one of the oldest and largest schools in the area of Dobrinja in Sarajevo with more than 950 boys and girls currently enrolled.Although it has been renovated several times over the years, the school has faced large heat losses due to an energy-inefficient façade, roof and old windows. When the canton of Sarajevo decided to embark on a large-scale reconstruction of its public buildings, the school was identified as one of the priorities.

 

With financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU) and Austria, Sarajevo Canton launched in 2020 a programme to refurbish 40 public buildings, mainly educational facilities, such as nurseries, schools, student dorms, and healthcare centres. The programme aims to make those buildings more energy efficient and reduce energy and electricity costs, as well as lead to lower CO2 emissions. Fifteen buildings were selected for the programme’s first phase, of which 13 have so far been reconstructed.

 

The EU has provided a €2 million investment grant for the programme.

 

Reconstruction of public buildings is part of the EBRD’s Green City Action Plan for Sarajevo canton, along with other investments in areas such as water infrastructure, urban transport and district heating.Green City projects in Sarajevo are supported by the European Union, Austria, Japan, the Central European Initiative, Italy and the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

EU Ambassador visits Municipality of Kolasin: €9 million for Kolasin’s infrastructural problems

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Numerous projects through which the European Union supports the Municipality of Kolasin and the ways in which this support could be continued were the topics covered during the visit of Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro to Kolasin. Ambassador Oana Cristina Popa met with the Mayor of the municipality, Vladimir Martinovic, and beneficiaries of EU funds from the area of the Municipality of Kolasin. They discussed the support that the EU continuously provides to the local community and the possibilities of joint efforts to help the local population and the development of Kolasin.

 

Good accessibility and reliable transport infrastructure are essential for the growing economy of Kolasin, especially for tourism, said Ambassador Popa, stating that the European Union provides support to the Municipality in every segment of development. The European Union invested over €9 million for the reconstruction of two sections of the Belgrade-Bar railway in the territory of the Municipality, and the same amount of money was allocated for the city’s infrastructural problems.“Regarding communal infrastructure, which is necessary both to improve the quality of life of the local population and to serve the growing number of visitors, the EU has allocated close to €9 million to help the Municipality improve the water supply system and build a wastewater treatment plant and a sewage network,” explained Popa.

 

Ambassador Popa also visited the state-owned ski resort Kolasin 1600 and invited everyone who can do the same and take advantage of the softened winter season to enjoy the ski slopes and the hospitality of the Kolasin people. As for the EU, said Ambassador Popa, support for the local community’s efforts to make Kolasin an even nicer place to live and visit will continue.

EU supports construction of the new premises for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in Kosovo

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The EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog, and Rector of University of Pristina (UP), Prof Dr Qerim Qerimi, marked on 23 February the beginning of the construction of the new premises for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMNS).

 

The construction of new faculty premises, worth €8.9 million, is part of a broader EU for Employment and Education Program and is one of the many education infrastructure projects financed by the EU in Kosovo. While the EU will fund the construction of the premises, the University of Pristina will supply furniture and laboratory equipment worth EUR 5 million. “This is yet another EU investment in education in Kosovo. From 2007 to 2022, the EU has invested €85 million in the development of the education system in Kosovo to help create opportunities for students and academia in Kosovo similar to those in the EU, and contribute to knowledge-led economic development and job creation,” said Ambassador Szunyog.

 

The construction works are expected to be finalised by June 2024.

Energy Support Package: EU grants €75 million to Kosovo to help it cope with the energy crisis

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The €75 million is the first tranche of money Kosovo will receive from the EU’s Energy Support Package for the Western Balkans worth EUR 1 billion created by the EU and its Member States to help the region overcome the energy crisis and the major energy prices increase caused by Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked full-scale invasion against Ukraine.   
The entire package will be delivered in two parts, €500 million each, with the first and immediate one focusing on providing direct support to most affected families and businesses and the second one on the clean energy transition of the region and lowering dependence on Russia’s fossil fuels. “Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine has affected the whole world causing energy and food crises. The effects of those crises are felt the hardest by the more vulnerable economies, and the EU has stepped in, to both support Ukraine fend off the invasion and help its partners cope with the crises,” said Ambassador Szunyog.  
The EU remains the biggest provider of financial assistance to Kosovo, with EUR 1.2 billion provided through the Instruments of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) I and II, from 2007 to 2022. Further financial assistance is now being provided through IPA III. The EU is also Kosovo’s largest trading partner.

Sarajevo hosts panel discussion on evolution of propaganda narratives on Ukraine

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On the occasion of one year since the start of the Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine, the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) and EU Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a panel discussion “Evolution of propaganda narratives on Ukraine”, on 24 February 2023 in Sarajevo. The discussion brought together panellists from the Western Balkans, Ukraine and the Middle East.  
Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of EU Delegation and EU Special Representative to BiH said: “This war is not just taking place on the battlefield. The war is also taking place in many other fields, including information space. The mechanisms to manipulate information that Russia has created, including in the years prior, have become a powerful instrument of war, used at a global level.  Integrity, professional journalism and strong civil society are crucial during war times, when information manipulation takes place and disinformation spreads.”  
The panel discussion is part of a wider EU activity „Connecting Media Communities in the Age of Disinformation“, that is taking place on 24th and 25th February in Sarajevo. It gathers journalists, fact-checkers, media professionals and academics from the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries, Middle East and North Africa and beyond. The aim of the activity is to increase synergies across borders, as well as to map the needs of the media communities and support their work.

The EU is changing the lives of Albanians for better

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On 22 February 2023, the Council of Ministers approved in principle the signing of the Financing Agreement between the European Commission and the Republic of Albania on the Annual Action Plan (AAP) for 2022 under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III. The EU contribution of EUR 82.6 million will supports six actions in the areas of environment, youth, democracy, EU acquis alignment, fight against organised crime, and judiciary.

 

The Financing agreement will now be signed by the European Commission and then be submitted to the Albanian authorities for their counter-signature and further approval in the Council of Ministers.  The pre-accession assistance instrument IPA supports EU candidate countries in adopting and implementing key political, institutional, social and economic reforms to comply with EU values and to progressively align with EU rules, standards and policies.

EIB Global investments reached €824 million in the Western Balkans in 2022, complemented by €11.2 million in grants

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The EU bank, through its arm dedicated to activities outside the European Union — EIB Global — invested €824 million across the Western Balkans in 2022 to accelerate sustainable connectivity, clean environment, green transition, digitalisation and private sector growth. These projects contribute to the roll out of the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the region and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. On top of that, the Bank mobilised €11.2 million in grants to initiate sustainable, urban development, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The lion’s share of new signatures was allocated to more sustainable, safe and efficient transportation via rail and waterway projects, amounting to 75% of total lending last year, followed by investments in small businesses, environmental protection and digitalisation.

 

As one of the main players of the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), EIB Global develops and implements investments in close cooperation with the European Commission, international financial institutions and Western Balkan economies. This Team Europe approach maximises the use of the finance available for much needed investments. The EU bank has also designed innovative financial instruments, including a mix of loans, guarantees, advisory and grants, under the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), to support municipalities, power producers, corporates, small businesses and commercial banks with investments in the energy, connectivity and digital sectors.