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Author: WeBalkans

MADE OF US: An incredible adventure is about to begin in spring 2023

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

WeBalkans are proud to launch a call for applications addressed to young vloggers from the Western Balkans who want to become part of the “Made of Us” road-trip through the Western Balkans. This adventure is due to take place in spring 2023. We invite all talented vloggers from the Western Balkans, aged 21 to 30, to apply through the dedicated portal WeBalkans.eu.

 

The selected vloggers will visit EU-supported projects and meet interesting and inspiring personalities, while also showcasing the natural scenery, extraordinary landmarks and unique cultural heritage that the Western Balkans have to offer. The selected travellers will record their experiences using their own equipment and translate the journey into high-quality social media and web content, photos and videos, which will be disseminated through their own and the WeBalkans channels.

 

The journey will be even more exiting as the six winners from the Western Balkans will not travel alone. In early 2023, they will be joined by six young creators from the EU to travel together and collaborate on all the content production. These six EU-Western Balkans travel pairs will have the chance to explore the best of the Western Balkans, telling the rest of the world about it in their own words in April-May 2023!

 

We invite all those interested to visit our website webalkans.eu for more information about the selection process, including the terms and conditions of participation. The application phase starts on 7 December and will be open until 7 January 2023. “Made of Us” is the third regional awareness campaign rolled out by WeBalkans, a project funded by the European Union.

EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana reaffirms the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and EU’s strategic partnership with the region

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

Today, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell, Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, as well as Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States and Western Balkan partners participated in the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana. The organisation of the Summit for the first time in the region is a clear sign of the EU’s strong commitment to the Western Balkans and their path towards the EU.

 

The EU leaders reaffirmed the full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans. They called for the acceleration of the accession process based upon credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality, and the principle of own merits.

 

Russia’s escalating war of aggression against Ukraine puts European and global peace and security at risk. It underscores the importance of the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans region.

 

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “This Summit, held for the first time in a Western Balkan country, gives a clear message about our engagement, our unity, and our strong partnership. The EU is more committed than ever to a common future, with our Western Balkans partners inside the EU. And we are taking every opportunity to bring our regions and our people closer together. From addressing jointly the energy crisis to opening more opportunities for citizens and business alike, including by lowering roaming charges. This is a great achievement.”

 

The Summit was furthermore an opportunity to review progress in the implementation of the nearly €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan focused on flagship projects in green and digital transition, sustainable transport, clean energy, support to the private sector, and human capital development to help bridge the socioeconomic gap between the Western Balkans and the EU. The EU has so far adopted financing for 40 flagship projects in transport, connectivity, energy transition, green agenda, digital transition, and human capital development, with €1.8 billion EU support and a total investment value of €5.7 billion.

 

This includes 12 investment projects adopted on 5 December, of which 6 projects in the energy sector have been accelerated thanks to the €1 billion energy support package, composed of two pillars:

  -€500 million in immediate support for all Western Balkan partners to cushion the increase of energy prices to businesses and vulnerable households, which has been approved and will be ready for disbursement in early 2023.   -€500 million in short and medium term support via the Western Balkans Investment Framework to advance the energy transition and energy security. The package covers the replenishment of the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for energy-efficient renovation of private and public buildings, six new investment grants for renewable energy sources, three grant schemes for private sector energy transition and a series of guarantees to support renewable energy and energy efficiency. It is expected to mobilise up to €2.5 billion in total investments in cooperation with international financial institutions.  

The leaders also witnessed the signing of a declaration of representatives of telecommunication operators from the EU and the Western Balkans on the first voluntary lowering of roaming charges between the region and the EU starting in October 2023. The European Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council facilitated the negotiations of the agreement and decisions on further reductions are expected in May 2023.

   

Finally, the Summit was an opportunity to discuss and deepen EU cooperation with the region in migration management, cybersecurity, education and youth. The Commission has recently approved €70 million in funding to help improve border management capabilities and step up the fight against the smuggling of migrants and the trafficking in human beings in the Western Balkans. The EU is also enhancing its assistance and cooperation with the Western Balkans to strengthen cyber resilience following a series of large-scale cyber-attacks in the region, including through a new €5 million programme for the entire region set to start in early 2023. The Western Balkans’ universities will also be included in the European Universities initiative under Erasmus+ on equal footing with EU Member States, to create further opportunities for young people.

Significant reduction of data roaming prices between Western Balkans and EU to start as of 1 October 2023

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At the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Tirana today, the telecommunications operators from the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans signed a Roaming Declaration enabling the reduction of the roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans as of 1 October 2023.

 

Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said:

 

“I welcome the declaration signed today by the EU and Western Balkans telecom operators and their commitment to start the first reductions in October 2023. 

 

Digital transition for the EU and its partners is at the forefront of our Connectivity agenda. Making mobile telecommunication services affordable and accessible is fundamental to this transition. As we are reducing roaming charges between the EU and the region, we bring people and businesses closer together. Our objective is that when you visit us or when we visit you, we all feel more and more at home.  This is the real integration of the Western Balkans we should all work for.”

 

This is the start of the process aiming to achieve a substantial reduction of roaming charges for data on 1 October 2023 and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices. Every Western Balkan and EU telecommunications operator, signatory of the Declaration, will consider introducing retail rate plans and options, with lower charges for their roaming users in other mobile networks with the first significant reduction of data roaming prices as of 1 October 2023.

 

It is important that policy-makers in the Western Balkans accelerate the implementation of policy reforms in the telecom sector, which are in line with the conclusions of the Western Balkans Digital Summit 2022, with the aim of creating a Common Regional Market of the Western Balkans and a more conducive business environment. Western Balkan economies should implement these policy reforms no later than the end of 2023.

 

Building on the success of the Roam Like at Home regimes in both the EU and the Western Balkans, the purpose of this endeavor is to support mobility and simplify connectivity of citizens and businesses of the EU and Western Balkans.

 

The benefits are manifold. This will reduce cost of roaming for citizens in all of the Western Balkans and the EU while travelling in the region and EU as well as lower business operating costs and encourage doing business outside of their own borders. This initiative is remarkable, especially since it has been done on voluntary basis between telecommunications operators.

 

This Declaration is the result of the strong engagement of the EU and Western Balkans telecommunications operators and the support of the European Commission, Regional Cooperation Council, as well as region’s authorities commitment since the entry into force of the Western Balkans Regional Roaming Agreement. Other telecommunication operators both from the EU and the Western Balkans are invited to join the initiative.

New European Bauhaus: applications for the 2023 Prizes open to the Western Balkans

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Starting today, the Commission is opening applications for the New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023. Following the successful last two editions that received over 3,000 entries from all EU Member States, the 2023 competition will reward 15 exemplary initiatives linking sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusiveness – the three core values of the New European Bauhaus.

 

In the context of the European Year of Skills, this year’s edition will have a strand focussing on education and learning. For the first time, we will also welcome applications for projects and concepts in the Western Balkans. As last year, there will be specific prizes for people below 30 years of age. The call is open until 31 January 2023 at 19:00 CET.

 

The 2023 Prizes will reward existing projects as well as concepts developed by young talents under four categories:

 

-Reconnecting with nature

-Regaining a sense of belonging

-Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

-The need for long-term, life-cycle thinking in the industrial ecosystem

 

In each category, applicants can choose between three parallel competition strands:

 

-Strand A: “New European Bauhaus Champions”, devoted to existing and completed projects with clear and positive results.

 

-Strand B: “New European Bauhaus Rising Stars” dedicated to concepts submitted by young talents aged 30 or less. The concepts can be at different stages of development, from ideas with a clear plan to the prototype level.

 

-Strand C: “New European Bauhaus Education Champions” devoted to initiatives focusing on education and learning. Both completed projects, as well as initiatives with a minimum level of maturity, are eligible.

 

The 2023 Prizes will be awarded to 15 winners who will receive prize money of up to €30,000, as well as a communications package to help them further develop and promote their projects and concepts.

EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana to reconfirm the EU’s strategic bond with accession partners

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On Tuesday 6 December, the EU and the Western Balkans leaders will hold a Summit in Tirana, hosted by Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, and chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. The European Commission will be represented by its President, Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative/Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi.  
The Summit is taking place in the Western Balkans for the first time, as a clear sign of the EU’s commitment to the strategic partnership with the region and its EU membership perspective. Discussions will focus on addressing jointly the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular in the energy sector. The Commission will report on the implementation of the almost €30 billion Economic and Investment Plan to help spur the long term recovery of the region. Furthermore, the Commission will inform about the €1 billion Energy Support Package for the entire Western Balkans presented by President von der Leyen in November to help vulnerable households and medium and small sized enterprises cushion the high energy prices and advance key infrastructure investments to diversify energy supplies, boost renewable production and energy efficiency.  
Ahead of the Summit, the leaders will witness the signing of a declaration between representatives of telecom operators from the Western Balkans and the EU on the first voluntary lowering of roaming charges, starting in October 2023, between the region and the EU.

Migration routes: Commission proposes Action Plan for cooperation with Western Balkans to address common challenges

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Ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit of 6 December 2022 and the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8 December, the Commission is presenting an EU Action Plan on the Western Balkans. This Action Plan follows up on the Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs) of 25 November, where Ministers committed to implement the EU Action Plan on the Central Mediterranean, proposed by the Commission on 21 November.

 

The Action Plan on the Western Balkans identifies 20 operational measures structured along 5 pillars: (1) strengthening border management along the routes; (2) swift asylum procedures and support reception capacity; (3) fighting migrant smuggling; (4) enhancing readmission cooperation and returns as well as (5) achieving visa policy alignment. The measures are focused on support to or actions by Western Balkan partners, and action in the EU. It aims to strengthen the cooperation on migration and border management with partners in Western Balkans in light of their unique status with EU accession perspective and their continued efforts to align with EU rules.

Media literacy training at Europe House in Podgorica

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As part of their regular activities, Europe House in Podgorica organised a media literacy training event for citizens over 30 years old, in cooperation with the Montenegro Media Institute. The main participants were teachers from the Cetinje high school, Slobodan Škerović high school, and Savo Pejanović primary school from Podgorica. Over four hours, participants had the opportunity to improve their media literacy and understand its importance, especially when the situation in the media market is challenging.

 

Trainers shared the main principles of how the media works, and how to better analyse content. The training also presented forms of manipulation such as fake news, propaganda, or hidden advertising, so participants could learn how to distinguish them from professionally-produced journalistic content.

Schools in Šid foster diversity and tolerance

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Pupils of the Sremski Front and Branko Radičević elementary schools and Sava Šumanović high school from Šid marked the International Day of Tolerance, November 16. The students distributed flyers about tolerance in their schools, and then in the city centre talked to the citizens of Šid on the topic of respect and acceptance, interculturality and respect for every person. Migrant students also participated in the programme, and some of them won prizes in the categories of literary and artistic works.

 

The EU has been supporting Serbian institutions to enable uninterrupted access to education for migrant children since 2015 through assistance to formal and non-formal education. Children and local schools have benefited from assistance by creating an adequate environment for learning and the inclusion of migrant children into the local context.

RHP delivers keys to newly-built apartments to ten refugee families in Kraljevo, Serbia

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Keys to ten newly-built Regional Housing Programme (RHP) apartments were delivered to refugee families in Kraljevo, Serbia. To date, more than 6,700 RHP homes have been allocated to beneficiaries across Serbia, one of the four partner countries of the RHP.  
In addition to the beneficiaries themselves, attendees at the ceremony for the delivery of keys included Svetlana Velimirović, Deputy Commissioner for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia; Predrag Terzić, Mayor of Kraljevo; Urs Schmid, Ambassador of Switzerland in Serbia; Mirjana Maksimović, representing the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, and Dušan Kovačević, Head of the Public Sector Projects Implementation Unit Ltd.  
The EU’s financial support for peace, reconciliation, and good neighbourly relations in Serbia has reached more than €300 million. The assistance is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and stability and tackling pending bilateral issues and the legacies of the past. The EU has secured €74 million to support housing and employment of the most vulnerable refugee families and internally displaced persons. The goal of a regional programme implemented in this sector is to improve the lives of 74,000 people, or around 27,000 families, from the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The overall budget is estimated at approximately €584 million for a five-year period.

Inclusive education for Albania’s children

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EU supports Albanian preschool teachers with innovative classroom practice.

Viola is an early childhood educator. For many years she has managed classrooms with a large number of children from different backgrounds and with different abilities. She says the challenges were enormous: “It was hard for me to meet the diverse needs of all children in the class. I support the idea of preschool inclusion, and I know the benefits, but I lacked the knowledge and skills for inclusive practice”. Despite the improvements in the education system in Albania, the philosophy of inclusion, especially in preschool education, was not promoted enough. Teachers were often left to deal in isolation with children with a wide range of learning abilities, and offered little training.

“There were some scattered little interventions from NGOs but there was not a holistic approach to how to tackle inclusive education in preschools.”

“Inclusive education is almost a new reality in the Albanian education system, especially for preschool,” says Mirlinda Bushati, Education Specialist with Unicef Albania. She explains that Unicef has been working very closely with the Albanian Ministry of Education on developing a national education strategy which includes an important component on inclusive education as well as on standards for preschool teachers. However, despite good work on the strategy and standards, Unicef identified that there was a significant gap in implementing the strategy. “There were some scattered little interventions from some NGOs, but there was not a holistic approach on how to tackle inclusive education in preschool,” says Mirlinda.

Teachers needed practical teacher training programmes that foster positive attitudes and best practices for successful preschool inclusion. Interventions were needed to ensure that teaching has the right rhythm for those who face greater difficulties in their learning. With the support of the European Union, Unicef helped the Ministry of Education and the Agency for Assuring Quality in Preuniversity Education (AAQPE) in Albania to develop inclusive education methodologies for preschool settings.

Unicef also developed a training manual and, jointly with the AAQPE, provided training on practical implementation of the methodology to 582 teachers and school directors. Viola was one of the teachers who took part in the training. “The new tools introduced in the training helped me develop innovative approaches and improve my teaching. Gradually, I started to adopt new teaching styles that are inclusive of different ways of learning. If we want children to be helpful to each other – to accept, interact, and be friendly to each other – we need to teach it,” she says.

“Apart from EU financing, the fact that every part of this initiative was also in line with the EU accession requirements made the EU support even more important in terms of cooperation with the government and institutions.”

About the project

Promoting inclusive education is part of the “Mitigation of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of children and parents in the Western Balkans and Turkey” programme implemented by Unicef and funded by the EU through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). Through this €5 million programme, 490,000 children and parents across the programme area are expected to have better access to public services that promote early childhood development, education, health, and protection as part of recovery from COVID-19.

This year, the methodology for preschool inclusive learning was accredited by Albania’s Ministry of Education. According to Mirlinda, this is a major step forward: “It means that now all preschool teachers can use this methodology that ensures quality inclusive education,” she says.

The fact that the project was supported by the European Union meant a great deal in this context. “Apart from EU financing, the fact that every part of this initiative was also in line with the EU accession requirements made the EU support even more important in terms of cooperation with the government and institutions,” Mirlinda says.