connect wb 3

issue No 3 october 2011 english edition free copy

,,CBIB - Cross Border Institution Building’’ An EU-funded Regional Project

WBconnectEU INTEGRATIONS WESTERN BALKAN cbib

TACSO & SWG RRD p 16 CBC Updates p 27 Sports in the Balkans p 57

Providing aRegional Platform for SharingExperience

dialogue:Interviews with Ms. Nevenka Savicand Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson

Stories from the Field:CBC in Action

Find us at facebook and get daily updates and insight into the inner workings of CBIB! Follow us at

www.facebook.com/CBIB

Managing a project? Making a difference in your local commu-nity? Working with people across the border? Tell us all about it and we will publish your story! Write at [email protected]

Find links to interesting CBC, Western Balkans and EU-relat-

ed news and updates. www.twitter.com/cbib

Videos, TV reports, statements, atmosphere from our events – watch our YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/user/cbibwb

Got a question you need an-swered? Send it to us and we’ll find out the answer for you! [email protected]

Propose, discuss, argument, conclude, agree, oppose, confirm, deny – check out

the CBIB Forum!

Regional, relevant and always right! www.cbib.eu

Natasa GospodjinackiCBIB Team Leader

Dear readers,From 2006 till 2011 it was a long journey... Who would ever think this was possible? Cross-border coopera-tion was hardly known in the Region and for the Euro-pean Commission it was only a test to see if Balkans could make it.

We have all put into CBC our believes and our heart. We have worked hard and tried to do our best to prove that Balkans can manage and to show to the EC that CBC in the WB should be more than only a test.

Supporters have grown in number over these years Supporters have grown in number over these years and even those who are still skeptical have to admit that in the end we can all together be only proud of what was achieved and that each of us gave a small contribution which has made possible that the West-ern Balkans work together again for the same goal.

CBIB II is in the last month of this second phase and the new CBIB + will start soon. I don’t know if I will be there, but I’m sure that all these efforts have built solid grounds for long lasting results. From this point on, I’m convinced that CBC will only grow as more and more people and institutions will benefit from it. It will more and more connect the bordering areas, but also the Region itself. the Region itself.

There is much more to say, and I’m sure you will find many interesting articles to read in this number of Connect WB, but I must use the opportunity to thank all with whom we have worked in these last five years from the Beneficiary Countries and specifically all those in the joint structures whose daily life is CBC, to the European Commission and its services, to the EU Delegations and especially to all those who were deDelegations and especially to all those who were de-veloping their projects and have put great hope in our capacities to teach them how to do it successfully.

In the end I would like to thank all my team who has often forgot their private lives and their families to make sure that CBC in the Western Balkans would get the maximum attention. It is funny, but for all of us it was not only work to deliver, but a mission to accom-plish. We leave it up to you to decide if we have suc-ceeded in this. Connect WB!!!

to our readers

connect WB issue No 3/2011. page 1

contents4

6

8

12

20

22

see page 20

IN PICTURES(p. 6&7)

DIALOGUE

Interviews with Ms. Nevenka Savic and Mr. Kjartan Bjornsson (p. 8-11)

SPOTLIGHT

Providing a Regional Platformfor Sharing Experience(p.12 -15)

TACSO – Technical Assistance for Civil SocietyOrganisations (p.16&17) SWG – Standing Working Group for Regional RuralDevelopment (p.18&19)

MUST HAVE

Sounds of the Western Balkans (p. 20&21)

EU and WB

Moving forward on the road to Europe (p. 22&23)

BRIEFING

Europe 2011: EuropeanYear of Volunteering (p. 4&5)

contents

Regional Meetingon DecentralisedManagement

contentscontents

connect WB issue No 3/2011page 2

contents

contents

24

27

39

42

Verbatim

see page 24

see page 24

see page 44

VERBATIM

Equal Opportunities for allyoung People!(p. 24&25)

CBC UPDATESInterviews with Heads of Joint Technical Secretariats(p. 27-37)

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

Cross-border activities between people and communities of the Western Balkans (p. 39&41)

WB MUST EAT

The Balkans go Green! (p. 42&43)

44

46 CBIB NEWS

CBIB Phase II Ending!(p. 46&47)

49 WB POSTCARDS

Hot autumn/winter season in the Balkans (p. 49-56)

60 BRAIN TRAINING

Your brain needs exercise to stay in shape!(p. 60)

see page 49

RLWTV

Balkan curtains unveil 4 tuned cities through a museum network towards a wider Europe. Doesn’t make any sense? (p. 44&45)

Winter comfort food from the Balkans

connect WB issue No 3/2011 page 3

connect WB issue No 3/2011

The EU has designated 2011 as the "Euro-pean Year of Volunteering". Volunteering, an active expression of civic participation, plays an important role in sectors as varied and diverse as education, youth, culture, sport, environment, health, social care, consumer protection, humanitarian aid, de-velopment policy, research, equal opportu-nities and external relations.

In the European Union, almost 100 million citizens of all ages invest their time, talents and money to make a positive contribution to their community by volunteering. It is for this reason that the EU has proclaimed the year 2011 as the “European Year of Volun-teering” – to shed light on the efforts al-ready invested, but also to challenge the re-maining ¾ of the EU population who do not volunteer and show them they can make a difference.

Objectives of EYV 2011

The EU has used the Year to work towards four main objectives:

1. To create an enabling and facilitating en-vironment for volunteering in the EU;

2. To empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering;

3. To reward and recognise volunteering activities;

4. To raise awareness of the value and im-portance of volunteering.

Activities

Many events, exhibitions, live demonstra-tions and other activities have already taken place throughout Europe during the year. The EYV 2011 TOUR was designed with a view of ‘getting up close and per-sonal with volunteers’ in all member states. Each stage of the tour lasts for approximately ten days, and provides volunteers with an opportunity to exhibit their work, meet one another, engage with policy-makers and the general public, convey their energy and enthusiasm, and discuss key issues for the future of their work.

Communication on EU Policies and Volunteering

InIn a key political achievement of the European Year of Volunteering 2011, the Communication on EU Policies and Volunteering adopted on 20th Septem-ber 2011, the Commission outlines a range of measures that will help foster voluntary activities in the EU, includ-ing the creation of a European Volun-tary Humanitarian Aid Corps and the development of a 'European Skills Passport'.

Volunteering takes place in many sec-tors. The biggest area for volunteering is sport, followed by social care, wel-fare and health. Volunteering also has a great impact beyond national bor-ders. Cross-border volunteering has great potential for education, employment and citizenship. It can also im-prove mutual understanding and con-tribute to the development of a stron-ger European identity.

Volunteering contributes to the Europe 2020 growth strategy, in particular to the EU’s employment rate target of 75% by 2020, by helping people learn new skills and adapt to changes in the labour market. Youth volunteering also supports the 'Youth on the Move' flag-shipship initiative, putting young people at the centre of the EU's vision of a knowledge-based economy.

The EU is committed to ensuring a long-term follow-up to the 2011 Euro-pean Year of Volunteering and to con-tinuing the dialogue with the relevant stakeholders in different policy areas. The Commission will give the forth-coming European Year of Citizens (2013) an appropriate volunteering di-mension, promoting notably cross-border volunteering.

2011:EuropeanYear ofVolunteering

briefing

OverOver 81 million people in 14 coun-tries celebrated Danube Day on 29th June 2011. Celebrating this day together helps protect the Danube rivers so they can be used and enjoyed by generations to come.

AA public solar mobile phone charger, dubbed the "Strawberry Tree", won a group of Belgrade students first prize at a renew-able energy sources competition organised by the European Commission in Brussels in April.


Michael Schumacher launched the UN decade of action on Road Safety, aimed at reducing road fatalities 50% over the next 10 years.

anube Day 2011

urope’sAmbassadorfor Road Safety

trawberryTree

S

E

D

page 6

in pictures

The Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren, Bel-gium, won the European Museum of the Year Award 2011. EMF also honoured the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, with the Kenneth Hudson Award.


EYW took place in May in 33 countries with the central flagship event – Structured Dialogue be-tween the EU youth and policy makers – taking place in Brussels and tackling such crucial issues as youth unemployment.

From 1 July to 31 December 2011 Poland will hold the Presidency in the Council of the European Union. Until the end of 2012 Poland will be followed by Denmark and Cyprus.

uropean Museumof theYear Award

uropean Youth Week 2011

E

olishPresidencyP E

in pictures

Providing aRegional Platform

for SharingExperience

Upon the request of Western Balkan beneficiaries and in close co-operation with the European Commis-sion, CBIB organised the regional meeting on decentralised manage-ment under IPA Component II in the Western Balkans. The meeting took place in Podgorica on 12 April 2011, gathering more than 60 representa-tives of national structures and EU Delegations from the Region.

Given that Croatia is the only country in the Western Balkans operating under decentralised setup for IPA cross-border cooperation, while other countries are in various stages of their efforts towards achieving the conferral of management, a need for a regional platformplatform which would allow for consul-tations with the Commission and

Ms. Patris HidaDirector,Ministry of Integration,Albania

Ms. Mjellma Mehmeti State Councilor,Ministry of Local Self-Government,the former Yugoslav Re-public of Macedonia

Ms. Sanda SimicStambolicAssistant Director,European Integration Office,Serbia

Ms. Vera LeticaAssistant Minister,Ministry of Finance

and Treasury,Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Boris BuskovicAssistant Minister,Ministry of Finance,

Montenegro

among beneficiaries became obvious. In addition, the possible impact on the management and implementation of programmes under IPA once coun-tries switch to decentralised manage-ment also needed to be discussed and explored.

When preparing the meeting, all this was taken into consideration by CBIB and the European Commission and the Agenda was structured around the need to exchange experience and joint concerns, as well as to extract valuable lessons learned from the ex-perience of Croatia.perience of Croatia.

The meeting was opened by welcome addresses from Mr. Nicola Bertolini, Head of Operations in EUD Podgori-ca, and Ms. Ratka Sekulovic, Head of

Mr. Nicola Bertolini, Head of Operations, EU Delegation, PodgoricaMs. Ratka Sekulovic, Head of CBC Sector, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European In-

tegration of MontenegroMr. Giannatonio Ballette, Deputy Head of Unit D1 Financial Instruments and Contracts,

DG Enlargement, European Commission


spotlight

Mr. Vesa-Pekka Poutanen, Head of Sector Operational Audit and Evaluation Unit, DGEnlargement, European Commission

Sector for CBC in the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Euro-pean Integration. Mr. Giannatonio Bal-lette, Deputy Head of Unit D1, Finan-cial Instruments and Contracts, and Mr. Vesa-Pekka Poutanen, Head of Sector, System audits, Unit E4, DG ELARG, co-chaired the meeting and provided guidance and answers to the questions of the participants.

After EC representatives presented a brief reminder on EC requirements re-garding decentralised management and its specific aspects under IPA Component II, the meeting continued with state-of-play presentations by representatives of beneficiary coun-tries. This was followed by a lively dis-cussion on the roles and setup of vari-ous bodies under decentralised man-agement and potential solutions ap-plied across the Region.

Croatian Operating Structure, the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management, and the Implementing Agency - Agency for Regional Development, presented their experience and lessons learned in the process of accreditation and conferralconferral of management. This was complemented by the presentation of the EUD Zagreb on the specifics of management of IPA CBC pro-grammes under DIS.

The regional meeting was preceded by a coordination meeting between the EC, EUDs and CBIB that took place in the premises of EUD Podgori-ca on 11 April 2011 and served as the occasion to discuss technical points related to the management and imple-mentation of ongoing programmes in the Region.

Furthermore, in order to make use of the presence of all WB beneficiaries, the European Commission initiated and held consultations

on IPA CBC post-2013, continuing dis-cussions that first took place during the Specialist meeting on IPA CBC be-tween WB countries in December 2010 in Brussels. Potential modifica-tions to the programming, manage-ment and implementation mechanisms in the next financial perspective (2014-2020) were discussed.

Meeting participants agreed that a re-gional Technical Working Group on Decentralised Management should be established as a platform for exchang-ing views and discussing all relevant aspects of switching to this manage-ment mode for IPA Component II funds, involving representatives from national authorities as well as from EU Delegations from the Region and from the European Commission.

Mr. Besim KamberajDirector of Department for Regional Development and

European Integration,Ministry of Local Govern-

ment Administration, Kosovo(under UNSCR 1244/1999)

Ms. Josipa HercegHead of Department, Agency for Regional

Development,Croatia

Mr. Kresimir IvancicHead of Independent

Department,Ministry of regional develop-ment, Forestry and Water

Management,Croatia

Ms. Zeljka KovacicDirector,Agency for RegionalDevelopment,Croatia

Ms. Andrea HorvatKramaric,Task Manager,EU Delegation Zagreb


Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations (TACSO) is an IPA multi-beneficiary EU-funded project that began in 2009 and was extended for another two years in August 2011. TACSO is composed of five consor-tium members that lead the project, an EUEU Programming Committee providing support to the EU as well as to the project, one regional office in Sarajevo and eight local offices in the Western Balkans and Turkey. The project’s pur-pose is to strengthen the overall ca-pacities and accountability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in order to guarantee the quality of service of CSOs and a sustainable role of CSOs in the democratic process.

On the occasion of TACSO’s exten-sion, Mr. Yngve Engström, Head of the Unit responsible for the regional sup-port to CSOs within the Enlargement Directorate-General of the European Commission stated: “I am pleased that the Technical Assistance to Civil Society Organisations (TACSO) Project has been extended with another two years. It is one of the few projects which has its beneficiaries (the local CSOs) in the driving seat; it is also a main element of the Civil Society Facil-ity funded with EU pre-accession assistance. I am sure that in the next phase we can enhance this work in partnership with even more CSOs and their networks. TACSO 2 will focus in particular on cooperation between the CSO and government institutions as well as on capacity building and advo-cacy for CSOs”.

The eight other TACSO offices are in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99, the Former Yugoslav Repub-lic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. Through their help desk function these local offices are re-sponding to numerous requests every day from CSOs and other organisa-tions. In the first two years, the help desks have supported over 800 indi-viduals and institutions. Given the suc-cess of this assistance, those benefit-ing from this function will surelycrease during TACSO 2.

Each local office is additionally sup-ported and guided by their local advi-sory group (LAG) members. The LAGs vary in numbers in each country but are composed of representatives from CSOs, the EU and donor community, government institutions, the business and media sector. The LAGs serve as resource groups for civil society devel-opment, policy making, strategic plan-ning and advocacy, to name a few.

On the regional level, TACSO has or-ganised three regional conferences: Quality Assurance Systems for CSOs in the IPA Region in October 2010, in Zagreb, Croatia; Cooperation between Local Self-Governments and Civil So-ciety Organisations in the Western Balkans and Turkey, February 2011, in Bečići, Montenegro and CSO Sustain-ability in the IPA Countries, in March 2011 in Belgrade, Serbia. These con-ferences provided a forum for CSOs to


Technical Assistancefor Civil SocietyOrganisations

The EU has granted 6,7 million Euros to the TASCO project, recognising the significance of the role performed by the civil society in further democratic processes in the region. The Project is implemented by SIPU InternationalInternational AB Sweden in co-operation with consortium part-ners: Civil Society Promotion Centre Bosnia and Herzegovina, Human Resource Development Foundation Turkey, Foundation in Support of Local Democracy Poland and Partners Founda-tion for Local Development Ro-mania.

CSO Sustainability in the IPA Countries, in March 2011 in Belgrade, Serbia

page 16

spotlight

share topic-related knowledge, as well as information and experience among the stakeholders from the IPA coun-tries. A number of cross-border net-working and partnership events were also supported by TACSO.

In terms of capacity building, during its first two years, TACSO conducted over 200 local trainings to CSOs on various topics of interest, reaching over 4500 participants. Five regional training ses-sions with 90 participants from TACSO countries were organised in the same periodperiod on the topics CSO Manage-ment, Fundraising and Accessing EU Funds, Developing and Managing EU Funded Projects, Advocacy and Policy Influencing and CSOs and Citizens’ participation. Once the trainings were completed at the regional level, these participants, in cooperation with TACSO, were able to spread the knowledge, information and experi-ence even further by delivering training to CSOs at the local level.

The material from the regional train-ings was compiled into five manu-als:

• CSO Management – Practical Tools for Organisational Develop-ment Analysis;• Fundraising and Accessing EU Funds;• Developing and Managing EU Funded Projects;• Advocacy and Policy Influencing for Social Change;• CSOs and Citizens’ Participation.

TheThe manuals, available on the TACSO website, are being translated to all the TACSO countries’ local languages. Also available on the TACSO website are Guides for Trainers on Fundraising and Accessing EU Funds, Developing and Managing EU-Funded Projects, as wellwell as CSOs and Citizens’ Participa-tion.

E-learning is also a novelty in CSO ca-pacity building, introduced during the first phase of the project,

and now it is planned to continue with additional e-learning courses available to CSOs from the IPA region.

TTACSO’s most recent achievement is the creation of the first database which is open to all CSOs in the IPA region and is available for all organisations worldwide who want to contact or co-operate with CSOs in the Western Bal-kans and Turkey. By registering in the TACSO Database, the CSOs are in-creasing their visibility, and are reach-ing out to potential partners, including other CSOs and governmental institu-tions. The TACSO Database will assist them in accomplishing their goals.

During the second phase, TACSO will continue with the basic activities, while also placing more focus on supporting the dialogue and cooperation between the governmental institutions and the CSOs, capacity building for CSOs re-gariding public and media relations, andand supporting the CSOs in becoming stronger in management and applying for funds.

TACSO will also increase its work in CSO networking and partnership making at all levels and support to study visits across the borders and to the EU, as well as place greater em-phasis on policy areas that are defined by each country’s updated Needs As-sessment. In this way, TACSO will work to promote increased coopera-tion and mutual understanding.


For more information on TACSO please visit www.tacso.org

Cooperation between Local Self-Governments and Civil SocietyOrganisations in the Western Balkans and Turkey

February 2011, in Bečići,

Regional presentation of the TACSO training manuals.Sarajevo, July 2011

The SWG history starts in Leipzig, 2004, during the Agricultural Policy Forum on “Implementation of Agri-cultural and Rural Development Policies in South Eastern European Stability Pact Countries”. When few enthusiasts from the Balkans broughtbrought up in plenary their vision-ary idea about the establishment of an organization that will empower and promote sustainable principles on rural development, through net-working and permanent coopera-tion between all stakeholders of rural development in SEE region, most of the participants did not consider it as a serious and realistic proposal.

Today, 7 years later, the “SWG RRD” stands for Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South Eastern Europe and is an International Intergovern-mental Organization, consisted of govern-mental institutions responsible for rural de-velopment in respective countries and territories. Its managing and coordinative body is the SWG Head Office/Secretariat, based in Skopje, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Moreover, the organization is progressively functioning since June 2005, first as a plat-form for networking and regional coopera-tion, founded on the basis of a common wish to establish an organization for sus-tainable rural development in SEE during the Agricultural Policy Forum 2005 (“Rural Development Opportunities for Co-opera-tion in the SEE”) and later, since Septem-ber 2009, the SWG is registered as Inter-national Intergovernmental Organization according to the International Agreements and the Law on status and activities of the SWG.

Mr. Boban IlicSWG Secretary General

So, what does this organization ac-tually do and how the “SWG RRD” is set up?

Practically everything which is focused on the issues related to the role and develop-ment of rural areas in southeastern Europe (SEE), and the influence of local and global factors of development and change, par-ticularly within the context of aspirations to-wards sustainability and EU approximation is within the scope of work of the “SWG RRD”.

Acting as per the conclusions of the Leipzig Agricultural Policy Forum and the adopted Agenda 2004 and the Declaration of the Ministers Responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development in SEE signed in Dres-den (November 2007), this non-political body is working in a spirit of friendship and goodgood neighbourliness and enhances mutual respect and confidence, dialogue and cooperation among the Member Insti-tutions.

In its Vision and Mission statements, “SWG RRD” emphasizes its commitments to the cooperation in South Eastern Europe in the field of agriculture and rural development. The SWG confirms in its General Objective to do this by bringing the authorities, insti-tutions and all stakeholders involved in the agricultureagriculture and rural development in SEE in a functional network which will facilitate and ease the process of EU integration of the region. SWG will contribute to this pro-cess by achieving its Specific Objectives of improvement of understanding of EU agri-culture and rural development, crossborder cooperation in rural areas and ex-change of information and knowledge.

The activities are mostly undertaken in co-operation with various partners, organiza-tions and institutions (EC, GIZ, FAO, Regi-


StandingWorking Groupfor Regional

Rural Development

The Assembly: consists of delegates nominated by the SWG members; it is the principal decision-making body of the SWG.

The President of the SWG Assembly: rotated annually to the country/territory holding the Presidency.

TheThe Secretariat: is an operational, ad-ministrative, coordinative and organiza-tional body of SWG.

The Secretary General: appointed by the General Assembly with a mandate of 3 years with possible extension. Respon-sibilities include overall management, co-ordination and representation of SWG and its bodies. The Secretary General re-ports to the Assembly annually for all performed activities, including financial re-porting.

“SWG RRD” Structure and Members

Currently the SWG consists of four bodies:

page 18

spotlight

onal Cooperation Council, etc), which have similar view for the development of South Eastern European agriculture and rural development and with the member institutions.

TheThe five key functions of the organiza-tion: networking and enhancing region-al cooperation, capacity building, advo-cacy and resource mobilization, policy analysis and Information exchange and access to knowledge are realized through numerous projects and programmes.

Supporting the activities related to area-based development approach in rural cross-border areas of the Western Balkans TheThe “Drina – Tara pilot area” as an ex-ample for an area-based development ap-proach in rural cross-border areas is a promising success story where for the first time in the Western Balkans, the problems deriving from the fragmentation have been addressed at regional level and across borders in an integrated way.

This pilot project which was implemented in the Drina - Tara area in the past months was supported by the EC and SWG and backed by 14 participating municipalities with population over 410 000 inhabitants and the governments of the three countries involved: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Monte-negronegro and Serbia. Active involvement of national actors from the respective coun-tries has facilitated synergies between na-tional and local perspectives for develop-ment.

The results from the study showed that the priorities for development in the Drina - Tara region mostly focus on tourism, agri-culture and rural development, small-medi-um enterprises and environment protec-tion. The study has identified that these areas/sectors are likely, in conjunction with necessary assistance, to produce maxi-mum effect for the overall economic and social development of this region.

As concluded by the Ministries and other stakeholders involved in the implementa-tion of this pilot project - these activities lead to not only easier and faster economic development of the region, but also greatly

Promising success story: “Drina - Tara pilot area”

increase over the border cooperation of the local population and therefore a stronger cooperation between local in-stitutions and greater opportunity for further joint work on development pro-grams in the framework of IPA funds.

What about the future of these ac-tivities?

As Mr. Boban Ilic, SWG Secretary General stated in his closing remarks at the Donor’s Conference recently held in Belgrade: There are many other disadvantaged rural areas of cross-border nature in Western Balkans which require immediate attention, areas with great potential but lack of sup-port.port. In that respect, the SWG will do all in its power to continue with pushing forward and addressing the matter of needs as-sessment and support for the disadvan-taged cross-border areas in the Western Balkans and hopefully other interested bodies will also get involved in this adventure!

Donor Conference Belgrade - Supporting ABD approach in rural CB areas

SWG Delegates at Euregia Fair, Leipzig, 2008


Supporting the event “Rural Potentials of Serbia”, Belgrade,2009

ToT Rural Women - Traditional Wool Handicraft

17th SWG Assembly Meeting, September 2010, Croatia

Member institutions

• Republic of Albania - Ministry of Agri-culture Food and Consumer Protec-tion;

• Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Minis-try of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management (Republic of Srpska)

• Republic of Bulgaria – Ministry of Ag-riculture and Food

• Republic of Croatia – Ministry of Agri-culture, Fisheries and Rural Develop-ment

• The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management

• Republic of Montenegro – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

• Republic of Serbia – Ministry of Agri-culture, Trade, Forestry and Water Man-agement

• Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Devel-opment

Qiftelia

TheThe name qiftelia (officially written çiftelia, and sometimes cifteli) means "two strings" in Albanian. The qiftelia is carved from one piece of wood, with a pine soundboard. It has (brass) inlayed frets, in a special diatonic scale with 7 frets in an octave. Playing the qiftelia is strumming with the fingers, and fingering mainly the first string, with the second as drone. The qiftelia is commonly used by Albanian folk musicians, as wellwell as other modern musicians and is played by Albanians at weddings, concerts, national events, and other occasions. Especially important is its role in the accompanying the Alba-nian epic ballads.

GajdeTheThe gajde (bagpipe) is a musical instrument, aerophone, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. It is said that this is the instrument which in-spired the famous (well, famous among pipers at least) saying "A wedding without a bagpipe is like a funeral." The gajde flourishes in the regionregion and has always maintained its active place culturally, to an extent not seen else-where except in Scotland. The angled "beak" at the end of the chanter, made of horn, is a vestigial reminder of the early hornpipe from which this pipe probably descended.

Saz

TTraditional fretted instrument of Turkish origin, “saz” means “musical instrument” in Turkish and Persian. This member of the tanbur family is also considered the grandfather of grandfather of the Greek bouzouki. Its pear shaped resonator is carved from a single piece of wood, with 6-10 metal strings and sound-holes both in front and on the sides of the body. It is usedused primarily by urban musicians to accompany lyric songs such as the Bosnian sevdalinka.

Sounds of the Western Balkans


wb must-have

FrulaAA frula is the Serbian name for a musical instrument which resembles a small recorder or flute. It is an end-blown aerophone. Similar instruments are played throughout Eastern Europe and the Balkans. It is typi-cally made of wood and has six holes. The frula is a tra-ditional instrument of shepherds, who would play it while tending their flocks. Known as one of the oldest Serbian musical instruments, the frula dates back to medieval times, as seen in the painted frescoes of Serbia 's medi-eval monasteries.

GusleThe gusle is a traditional Montenegrin musical instrument. It origi-nates from the East, but over time they have undividedly becomea folklore element of South Slavs. It is a string instrument made by expert craftsmen usually out of maple tree which is suitable for pro-cessing and achieving good quality tone. Over a wooden, round sound box a goat’s or lamb’s skin is stretched and strings are made of horse hair. Gusle produce a specific sound, not too versatile in its range, but with dramatic strength which in combination with the lyrics produces a strong impact on the listener.

TamburicaTheThe "tambura" is an instrument with strings, related to the Russian balalaika, the Ukrainian bandura, the Italian man-dolina, the Spanish guitar and other similar instruments. All these instruments originally come from the region of former Persia (today Iran), where the Assyrians already had a very similar instrument 5000 years ago. The number of strings on a tamburica varies and it may have single or double-coursed stringsstrings or a mixture of both. Double-coursed strings are tuned in unison. The basic forms of tamburica are samica, prim or bisernica, bracs, bugarija and bas.


EU and the WB

AL

KOSOVO**(under UNSCR 1244/1999)CRO

BIHEUR 6 million of EC assistance to improve Albania’s border management have resulted in 10 newly con-structed border crossing points and 17 refurbished border police stations. The improved infrastructure is expected to facilitate the work of the Albanian authori-ties in fighting organised crime and illegal trafficking and enabling them to focus on strengthening procedures for effective border control.

Alongside the construction and refurbishment of border police stations and crossing points, the EU through its €7 million Police assistance project (PAMECA) has ex-posed the Albanian police to European best practices and is currently working together with Albanian authori-ties to further align the working procedures of the Border and Migration Police to those of the EU, and to improve intelligence work in border control, as well as inter-institutional cooperation.

In September, on the occasion of the start of the Alba-nian Parliament's new session, head of the European Parliament delegation for South East Europe Eduard Kukan, called on all Albanian MPs to actively take part in a constructive dialogue about the country's future. Mr. Kukan stated that all political forces should intensify their efforts to implement the twelve priorities set up by thethe Commission in the last Enlargement Strategy. As a priority, all parties should work efficiently on electoral reform in order to guarantee a commonly agreed and effective electoral framework in the future.

On 5th October 2011 the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Mr. Stefan Fule, has confirmed that €96 million of IPA 2011 assistance funds will be allocated to Bosnia and Herze-govina. These funds were previously suspended as Bosnia and Herzegovina political leaders were unable to reach an agreement on how the funds will be allocated. The funds are a part of a larger €498 million set aside in the Instrument forfor Pre-Accession Assistance, IPA, an aid package aimed at helping countries seeking membership in the European Union undertake necessary reforms.

Progress has been made in the EU-Bosnia and Herze-govina structured dialogue on justice. A set of detailed infor-mation on the judiciary was submitted by BiH authorities on 31 August to the EC as a reply to the request handed over by Commissioner Štefan Füle at the inaugural meeting of the Structured Dialogue in Banja Luka (6-7 June). Further-more, the EC and BiH authorities have agreed that the second meeting of the EU-BiH Structured Dialogue on Jus-tice will be held on the 10-11 November 2011 in Sarajevo.

A structured dialogue amongst all relevant domestic stake-holders represents the best possible platform to address issues necessary to the development and entrenchment of an independent, credible, effective, impartial and account-able judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is fundamen-tal for the future integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the EU.

After successful negotiations, opened in 2005, the EU Member States decided to close the accession negotiations with Croatia on 30 June 2011. The final text of Croatia's Accession Treaty was agreed in mid-September. On 17 September, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (Poland holding the cur-rent EU Presidency) visited Zagreb to hand the document to the Croatian officials. Croatia will seal its EU accession in a treaty signing ceremony in Warsaw on 19 December.

However, the signing ceremony is not the final step to accession. Croatia's accession treaty mentions the date 1 July 2013 for the country to become the Union's 28th member. The accession treaty also needs to be ratified in all EU Member States.

Croatia itself will hold a referendum on its accession in the weeks following the signing of the accession treaty. No referenda are planned in other EU countries on the occasion of Croatia's accession, however, according to a recent opinion poll, public support for Croatia's EU accession is strong.

In Septmber, in the framework of the European Heritage Days events organised jointly by the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the first Regional Cultural Heritage Centre in the Balkans was inaugurated in the Beledije building in Priz-ren.

The Centre, which has been refurbished with EU funds, will offer accredited training programmes in the field of cultural heritage, for all types of professionals across the region (public and private experts, practitioners and students), in line with EU and international standards and based on a multi-disciplinary approach.

Present at the ceremony were representatives from the EC Liaison Office to Kosovo, the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Culture, as well as counterparts from the region. On this occasion, Mr. Christof Stock, Head of Operations at the EC Liaison Office said:"As"As the European Union, we attach great importance to the protection and the promotion of the cultural heritage and we will support Kosovo in achieving this European value. This investment will provide education and training opportunities for professionals across Kosovo and the region, as well as create many employment opportunities. We are aware that establishing a centre with regional character is an ambitious goal, but we remain convinced that this corresponds to the needs of professionals and practitioners that are common to all countries in the Western Balkans. This project is a tremendous opportunity for Kosovo and Prizren in particular and we hope that you will seize this opportunitThis project is a tremendous opportunity for Kosovo and Prizren in particular and we hope that you will seize this opportunity."


The officials in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are expecting that the 2011 Enlargement Strategy and Progress Report will give a positive as-sessment in the section of meeting political criteria and harmonization of the country's legislation with the EU law. Remarks are expected in the part of judiciary and administration reforms, pointing out the necessity forfor acceleration of reform processes and implementa-tion of adopted laws.

Meanwhile, in October, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia hosted a two-day EU-Western Balkans forum which was organized by the country’s Ministries of Interior and Justice in cooperation with the Polish EU Presidency. EC representatives and Interior and Justice Ministers from the Region engaged in debates on visa liberalization, migration issues, border man-agementagement and enhancement of cooperation with FRONTEX, fight against organized crime and coop-eration with EUROPOL, fight against corruption, judi-ciary and prosecution independence, legal coopera-tion in criminal and civil disputes, as well as enhance-ment of cooperation with EUROJUS

Also in October, EU Delegation in Skopje also hosted the presentation of the regional Western Balkans In-vestment Framework project and its achievements and results in the past two years.

MK

SER

Expecting the findings of the upcoming Progress Report to provide further guidance on the reform path for Montenegro, several national conferences and events were organised during September al-lowing the opportunity for EU Delegation officials to express their views on Montenegro road to EU.

Speaking at the conference on “the administrative procedures for a democratic society”, the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Ambassador Leopold Maurer, said that the Government of Monte-negro is facing the challenge of modernising its system of administrative procedures. The Govern-ment adopted a Policy Paper on Major Elements of a New Law on General Administrative Procedure which can be seen as a milestone on Montenegro’s path to implement the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2011 – 2016.

Speaking at the National Conference on progress in fulfilling the EC’s recommendations, the Head of the Political Section of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Alberto Cammarata, said that the confer-ence is an excellent opportunity for a 'self-assessment', because representatives of both the authori-ties and civil society are present. He believes that the recommendations made in the last year Euro-pean Commission’s Opinion are being largely recognised by Montenegrin society as its own priorities, adding that this approach is encouraging and needs to be followed with determination.

During his meeting with the Serbian PM, Mr. Bozidar Djelic, in September, the EU Commissioner for Enlarge-ment, Mr. Stefan Fule, acknowledged Serbia’s commitment to the EU integration process and important re-sults achieved primarily in fulfilling obligations towards the ICTY, adopting key pieces of legislation incorporat-ing European standards in the areas of electoral law, relations between parliament and independent regula-tory bodies and financing of political parties. Important steps were also taken in the judiciary where a review process on the re-appointment procedure of judges and prosecutors is ongoing.

Mr. Fule encouraged Serbia to use this momentum to intensify work on reforms, in particular in the adoption of the new media strategy and in the positive outcome of the public debate on the Law on Restitution and the Law on Public Property, as well as fight against corruption. As Regional cooperation is an important element of the Stabilisation and Association process, Mr. Fule acknowledged Serbia's improved bilateral relations with its neighbours and its active efforts to foster reconciliation and further develop regional cooperation.

Serbia is expecting a positive opinion on obtaining the candidate status with this year’s Enlargement Strategy and Progress Report.

MNE

EU and the WB



EqualEqual opportunities for all young people! is a project for increased social inclusion of marginalized youth through institutional cooperation between public authorities and CSOs. It is being implemented by the Institute for Youth Development 'KULT' from Ilidza, Bosnia and Herze-govina. Project partners are the Croatian Youth Network (Zagreb, Croatia), Resource Center for Development 'ALFA' (Novi Sad, Serbia) and the European Intercultural Forum e. V. (Berlin, Germany). This projectproject is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and is funded by the European Commission.

The goal of the project is to encourage the youth population from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia to take the lead in pro-tecting their rights, influencing decision makers and improving quality of life by accepting democratic principles of civil society and human rights as their way of living.

Target groups are the youth population aged between 18-25 with the focus on youth from rural areas, young women, disabled persons and underrepresented groups, public authorities, CSOs, and the business community from the target countries.

1212 local communities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia as well as 12 local partner organisations are involved in the project. Communities and organisations are cooperating on the imple-mentation of project activities and hence strenghtening partner rela-tions and building better and stronger local communities.

Verbatim

EqualOpportunitiesfor allYoungPeople!

verbatim


At the beginning of project imple-mentation, a Network for the pro-motion of social inclusion of youth was formed, consisting of organisa-tions and local communities from target countires. The goal of the Network is disseminating EU standards and common values in the field of social inclusion policies, raising awareness on social inclu-sion policies and their importance in process of EU integrations, as well as informing youth on possibilities of social engagement.

As part of project activities, a study trip to Germany was organised in June 2011. Local authorities and CSO representatives visited organi-sations dealing with youth and their inclusion. Visiting representatives also had the opportunity to visit the GermanGerman Ministry for Family Affairs, Seniors, Women and Youth and to be introduced to youth work pro-grammes.

Institute for Youth Development 'KULT' was founded in 2002 under the name of 'Association KULT'. Its vision is to develop an open society from the municipal to the state level in which citizens are involved in all decision-making processes. Today, therethere are 3 active offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina - in Sarajevo, Gradačac and Brčko – District.

Since the 'KULT' Institute was founded has it provided assistance to youth, associations, informal groups and other interested parties to become recognised members of the society through various infor-mal training, advising, monitoring, up-bringing,up-bringing, courses, seminars, planned games and workshops aimed at addressing problems, round table discussion, brochures, working materials, etc.

'KULT' is also the founder of the Educational and Leisure Centre for Youth called SPAJALICA (Engl.-paperclip).

It is important to note their on-street campaign on the issue of partner-ship between youth and municipal authorities, in the form of an infor-mal performance, which was played out countless times not only in Sa-rajevo, but in other cities as well. This performance became 'KULT's regular activity, and it is improved and adjusted to relevant circum-stances annually.

Verbatim

'KULT' is also the founder of the Educational and Leisure Centre for Youth called SPAJALICA (Engl.-paperclip).

It is important to note their on-street campaign on the issue of partner-ship between youth and municipal authorities, in the form of an infor-mal performance, which was played out countless times not only in Sa-rajevo, but in other cities as well.

TheThe research on social inclusion of youth is being conducted in local communities involved in the project. Based on research and studyvisit findings, policy reccommendations will be developed and built in local youth strategies.

YYouth from three countries will have the opportunity to participante in the training course for Youth Leaders. During the training, youth will ac-quire knowledge and skills needed to make them more competitive in the job market and make the job search easiesearch easier.

One of the project activities is a comparative study on social inclu-sion policies in Bosnia and Herze-govina, Croatia, Serbia and the EU. The study will result in reccomen-dations for concreate measures that need to be undertaken in order

Verbatim

to harmonise the social inclusion policies in these countries and the EU.

Verbatim

verbatim


AL - MNE JTS

13 Dhjetori,Godina e Bashkise

Shkoder, ALTel: +355 69 21 840 [email protected]

AntennaAntennaOmladinskih brigada 4Tel: +382 20 620 940

81000 Podgorica, MNE

Task Manager: Andi Çekaj

A.C.: In the framework of the CBC Programme Albania – Montene-gro, 6 CBC projects have been selected for implementation, for a total amount of EUR 993,241.37. Under each programme measure two projects are being implemented.

Under measure 1.1, economic development with emphasis on tour-ism promotion, one project is dealing with the promotion of tradi-tional artisan production in the cross-border area and one with the promotion of traditional gastronomy around the Shkodra Lake. Under measure 1.2, environment protection and promotion, one project fosters the preservation of the biosphere of Shkodra Lake, while the other is focused on awareness rising on environment protection among the local population. Under measure 1.3, social cohe-sion, one project bringing together Albanian and Montenegrin au-thors and literature, while the other connects Albanian and Monte-negrin sculptors.

During the first phase of project implementation there were many joint meetings and events in the programme area, such as kick-off events, media presentations, discussion forums, study visits and workshops, ensuring wide media coverage and resulting in a high visibility of IPA CBC in the area.

ManyMany of the projects have already yielded concrete results and products as a direct outcome of implemented activities such as web-pages, leaflets and brochures, sculptures, studies almost finished, regular joint communication and exchanging of experience.

CBIB: JTS and Antenna office are often the first point of con-tact for both potential applicants and grant beneficiaries from your cross-border Region. Please explain your main activities and support you provide in the field.

A.C.: Currently the main support provided is for the implementation of the ongoing project activities. Project implementation according to the EC rules (PRAG) is in fact something new for all our beneficia-ries and therefore challenging for both beneficiaries and programme structures. In particular, we provide support on tender procedures for secondary procurement, staff hiring, reporting, project visibility and budget review and disbursement. Also, implementation train-ings were organised for the beneficiaries.

The second main activity carried out by the JTS is the regular moni-toring of the projects. Field monitoring visits were organized after the first 4 months of project implementation with the aim of identify-ing possible implementation obstacles at an early stage and ensur-ing smooth implementation from the beginning. The feedback from the beneficiaries on the visits was very positive, as they had the op-portunity to discuss project issues personally and in detail with all programme structures involved.

CBIB: Cross-border cooperation is taking place for the first time in the eligible area of your programme under IPA and dedi-cated funding is available to the local communities. What are your impressions of the interest shown by potential applicants and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

A.C.: Both the high number of participants in the programme activi-ties organised as Partner Search Forums and Information Sessions,

CBIB: The implementation of first cross-border projects under your programme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing actions and their first results.

as well as the fact that in both calls for proposals the funds requested ex-ceeded the funds available by 300%, shows the high interest of potential applicants.

Also the fact that the number of applications under the second call for pro-posals in 2010 was almost double than what was received under the first call for proposal in 2009, shows the positive results of the efforts under-taken by the programme structures to promote the programme, enable the creation of partnerships and increase project writing capacities through info events, partner search forums and trainings on preparation of project pro-posals.

CBC programmes present a great opportunity for potential applicants to fi-nance their project ideas, to increase their capacities in preparing and implementing projects funded by the EU, to be more competitive and pro-fessional, to raise the level of collaboration and exchange experience with their neighbours, and to get more familiar with EU procedures and struc-tures as our countries are aiming to become EU member states.

CBIB: What are your main expectations, as well as what main chal-lenges you see for the future of the IPA CBC programmes in the West-ern Balkans?

AC: Despite the positive fact that applications were received from all re-gions in the eligible area and from a wide spectrum of eligible organizations/institutions, there is a noticeable difference in capacities be-tween organisations that have long experience with donor funded projects, mainly well-established NGOs, and e.g. public institutions and specialised associations that are relatively new in the field. This is also reflected in dif-ferences between dense urban areas and remote regions, especially in the northern part of the programme area. Fostering high capacities of all poten-tial applicants and throughout all parts of the programme area remains a future challenge for the Albania – Montenegro programme.

page 27

cbc updates


BIH - MNE

JTSTel/Fax: +387 33 788 781Džemala Bijedića 185/XII71 000 Sarajevo, [email protected]

AntennaAntennaZgrada Zetatransa, Danila Bojovica bb81 400 Niksic, MNETel: +382 69 104 [email protected]

Head of JTS: Snežana Tomašević

S.S.T.: Within the firs Call for proposals under the CBP BIH – MNE, 12 projects have been contracted. The first project was contracted on 27th December , 2011, and the last on 1st April, 2011, the date of the launching of the 2nd Call for Proposals. Implementation of the granted projects is running very smooth-ly, without any bigger issues. Three projects are already in the last month of, if I may say so, a successful implementation, whilewhile the majority of others are in the middle phase of imple-mentation. The cross-border cooperation is better than it was expected, and in conversation all applicants emphasized the good cooperation with their partners from the neighboring country .

CBIB: JTS and Antenna office are often the first point of contact for both potential applicants and grant beneficia-ries from your cross-border Region. Please explain your main activities and support you provide in the field.

S.T.: Based on the fact that the projects financed under the First Call for Proposal were still in the initial phase during the April 2011, we used this period to launch the Second Call for Proposals. The 2nd Call was launched on 1st April, 2011 and the deadline for submission of project proposals was 1st July, 2011. During the preparation of the Second Call, we organized two Partner Search Forums, one in Nikšić and one in Blagaj. Also, afterafter the launch, we organized 6 Info Sessions in Herceg Novi, Podgorica, Mojkovac, Tomislavgrad, Goražde and Pale. The purpose of those events was to present the main propositions of the Guidelines for Applicants and Application Form to poten-tial applicants, as well as to make a brief overview of the bud-geting. In the future period, along with monitoring of already contracted projects, JTS will provide a technical support to the process of the evaluation of applications submitted under the 2nd call for proposals. Beside those activities, constant contact with potential applicants represents our core activity.

CBIB: Cross-border cooperation is taking place for the first time in the eligible area of your programme under IPA and dedicated funding is available to the local communi-ties. What are your impressions of the interest shown by potential applicants and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

S.T.: Considering the fact that the area included in this Cross-Border Programme lags behind the national and European standards, 38 submitted applications within the First Call for Proposals and requested grant amount almost four times higher than available, as well as 400 participants at the two Partner Search Forums and around 230 participants at Info Sessions show that interest for this Cross-Border Programme exists and that it is growing. If we consider applicant capaci-ties, it is something that has to be continuously strengthened, because regardless of the level of their capacities, there is always room for improvement.

CBIB: The implementation of first cross-border projects under your pro-gramme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing actions and their first results.

CBIB: What are your main expectations, as well as what main challenges you see for the future of the IPA CBC programmes in the Western Balkans?

S.S.T.: A harmonized development of the programme area and an in-crease in its employment level and competitiveness, resulting in an increase of the quality of life in the programme area is the greatest challenge that is in front of us. The encouraging fact is that the Eu-ropean experience shows that the current problems, such as insuffi-cient development, lack of strong economic centers or centers of knowledge, can be minimized or even eliminated through strengthening of absorption capacities of border area through these bilateral programmes. We expect that the implementation of not only this CBC Programme, but also the bilateral programmes with Croatia and Serbia will represent a good foundation for structural funds that expect us in the future.

cbc updates


CRO - BIH

JTSMinistry of Regional DevelopmentForestry and Water ManagementTrg kralja Petra Kresimira IV br. 1

10000 Zagreb, CROTel: +385 1 639 1974Fax: +385 1 639 1927Fax: +385 1 639 [email protected]

Antenna 1:Husnije Repca, bb88000 Mostar, BiHTel: +387 36 580 820

[email protected] Antenna 2:Antenna 2:

Djure Jaksica 1378000 Banja Luka, BiHTel: +387 51 213 276

[email protected]

Head of JTS: Normela Radoš

N.R.: Projects awarded under the first CfP are in their first year and in the stage of full implementation. Our team has established regular communication with all grant beneficiaries in both countries and we monitor progress via e-mail correspondence and through direct con-tacts.

Our projects contribute to the overall program objectives presenting 4 sectors: tourism, entrepreneurship, protection of environment and nature and accessibility to community based services. First prog-ress reports received recently show that most of activities planned are implemented and no major delays are identified so far. The over-all results of implementation could be expected at the beginning of next year when some of the projects will end and when first monitoring visits of JTS task managers are completed.

It is important to note that the contracted projects are limited by the availability of funding under the Programme and 1st Call, as the fi-nancial envelope available was more than 8 times lower than what was actually requested. Moreover, majority of our grant beneficia-ries have already experienced project implementation through the CBC/transnational/national programmes in both countries and no serious lack of capacity in implementation is expected.


N.R.: The JTS is the administrative body of the programme dealing with its day-to-day management. It is based in the Operating struc-ture premises in Zagreb (Croatia) with two Antenna on the BiH side, in Mostar and Banja Luka. Besides support to two Operating Struc-tures and the programme Joint Monitoring Committee, the JTS is highly committed to assisting both potential applicants and grant beneficiaries.

JTS and two Antenna offices are actively engaged in activities with beneficiaries covering the whole programme area which is stretched for almost 1000 km along the border. We have organized numerous events through the programme cycle resulting in an exhaustive da-tabase of programme beneficiaries.

Partner search forums are focused on cross-border match-making especially for those beneficiaries that have a project idea, but still don’t have a partner across the border. Four such forums were orga-nized for the preparation of the 1st and 3 for the 2nd Call. Besides these events, our beneficiaries have an on-line forum available on the programme website, which gives them an opportunity to publish their contacts, project fiche, experience in previous projects and type of partner institution they wish to match with. type of partner institution they wish to match with.

In order to support PAs with project preparation, JTS organized two- day workshops for each Call for proposals. The emphasis of the first trainings was on development of logical framework and budget, while for the second Call more attention was put to the part of proj-ect proposals that were generally not well presented by PAs.

JTS also organised a series of Information sessions with the aim to present the criteria for single Call for proposal and application pack. A round of 7 Information sessions was organized for the 1st and 6 for the 2nd CfP.

Applicants that haven’t been awarded grants under 1st CfP had the

CBIB: The implementation of first cross-border projects under your programme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing actions and their first results

opportunity to attend one-day Lessons learned workshops where the accent was put on most common mistakes and general weaknesses of their project proposals.

For Grant Beneficiaries, JTS developed the Implementation package and annexes and held or participated in Implementation workshops carried out in March 2011. Currently we are in the process of detailed planning of monitoring visits to grant beneficiaries in both countries.

CBIB:CBIB: The second Call for Proposals under your programme has been published on 5th September 2011. The JTS has organized the information sessions. Can you tell us more on the scope and con-tent of the Call and your impressions of the interest shown by poten-tial applicants so far and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

N.R.: Having in mind the experience from the 1st Call and numerous pre-paratory activities before the publication of the 2nd Call, we expect a large number of applications. Heterogeneity of programme area faces different thematic problems and it is expected that a variety of interesting projects will be the additional challenge for the Joint Selection Committee.

Respecting the high interest and quality of project proposals from the 1st Call, Programme management structures decided to merge three IPA annual allocations (2009-2010-2011) and enable even more funds to be available (EUR 5,4 million compared to EUR 3,6 million) which will result with more awarded projects. Also, the extension of the programme area in BiH (adjacent Central region with 16 municipalities) and interest showed in preparatory activities might also cause the increased number of overall projects proposals.of overall projects proposals.

CBIB: What are your main expectations, as well as what main chal-lenges you see for the future of the IPA CBC programmes in the Western Balkans?

N.R.: In the context of cooperation between Croatia and Bosnia and Her-zegovina, expectations from programme beneficiaries are focused to an increase of funds to support a huge interest for projects. Having in mind the beneficiaries’ experience and good cooperation between two coun-tries, the future will result with even better capacities to prepare and implement CBC projects and actions. Initiatives in environment protec-tion, improvement of joint tourist offer, cooperation between institutions and civil society organizations will have the opportunity to be extended and improve the socio - economic development of targeted population in the programme area (5,8 million people).

cbc updates


CRO - MNE

Head of JTS: Dragan Đurišić

AntennaBranitelja Dubrovnika 4120000 Dubrovnik, CRO Tel: +385 (0)20 638 [email protected]

JTSSkaljari bb

85330 Kotor, MNETel: +382 (0)32 322 [email protected]

D.Đ.: Most projects funded under the first Call last 18 months and more, so currently they are in the first third of their imple-mentation. Since the JTS conducts regular monitoring visits, we can say that all projects are implemented in accordance with their action plans.

Joint education programmes are carried out through the proj-ects; cross-border culture networks are established; new tourist products are developed or under development; joint marketing initiatives are conducted and most importantly, cross-border cooperation is increased through joint initiatives and actions.


D.Đ. Support to the potential applicants is reflected in the as-sistance in establishing cross-border partnerships, introduc-tion to the programme, its priorities and measures and oppor-tunities that are provided within it. All of the above activities are implemented through the info days, (12 info days orga-nized in Montenegro and Croatia), Partner Search Forums (one in Montenegro, one in Croatia) and PCM trainings (one in Croatia). Support is also provided through the individual meetings of the JTS staff and the potential applicants in the JTS office and through the phone and e-mail correspon-dence.

Since most of our grant beneficiaries are not experienced in implementing projects using EU procedures, they needed JTS support from the beginning of the project implementa-tion. Support in this field includes: familiarising with EU rules and procedures, help in preparation of the notification letters and addendums, help in preparation of the procurement filing system, project monitoring, etc.

CBIB: Cross-border cooperation is taking place for the first time in the eligible area of your programme under IPA and dedicated funding is available to the local com-munities. What are your impressions of the interest shown by potential applicants and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

D.Đ.: The interest of potential applicants to submit project proposals on the next second Call is great. More than 350 participants at the Information Days and Partner Search Forums organised before the publication of the CfP are the confirmation of this. Also, a large number of visits to the JTS office and the numerous phone calls indicate the great inter-est of the potential applicants. The capacities of potential ap-plicants to successfully apply for grants were not proficient at the beginning of the programme implementation, but consid-erable progress can be noticed at this stage. Many of the

CBIB:The implementation of first cross-border projects under your programme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing actions and their first results.

trainings for preparation of the project proposals organized by JTS and CBIB contributed to the improvement of the capacities of poten-tial applicants.


D.Đ.: Main expectations are to continue the process of accomplish-ing the main priority of the programme: creation of favourable envi-ronmental and socio-economic conditions in the programme area by improvement of the co-operation in the jointly selected sectors and good neighbourly relations in the eligible areas.

The main challenges would be to build the capacity of the beneficia-ries to be able to absorb all the funds available under PA, which will be used to achieve the objectives of the programme. In addition, ca-pacity building in managing EU projects is very important for the future as a preparation for the use of structural funds.

cbc updates


CRO - SRB

JTSMinistry of Regional Development,Forestry and Water ManagementTrg kralja Petra Kresimira IV br. 110000 Zagreb, CROTel: +385 1 63 91 [email protected] [email protected]

AntennaSolarski Trg 322000 Sremska Mitrovica, SRBPhone: +381 22 617 [email protected]

Head of JTS: Emina Štefičić

E.Š.: Under CBP Croatia – Serbia 11 projects were selected for financing and 22 contracts were signed by relevant Contracting Authorities. Out of 11 projects contracted 5 started with imple-mentation in mid January, 4 at the beginning of February and two in March 2011.

JTS performed 22 preliminary monitoring visits on both sides of the border and drafted 11 preliminary monitoring visit reports as well as 11 risk assessments. Based on those reports and risk assessments generally we can say that all projects are pro-gressing well. For each project teams from both sides of the border are established, projects managers are capable of man-aging the activities and functional lead partners are devoted to the overall realization of the projects which is a good precondi-tion for ensuring smooth implementation and realization of all project objectives, results and outcome indicators


E.Š.: For the potential applicants, the JTS, with support of both Operating Structures, is organising different events and prepar-ing and distributing brochures and publications covering specific topics such as “the most frequent mistakes in preparation of projects”, as well as disseminating programme leaflets that pro-vide general information about programme.

For the purpose of the second Call, JTS has organized 2 Partner Search Forums in July: in Osijek for 180 participants and in Novi Sad for 206 participants from both Serbia and Croatia. JTS staff has facilitated each of the 3 sectoral workshops which were held as a part of the forums.

JTSJTS also organised 6 two-day PCM trainings for potential appli-cants which were held in autumn last year and were attended by a total of 366 participants. These were followed by four work-shops on “Most frequent mistakes under the 1st CfP”, aimed at applicants from both countries whose applications were not se-lected for financing.

Our support to grant beneficiaries started with developing the implementation package and organisation of implementation workshops on reporting, payment requests, secondary procure-ment, verification of expenditure and ownership, VAT exemp-tion, communication and visibility and project monitoring. JTS also provides technical support to beneficiaries during the imple-mentation of projects, in particular with regard to secondary procurement.

CBIB: The second Call for Proposals under your pro-gramme has been published on 15 August 2011. The JTS has organized the information sessions. Can you tell us more on the scope and content of the Call and your impres-sions of the interest shown by potential applicants so far

CBIB: The implementation of first cross-border projects under your pro-gramme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing ac-tions and their first results.

and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

TheThe overall Objective of the 2nd Call is to promote the sustainable de-velopment of the cross-border region through effective use of the region’s economic potential, in synergy with friendly and appropriate use of natural resources ensuring the preservation of regional biodi-versity. The overall, indicative, amount of the 2nd Call for Proposals is € 5,350,165 .

Within two weeks after publication of CfP 6 information sessions were organised in Croatia and Serbia with the main aim to present to po-tential applicants the GfA and the Application package. All events were organized by the JTS in cooperation with operating structures and contracting authorities. In total almost 600 potential applicants at-tended the information sessions what indicates that there is huge in-terest for cross-border cooperation between the two countries.


E.Š.:E.Š.: Cross-border /regional cooperation is of key importance for es-tablishing regional stability, and economic prosperity in WB Coun-tries. Values such as promoting good neighborly relations across border, improving collaboration and sharing experience between local, regional and national stakeholders, intensifying cross-border dialogue, promoting and improving economic development in a so-cially and environmentally sustainable way are essential for regional cooperation and are already constituents of IPA CBP.

The challenge we are facing is that the interest for IPA CBP Croatia-Serbia exceeds the funds available. 99 out of 110 project ideas sub-mitted as project proposals under the 1st CfP could not be realized de-spite the fact that many of them were assessed as high quality proj-ects. It should be of utmost importance to secure more funds for our programme, which would be directed towards improvement of man-agement capacities and in turn cause that even more local andgional actors have the opportunity to experience the benefits of cross-border cooperation

cbc updates


MK - AL

Head of JTS: Goce Toleski

JTSBoro Duni bb

6330 Struga, MKTel: +389 46 788 300

[email protected]

G.G.T.: 1st CfP grant beneficiaries have signed their contracts at the end of March 2011.They are currently in the middle of the process of implementation of their projects. Monitoring of the projects under our programme is being carried out by EU Delegation from Skopje in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. JTS from Struga was supposed to carry out some monitoring visits with Albanian benefi-ciaries on behalf of EU Delegation from Tirana during July 2011, howevehowever, due to certain issues related to the TA priority funds these visits have been postponed.


G.T. JTS Struga has successfully launched the first Call for Propos-als in 2009 and held 7 information sessions and partner search forums for almost 350 participants. The 2nd CfP was launched in April 2010 and JTS organized 9 Information sessions and partner search forums with almost 500 participants. While both Calls were open, the JTS collected questions from Potential Applicants and provided appropriate answers with the assistance of CBIB.

After the grant contracts were signed, JTS Struga has provided lo-gistic support for the organization of a one-day training for grant beneficiaries, held in the JTS premises on 4 May 2011, in the organi-zation of the EUD Skopje. This was an opportunity for grantees to obtain answers to many technical questions related to the project implementation such as: procurement, visibility of the projects, budget reallocations, eligibility of costs.

JTS Struga has also provided logistic support to the organization of two three-day training sessions on Grant Implementation and Sec-ondary Procurement delivered by CBIB on 16-18 May 2011 in Struga, and 19-21 May 2011 in Tirana. In addition, again together with CBIB, JTS Struga participated in the organization of two three-day training sessions on Project Preparation held for Potential Appli-cants in June and July 2011 in Struga and Bitola.

The main role of JTS Struga at this moment is to collect questions from the grant beneficiaries regarding project implementation and to provide answers together with the EUD Skopje, as well as to carry out all the necessary preparatory activities for the launching of the 3rd Call for Proposals. CBIB:CBIB: Cross-border cooperation is taking place for the first time in the eligible area of your programme under IPA and dedi-cated funding is available to the local communities. What are your impressions of the interest shown by potential applicants and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

G.T.: The main role of JTS during this period was to raise aware-ness of the potential applicants regarding the opportunities available to apply for Grants through the organization of info sessions, partner search forums, the process of collecting and answering requests for additional information during the Calls, as well as through training sessions organised for both potential applicants and grant benefi-ciaries.


Having in mind that we received 60 applications for the 1st CfP and 83 ap-plications in the 2nd Call we can say that there was big interest for funding opportunities available under the IPA CBC programme between the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania. There is also a big interest for the next, third, Call for Proposals.


G.T.: The launching of the 3rd CfP is close, and the JTS will have to carry out all necessary preparations related to this – finalise the Application Package, as well as prepare logistically and implement the information sessions and the partner search forums. What is obvious from the field is that potential applicants need more ca-pacity building especially related to specific aspects of grant application – logframe, budget and indicators, in order to be ready to meet the chal-lenges of the upcoming Calls. Furthermore, a larger number of joint, cross-border events is needed in order to support the cooperation be-tween beneficiaries.

In addition, project sustainability also needs to be further supported as this represents, in general, one of the weakest points in all project propos-als. Some organisations have ideas on how to anchor the projects institu-tionally, but most have no clear idea of where the financing is coming from and they are all hoping for another project. This is another challenge that needs to be addressed by all IPA CBC practitioners.

One of the immediate challenges for JTS Struga will be to cope success-fully with the monitoring of the grant beneficiaries on both sides of the border. EUD Skopje plans to continue to run the monitoring missions with support of the JTS and eventually hand the monitoring over completely to the JTS when our capacities are strong enough. JTS will carry out moni-toring on the Albanian side of the border as well, and we are currently pre-paring the schedule for the next monitoring missions. We will also develop a monitoring strategy for impact assessment.

We expect that the issues related to the full operational capacity of the JTS will be solved as soon as possible (2007 TA funds to become readily available and Antenna in Elbasan, Albania, to be re-staffed) so that JTS will be ready for all the challenges in the upcoming period.

cbc updates


SRB - BIH

JTSNemanjina 5231000 Uzice, SRBTel: +381 31 512 [email protected]

AntennaTTuralibegova bb, TC Pasaz75000 Tuzla, BiHTel: +387 35 257 [email protected]

Head of JTS: Ljiljana Ršumović

Lj.R.:Lj.R.: Under the CBC Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 projects have been contracted. Since two projects have ended during August and September, at this moment 16 projects are in the implementation phase. The awarded Actions under the CBC Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina are mainly focusing on solving the common problems in the various areas such as: tourism, environment, economy, people to people activities. TheThe beneficiaries have shown a great commitment in imple-menting the Actions and achieving the planned results. To-gether with their partners from other side of the border the ben-eficiaries are successfully managing the implementation rules and procedures and the first results will be soon visible in the Programming area.


Lj.R.: The JTS office in Uzice and the Antenna in Tuzla are the first contact points for the potential applicants and the benefi-ciaries from both sides of the border. During the previous period, the JTS team with the support from the Operating Structures and the Delegations has organized information seminars, workshops and trainings for the potential applicants and beneficiaries. The main goal was to provide the support to thethe potential applicants and beneficiaries and to raise the awareness regarding the Programme and the CBC rules and procedures. Also by organizing the Partner Search Forums, the participants had a chance to meet potential partners from the other side of the border and to present their potential proj-ect ideas.

As a part of the day-to-day implementation of the Programme, JTS/Antenna is providing the support to the applicants and the beneficiaries. The JTS/Antenna staff are answering queries re-ceived from the applicants, beneficiaries and relevant stake-holders on a daily basis.

The number of the participants present at the events or-ganised, and the number of the project proposals received under the first Call are showing the great interest for the Pro-gramme among the target groups in the programming area.

CBIB: Cross-border cooperation is taking place for the first time in the eligible area of your programme under IPA and dedicated funding is available to the local communi-ties. What are your impressions of the interest shown by potential applicants and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

Lj.R.: Upon launching and publishing the second Call for the proposals the Operating Structures supported by the JTS or-ganized a kick-off conference in Bijeljina, in Bosnia and Herze-govina. This was the opportunity to announce the CfP.

CBIB: The implementation of first cross-border projects under your pro-gramme began at the end of last year and it is now in full swing. Tell us something more about the ongoing actions and their first results.

The Conference was attended by 130 guests who were addressed by the representatives of the Delegations of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the Republic of Serbia, by the Oper-ating Structures and also by the Minister Adviser of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The guests had an opportunity to hear two success stories told by two beneficiary organizations whose projects are financed under the first Call for Proposals.Proposals.

In order to provide the necessary information regarding the Second Call for proposals the JTS has organized four info sessions. The in-formation sessions have been organized in Sabac and Uzice in Serbia and in Lukavac and Istocno Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herze-govina. The participants had an opportunity to hear the important in-formation regarding the rules and procedures for applying under the second Call for Proposals. Representatives of the EU Delegations, the Operating Structures, as well as the Joint Technical Secretariat answered the questions about the second Call. The JTS is very sat-isfied with the number of the participants on these events and if we judge on the basis of this we can expect a large number of project proposals under the second CfP.


Lj.R.:Lj.R.: Although cross-border cooperation is very challenging it is also a real satisfaction to be a part of the CBC family. Supported by the Operating Structures and the Delegation, I think that we have managed to overcome all potential problems and obstacles. The JTS staff is very committed to provide the support to the potential applicants and beneficiaries and as a Head of the JTS I am grateful for this. I am expecting to see a large number of project proposals receivedreceived under the second CfP and many good project ideas in future.

cbc updates


SRB - MNE

Head of JTS: Denis Slatina

AntennaTrade centreSlobode bb

84000 Bijelo Polje, MNETel: +382 50 431 [email protected]

JTSVladimira Perica Valtera 36

31300 Prijepolje, SRBTel: +381 33 712 [email protected]

D.S.:D.S.: This is correct. The first round of monitoring visits was con-ducted by the JTS during March and April of 2011 and we are very satisfied with the first results produced by project teams on both sides of the border. Cooperation between partners is very good and most of them will continue cooperation in the future both by applying jointly for CBC projects and by developing other types of coopera-tion.

Activities that have been implemented through the projects include: organisation of workshops, trainings, visibility events, procurement of services and supplies, performing works, printing of promotional materials, etc., meaning that, virtually all activities that were eligible under the call are being implemented in the area by the beneficia-ries, supported by the JTS, which significantly increased local ca-pacities for implementing EU funded projects.

In addition, IPA Component II has definitely been identified as an im-portant instrument for socio-economic and environmental develop-ment of the entire area at various conferences that have been or-ganised in the cross-border region of Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina and attended by the programme staff.


D.S. JTS (including the Antenna office) provides technical assis-tance to grant beneficiaries during implementation of projects through every-day contact over phone, e-mail, or in person, regard-ing various issues that require attention (instructions regarding pro-curement procedures and related documents, EU visibility require-ments, VAT exemption, modifications of projects through notification letters, or addenda, coordinating project activities with project partners, taking care that project documents are adequately filed in, etc.)

As far as potential applicants are concerned, support from the JTS is provided by giving additional information regarding programme objectives, priorities and measures, eligible actions, costs, types of institutions, either through direct contact with potential applicants, or through the programme website: www.cbcsrb-mne.org. In addition, capacities of potential applicants to prepare quality project propos-als have been strengthened through four workshops on PCM and LLFA, organised by JTS/A. This was followed by two partner search forums which gathered over 200 representatives of potential appli-cants from the area.

CBIB: The second Call for Proposals under your programme has been published on 15 August 2011. The JTS has organized the kick-off conference and the information sessions. Can you tell us more on the scope and content of the Call and your im-pressions of the interest shown by potential applicants so far and their capacities to successfully apply for grants?

D.S.: The whole idea of CBC programmes is implementation of learning by doing principle and it seems like that this has produced good results so far. Interest shown by potential applicants has been increasing at a high rate during programme implementation – espe-cially since the projects from the 1st CfP started implementing.


During first three weeks of September we organised 5 events related to launching of the second Call – an Opening Ceremony in Kolašin, Monte-negro and four info sessions – two in Montenegro, in Žabljak and Plav, and two in Serbia, in Kraljevo and Užice. Judging by the turnout we had at these events – more than 300 people attended, and if we take into ac-count interest shown from current beneficiaries who, without exception, expressed their will to participate in the 2nd Call, it is very likely that the ratio of almost 5:1 of requested against available funds under the 1st CfP will be exceeded.


D.S.: CBC programmes were already identified as one of the most impor-tant sources of funding for all development projects in the area. Com-pared with the period of three years ago when the implementation of CBC programmes started and when very few people were aware of their exis-tence, now there is almost no individual in the area that has not heard of CBC programmes. We can expect that awareness raising will continue in the future and result in an increasing number of good quality applications in each subsequent call for proposals. Thus, it is likely that the pro-gramme objectives will be achieved by the end of period of implementa-tion.

Capacities of grant beneficiaries to implement projects could be chal-lenged to a certain point, since number of projects granted under each call will remain low and not too many organisations will have the opportu-nity to deal with project implementation and get acquainted with proce-dures and rules applicable.

In addition, each project consists of two contracts signed with two Delega-tions of the European Union (in two participating countries) that often have different requirements and expectations from grant beneficiaries and this could cause some confusion among beneficiaries. However, these issues have been dealt with successfully by beneficiaries sup-ported by the JTS and we can expect the same in the future.

cbc updates


KOS

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Kosovo

PreparationPreparation of this programming document started in 2010, outlining the scope and focus of this cross-border programme. By the end of 2010 the European Commission approved this document and then the Financing Agreement between the EC and two beneficiary countries was countersigned in July 2011 in Skopje.

InIn the first year of this CBC programme, budget will be allo-cated to a pre-defined project to create a new border crossing point. At the moment preparations are underway for a feasibil-ity study and a preliminary design of how the premises could look and of which facilities they would consist. Later in 2012 there will also be a Call for Proposals, inviting eligible organisa-tions in the border region to submit their proposals for concrete cross-border cooperation projects.

Albania - Kosovo

The development of this programme largely followed the same time-path as the development of the programme with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with programming starting at the beginning of 2010 and with the EC approving the resulting CBC Programme document by the end of 2010. The Financing Agreement with the European Commission was countersigned by both countries in September 2011.

TheThe first grant scheme is expected to be launched through a Call for Proposals by the end of 2011. This means that until the end of the year a range of training and information dissemina-tion activities are planned in order to prepare potential appli-cants on both sides of the border. Meanwhile, preparations have taken place for creating the required organizational struc-tures (e.g. a Joint Monitoring Committee, a Joint Technical Secretariat on the Albanian side of the border and an Antenna Office in Kosovo).

Montenegro - Kosovo

The CBC Programme document was submitted to the EC in February 2011 and is expected to be approved by the end of the year. Subsequently, in the first half of 2012 the Financing Agreement can be sent and signed, after which preparations for implementing this CBC program can start also, resulting in a Call for Proposals in the second half of 2012.

* Under UNSCR 1244/1999

IPA Cross-Border Cooperationin Kosovo*

SinceSince 2010 Kosovo* has been preparing for the EU-fund-ed and nationally co-funded cross-border cooperation programmes together with its neighbours from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. All three programmes will in their first year have a total budget of € 1.2 million annually. So how have preparations been going so far and what is coming up? ThisThis article provides a brief overview on the state-of-play of the CBC programmes coming up for Kosovo.

The ceremony of the signature of the Financing Agreement for the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia took place in Skopje, on July 26 2011.

TheThe first project to be financed under this programme will be the new joint border crossing point Belanovce-Stancic, which will in-volve the building of an entirely new infrastructure. The funds for this border area are worth 1,2 million EUR, available for the period 2011-2012. This step paves the way for the full implementation of the CBC initiatives between the two countries. Greeting the event as a “very positive development”, Edon Cana, IPA Coordinator vowedvowed the commitment of the Kosovo authorities for a successful implementation of the project, while Jovan Andonovski, State Sec-retary of the Macedonian Secretariat for European Affairs described the act as a “new era in our cooperation, which will enable the com-mencement of the implementation of the joint strategic project and the subsequent grant scheme, both of true benefit for our citizens”.

The ceremony of the signature of the Financing Agreement for the IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Kosovo and Albania took place in Prizren, September 9 2011.

KosovoKosovo and Albania expect to launch the first Call for Project Pro-posals in late fall of this year, inviting partner organisations to submit their ideas and plans for cross-border cooperation initiatives. This is now made possible by the Financing Agreement with the European Commission, countersigned on September 9th, by the Ministers for European Integration of Kosovo and Albania. This makes EUR 1.2 million available annually for funding the IPA CBC programme in the borderborder areas between the two countries. Minister Vlora Citaku (Kosovo) and Minister Majlinda Bregu (Albania) both welcomed the Cross-Border Cooperation initiative as a concrete and very practical step forward in the process for European integration.

In charge of the development and implementation of Kosovo Cross-Border Cooperation with its neighbours is the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA). Deputy Prime Minister and MLGA Minister Slobodan Petrovic stressed in his speech the importance that Cross-Border Cooperation has for the stability and prosperity of people living in the border regions in and around Kosovo.

TheThe EC Liaison Office to Kosovo was represented by Acting Head Khaldoun Sinno. He underlined the importance of Cross-Border Co-operation and highlighted the progress that has been made in the past decade in Albania and Kosovo in their mutual relations as well as in their relations with the European Commission.

The budget for the Kosovo – Albania Cross-Border Cooperation Programme will be used for grants to fund social, cultural, environ-mental and economic cross border cooperation initiatives.

cbc updates

„Raspberries Over the Border“ is one of the projects implemented in the framework of the IPA CBC pro-gramme between Serbia and Bosnia and Herze-govina. Project partners are municipalities of Arilje and Cajetina from Serbia and Istocni Stari Grad and Sokolac from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Total proj-ect budget is EUR 394.180,00, and planned project duration is from 1 December 2010 until 31 May 2012.The project objective is to improve cooperation be-tween farmers from the four municipalities, as well as to improve the situation with berry farming through the creation of an experimental pilot berry plantation.

Project activities started with training seminars on the topics of intensive and ecological berry farming, held in April 2011, providing expert guidance to farmers intending to take part in the project and give their land for the purpose of starting the pilot berry plantations. Expert lecturers presented modern trends in berry farming, modalities and technology forfor setting up experimental plantations of raspber-ries (selection of land, preparation, planting, irriga-tion and cultivation).

After the training, interested farmers registered for having their land included in the experimental berry plantation activity. 30 land plots in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina each, showing greatest potential for successful cultivation of raspberries, were selected by the experts from the project.

ExperimentalExperimental berry plantations were created in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of April using the Vilamet raspberries. In Serbia, existing planta-tions have been improved and conditions explored for starting berry production in closed spaces. Proj-ect experts have visited the plantations in August and September, giving recommendations to farmers on further measures and actions in proper culti-vation of raspberry plants.

A study trip was organised for some 30 farmers from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Arilje in Serbia, while a joint study visit to Slovenia will be organised for all participating farmers in October. The project will culminate in the organization of the “Raspberry Days” festival.

From 16 November 2010 to 16 November 2011, the Foundation for the Development of Northern Montenegro - FORS Montenegro is implementing a project Together for Nature, funded by the European Union, within the IPA cross-border cooperation programme Serbia-Montenegro. The project is being implemented in the municipalities of Berane, Niksic and Pljevlja in Montenegro, and the municipality of Kraljevo in Serbia. Total project value is € 273,000. The partners in the project are the Utility Inspection of Niksic and the Agency for Environmental Protection of Niksic, while in Serbia, the project is implemented by the PublicPublic Utility Enterprise “Cistoca” from Kralje-vo. The project is implemented in close coop-eration with the utility inspections and local au-thorities from Berane and Pljevlja, as well.

The overall objective of the project “Together for Nature“ is to contribute to the protection of life environment by removing illegal garbage dumps, establishing of the monitoring system and raising the awareness of people about cor-rect waste disposal.

The target group of the project are citizens of the municipalities of Kraljevo, Niksic, Berane and Pljevlja, who live in the vicinity of illegal garbage dumps that will be cleaned during project implementation, because their health has been directly endangered by illegal dumps. The final beneficiaries of the project are people inin the target municipalities and citizens in both Serbia and Montenegro that will be reached through the campaign “Together for Nature“.

The main activities of the project are the clean-ing of illegal garbage dumps in all four munici-palities, establishment of the monitoring sys-tems for cleaned sites, procurement of vehicles for the Public Utility Enterprise “Cistoca” in Kraljevo, promotion of “green” phone numbers which citizens can call and report irresponsible behaviour towards environment, and the cam-paign “Together for Nature”, which includes creation and broadcasting of TV and radio clips, printing and distribution of posters, T-shirts, leaflets and brochures, renting of bill-boards, press conferences, participation in TV and radio shows.

stories from the field


As a part of planned activities of the cross-border project Building Pathways for Tourism Cooperation through the Development of Handicraft Products, implemented under the IPA CBC programme be-tween Albania and Montenegro, project partners or-ganised a Crafts Bazaar on 17-18 September 2011 in Podgorica, Montenegro. This was an opportunity for about 100 craftsmen from Podgorica and Shkodra regions to exhibit and offer their products, brands and services and get in touch with their target groups, strengthen the image of craftsman-ship and improve the market situation for their prod-ucts.

Twenty thousand people that visited the bazaar were able to learn about the crafts and how to turn traditional craftsmanship into income-generating activities, build a positive attitude towards domestic products, express their creativeness through com-petitions, as well as enjoy in concerts, performanc-es and fashion shows.

Professional skilled crafts associations had the op-portunity to present their work and to put an empha-sis on their social importance and services they offer. Entrepreneurs had direct contact with new technologies which open new working places and they got motivated to increase their competitive-ness through market niches. Best practice examples of fully professionally developed and finan-cially independent craftsmen were demonstrated to the young people, giving them a sense of direction and a motivation to choose a similar profession for themselves after they graduate.

The most successful entrepreneurs, decision makers and persons who successfully contribute to the improvement of business framework in Monte-negro will be awarded during our widely recognised manifestation "Manager of the year".

The Montenegro Chamber of Skilled Crafts and En-trepreneurship organised the bazaar together with Capital Podgorica and the Albanian partners from Shkodra, contributing to the fulfilling of the main project objective – developing and promoting arti-san business in the cross-border area through the preservation and revitalisation of traditional artisan production. It is expected that the bazaar will become a regular event. The Capital Podgorica itself will experience new transformation, create a noticeable brand and we hope that our cross-border partnership within the IPA project will become the example of good practice.

On 1 December 2010, the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Municipality of Priboj, Center for Children and Family Support from Bijelo Polje and Center for Social Work from Priboj, began the implementation of the cross-border project „Without Borders Because of Children”. This project is implemented under the IPA CBC pro-gramme between Serbia and Montenegro.gramme between Serbia and Montenegro.The goal of the project is to improve the quality of life of children and young people at risk of poverty and strengthen cooperation between the two partner cities through exchange of people, experience, promotion of multicultural-ism and strengthening the identity of marginal-ized groups.

The project has already held two study visits between the participating institutions, enabling the cross-fertilisation of experience in the field of social care for elderly, victims of domestic violence, disabled children, and mental health care. Furthermore, two excursions in the eli-gible area of both Serbia and Montenegro were organisedorganised for 50 children from participating mu-nicipalities who were introduced to important natural, cultural and historical heritage situated across the border.

Two “Oasis of Peace and Tolerance Camps” were also organised in April 2011 for 60 chil-dren and 20 adults with the aim of connecting the children from two countries, establishing friendships and strengthening their skills in non-violent communication, acting and visual arts, physical fitness and environmental protec-tion. 20 experts from various fields were en-gaged by the project to work with the children during the two camps.

In September 2011, a two day-manifestation “Friend to Friend” was organised for 80 chil-dren from Priboj and Bijelo Polje along with all educators, psychologists and doctors who have worked with children during the project. A parade was organised through down town Bijelo Polje on the first day of the event, fol-lowed by an exhibition of children’s art work de-signed during the two camps that have taken place previously. A formal programme, gather-ing the Municipality Presidents of Bijelo Polje and Priboj, representatives of EU Delegations, the Joint Technical Secretariat of the pro-gramme, other donors and citizens, was ganised on the second day of the event.

Active participation of children in all these events provided them with the opportunity to share experience with peers, to conduct a revi-sion of their existing attitudes, prejudice and values, to gain a broader understanding of con-flicts and ways of overcoming them, as well as to develop an awareness of quality of life that cross-border communities can offer.



FORS Montenegro – the Foundation for the Development of Northern Montenegro, in coop-eration with the Territorial Fire Brigade Trebinje and Protection and Rescue Service of the Niksic Municipality, is currently implementing the project “Be Ready“ funded by the European Union, within the IPA CBC Programme be-tween Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montene-gro. The project is implemented in the munici-pality of Niksic in Montenegro and the munici-pality of Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Total project value is 166.960,00 €.

The overall objective of the project is to contrib-ute to forest fire prevention activities through the cooperation of the Territorial Fire Brigade Trebinje and Protection and Rescue Service of Niksic Municipality, as well as local population from target municipalities. An integrated plan for the management of natural disasters with thethe focus on fires will be prepared and adopted as the main outcome of the project.

During previous months, in addition to the Agreement on preventing fires in the cross-border area that was signed between the Terri-torial Fire Brigade Trebinje and the Protection and Rescue Service of Niksic Municipality, de-fining goals of their cooperation in the period of one year, two trainings were organised for the employees of the project partner institutions. During the following months, the project part-ners will procure equipment for protection and rescuing, as well as organise workshops for local population which are very important in educating citizens on how to behave in case of fires. A comprehensive media campaign will also be carried out, as well as lectures held in primary and secondary schools on fire preven-tion and protection.

On 7 July 2011, project partners organised a cross-border fire exercise entitled "Grahovo 2011". The exercise involved the participation of the Protection and Rescue Service of Niksic Municipality, Territorial Fire Brigade Trebinje and 2 volunteer fire fighting associations from Niksic. It was aimed at training and coordinat-inging actions of professional and volunteer fire fighting units from the territory of the munici-palities of Niksic and Trebinje, testing the com-mand system and alarms, as well as better op-erating with fire fighting equipment and tech-niques. The drill involved 45 fire fighters, 6 fire engines and two airplanes.

The NauTour project, implemented under the IPA CBC programme between Croatia and Montenegro, aims to improve the tourist poten-tial of Dubrovnik-Neretva County and the Mon-tenegrin coast by promoting them as a joint tourist destination and more specifically fo-cuses on the improvement of the quality of services and safety levels in nautical tourism in the cross-border area.

After the kick-off meeting between project part-ners held in February in 2011, planned activi-ties have been implemented through study visits and training sessions held, as well as through conducting round table discussions for service and safety providers from the cross-border area. Training course (lectures and practical work) took place on the premises of the Hydrographic Institute of the Republic of Croatia and onboard their survey vessel "Hidra", while two round tables took place in June and July, in Kotor and Dubrovnik respec-tively.

These were complemented by discussions on the current situation in nautical tourism, regula-tions governing the sector, border crossing pro-cedures, berths required for mega yachts, the problem of large distances between the exist-ing marinas, shore devastation, requirements with respect to facilities in marinas and services offered, as well as the issue of illegal charters.

One of the expected results of the project is the preparation of two tourist guides - for leisure mariners and for mega yachts that will visit the cross-border area between Croatia and Monte-negro. The scope and topics to be covered by the guides were discussed with and presented to the target groups and the public during a meeting held inmeeting held in April in Split.

The guides will contain general information on geography, history and culture in the cross-border area, relevant maps and charts, chapter for each tourist port and marina with photos, plans, nautical information, tourist and general service information, as well as important infor-mation related to maritime safety.

The project expects to achieve the sustainable access to information for those interested in nautical tourism, set the basis for the coordina-tion of service providers and safety authorities and build capacities for conducting hydro-graphic measurements and preparing official hydrographic publications.




R.L.W.T.V.

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The internet radio station www.widereurope.eu has been set up with the purpose of promoting EU Enlargement and the European Neighbour-hood. If you are interested in future EU Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, whether as an individual, journalist, photogra-pher, analyst, video/photo-reporter, activist or musician, or as a result of working for an environmental pressure group, trade union, faith-based organization, national democracy movement, CSO/NGO, think tank/lobby group, university, multilateral/bilateral donor, media-based or-ganisation, the private sector, government department or whatever, then WIDER EUROPE is for you. It addresses key events, bullet-points impor-tant issues relevant to Europe's neighbourhood, and plays music 52/24/7.

Website founders believe that a necessary condition for Wider European society to work properly is that its people have easy access to available information. However, as it is sometimes difficult for non-specialists to know where to look first, WIDER EUROPE helps by harvesting useful websites relevant to tomorrow's European Union, as well as to EU En-largement and European Neighbourhood Policy. The websites refer to changing economic, social, environmental and geo-political ideas that areare being developed in the public, private and third sectors, as well as the fourth estate (news media).

WIDER EUROPE is under continuous development thus any contribu-tions and comments are welcome at [email protected].

An independent film and visual arts festival, collaboratively curated by Skopje, Sarajevo, Pristina and Amsterdam, had its first edition from Sep-tember to December 2010 in each of the four cities. There were visual art exhibitions, film screenings, workshops and discussions. The main pro-gramme included 12 artists and united 36 movies by young directors which were divided into six thematic programmes.

The goal of the festival is simple: to create the conditions for continuous exchange of information and knowledge about new artistic and cultural de-velopments in the Balkans and Western Europe. It is also about overcom-ing the stereotypes that exist in both directions – from the Balkans to the EU and from the EU to the Balkans. In addition, all festival partners (Balkan Buro from the Netherlands, Lokomotiva, the Former Yugoslav Re-public of Macedonia, Kriterion, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Dit’ e Nat’from Kosovo) were equally involved in fund-raising and implementation, overcoming the usual stereotyping and regional mistrust.

Preparations for the second edition have already begun and the partners are aiming to give it a more educational character by organising work-shops on film, as well as theoretical reflections on contemporary art that have been developed through this type of cooperation.

For those who missed the 4TC festival the first time round, the exhibitions are touring Europe during summer (Berlin in May and Dijon in July), while films, pictures and materials can be found online at www.4tunedcities.org.

Regional Contemporary Art Book

AnAn electronic book that explores con-temporary fine arts and theory in the Balkans was released this spring as part of a regional project Let’s Talk Critic Art. The book focuses on artists from Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia and features work from the 1990s1990s to the present. A wide array of issues is discussed in the book, in-cluding identity, workers' rights and the position of women.

The book also looks at the art scene of the four countries’ capital cities, as is evident in the book’s long title: From Consideration to Commitment: Art in Critical Confrontation With Society (Belgrade, Ljubljana, Skopje, Zagreb: 1990-2010).

TheThe publication is available in a number of different languages and online at:http://talkingcriticarts.wordpress.com/


R.L.W.T.V.

watch

seeWestern Balkan RegionalMuseum Network

Balkan CurtainsBalkan Curtains is an investigative project, envisioned as a means of overcoming problems in communication between the residents of vari-ous countries in the Balkans, their freedom of movement and mutual understanding. Paradoxically, after the fall of the Berlin wall and the re-moval of the Iron Curtain, millions of people in the Balkans lost their freedom of movement and became the victims of divisions, iron barri-ers, new “Balkan curtains”.

Slow and shaggy trains transport people from the Bosporus to the Alps, moving with speeds more appropriate to XIX century trains, stopping every hundred kilometers or so for border inspections, representing a perfect picture of Balkan Peninsula and its position in time and space.

This 50 minute documentary was originally screened at the Balkan Junctions festival in Maribor, Slovenia in February 2011 and has since been presented throughout the region.

DirectoDirector, Writer: Ruggero De Virgiliis; Camera: Daniele Trani; Editing: Nemanja Babić; Produced by: Maja Malus; Country: Serbia, Italy, Slo-venia, 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFV1LGHvrBM&feature=player_embedded

Founded in 2006 through the support of the Swedish organisation Cul-tural Heritage without Borders, the Regional Museum Network com-prises of 11 museums from 6 Western Balkan countries. Ranging from large national institutions to small historic houses, the network aims to strengthen their role as democratic and creative meeting places, cel-ebrating, preserving and sharing the complex common heritage of the Western Balkans.

After four years of cooperation, regular meetings and workshops, the network launched their first joint project, the ‘1+1: Life & Love’ exhibi-tion. It was actually a ‘simultaneous exhibition’ that was opened in all 11 venues at the same time in March/April 2011. It showcased the Balkans that ‘share rich, diverse heritage that crosses boundaries, histories and identities’. A bus tour accompanied the opening bringing partners to-gether to celebrate. This ‘peace bus’, carrying parts of all 11 exhibitions, is planned to tour Europe, presenting the Life & Love message.

The work of the network, planned events and the exhibition catalogue and pictures can be found on: www.bmuseums.net.

SEE Cult

TheThe SEEcult.org portal is a develop-mental, informative-educational, and presentation-documentary online plat-form for the South-East European cul-ture and art. Its aim is to inform, pres-ent and incite development of an open cultural and artistic scene in the Region, its integration into Europe, and international promotion. SEEcult.org was established in 2003 by the nongovernmental organization based in Belgrade.

Besides daily updated news about events, cultural policies, open calls, debates and various projects (in Ser-bian and partly in English), SEEcult.org is also organizing exhibi-tions, debates, conferences, round tables and is also active in regional cooperation and networking.

The main goal of creating a unique re-gional informative network and univer-sal online data base in the field of cul-ture and art in SEE region is to help cultural institutions, artists and artistic organizations to plan and exchange production, present their creative works, participate more actively on the regional, European and the world scene, and to encourage the exchange of ideas, development of critical stand-points, overcoming of stereotypes.vi

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CBIB Phase II Ends on 22 November 2011

It’s been a fun ride in the past five years down the path scattered with many great achievements that the CBIB team has accomplished with all its beneficiaries, stakeholders, partners and friends from the Western Balkans and the European Commission.

With over 300 000 km of travels throughout the Region and over 800 flights, the CBIB team members have managed to travel around the globe over 15 times; with almost 200 000 e-mails received/sent, we have spent 4 hours a day only dealing with e-mail correspon-dence; as many as almost 5000 different documents have passed through our hands, desks and computers.

cbib news


During the first and the current second phase of the project, CBIB has been assisting the regional stakeholders in preparing 11 cross-border programmes, setting up relevant joint management structures, launching and successfully implementing the first round of Calls for Proposals and initiating the implementation of first cross-border projects. In addition to 3 Regional Forums and 14 Regional CBC Coordination meetings, over 200 capacity building/awareness raising events have been organized by CBIB throughout the Region with over 10,000 participants.

EC Regional Technical Assistance for IPA CBC continues with CBIB+, ensuring that all that was achieved so far is a solid basis to build upon and make cross-border cooperation a true success story and an example of how EC assistance to the Region really works!

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The 9th edition of the Tirana Interna-tional Film Festival is taking place on 5-10 December 2011. Created in 2003, this event takes place under the auspices of the Albanian National Center for Cinematography. For the first time this year, TIFF announces a featurefeature film competition along with its prestigious shorts program. It is the aim of the festival to create a meeting point for film artists and cinema en-thusiasts from Albania, the Balkans and the entire world to come together and share their linked passion and knowledge of the motion picture art form.

This year also, in October, Albania’s young filmmakers will take part on the 48 Hour Film Project, competing to see who can make the best short film in only 48 hours. The winning film will go up against others from around the world.

InIn December, the 50th edition of “Festivali i Këngës në RTSH” one of the most important and the oldest song contests in Albania, will be

celebrated. It is organised by the Albanian na-tional broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). Since its beginnings in 1966 all perform-ers have been required to perform live, with a jury or televote selecting the winner. Since 2003 it has been used to select Albania's entry for the inter-national Eurovision Song Contest.

For the outdoor types, beautiful mountains of the North (Mount Jezerca, Valbona Valley, Ros Peak Valley and Korab) and South Albania (Tomorr, Nemercka and Ostrovica) offer a multitude of op-portunities for skiing, ski touring and snowboard-ing. Crown your Albanian adventure with a New Year’s Eve celebration in Tirana!

Albanian Alps

New Year’s Eve in Tirana

Festivali i Këngës në RTSH,song contests

Albania

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AL


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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jahorina

After an eventful summer and the world famous Sarajevo Film Festival, as well as numerous other manifesta-tions throughout the country, Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes home of some of the best skiing in the Region during winter months. Whether you choosechoose Bjelasnica, Jahorina, Igman or Vlasic, you are in for three to four months of good snow during the season and many great opportunities for skiing and snowboarding.

Apart from racing downhill in some of the ski resorts, the music-thirsty trav-eler can enjoy in six days of smooth jazz during the Sarajevo Jazz Fest (1-6 November 2011, Bosnian Cul-tural Center and the Youth Theatre, Sarajevo). The 15th edition of the festival will bring top performances from jazz artists from all over the world, as well as a special music workshop tar-geting children 4-14 years old.

A 30-year long tradition is continued with this year’s edition of Banja Luka International Animated Film Festival (23-28 October 2011). This year, a

total of 100 animated films from 30 countries will be screened in seven cities and communities of BiH - Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Trebinje, Bijeljina, Gradiška and Mrkonjić Grad.

TheThe traditional manifestation Sarajevo Winter will take place for the 28th time in February and March 2012. A meeting place for artists and citizens from all over the world, the Festival programme will con-sist of the theatre plays, concerts, movies, fine arts exhibitions, panel discussions, literary events, ar-chitecture, video, programmes presenting cultural heritage and children programmes – something for everyone!

‘The best jazz is where you least expect’ is the motto of this year’s Jazz

Sarajevo Winter Festival British animation will be the focus of Banjalukanima 2011

BiH


If seaside is more your cup of tea, make sure not to miss all the October fun in Zadar where a whole month is dedicated to celebrating the city’s life in harmony with the seaside, culminat-ing in the ‘Zadarska koka’ regatta.

After you spend an interesting three weeks en-joying the festive atmosphere of Advent in Zagreb, you can kick off the New Year’s celebra-tions early by taking part in some underwater fishing during the New Year Cup taking place on 29-30.11.2011.

Various street performances make Adventin Zagreb one of the most fun times of the year

Perforacije festival breaks down boundaries between different art forms

Croatia

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Zadarska Koka Regatta

The bustling metropolis it is throughout the year, Zagreb does not disappoint during the cold months either. Zagreb Film Festival takes place in October (16-23.10.2011), presenting 90 films in 7 different programmes. “Perforacije” Festival will follow in Novem-ber in three Croatian cities: Zagreb, Rijeka and Dubrovnik and will pres-ents a range of artists working in performance art, theater, and dance (20-29.11.2011). EKO ETNO HRVATSKA EUROPA international fair, promoting rural products and services (26-30.10.2011) will be fol-lowed by the Zagreb book fair, IN-TERLIBER, from 8 to 13 November.

For those more sports inclined, the 44th edition of the international ice skating competition Golden Pirou-ette of Zagreb is taking place in De-cember (8-11.12.2011), while the Snow Queen Trophy gathers ski fans on the slopes of nearby Sljeme in January (3-5.01.2012).

CRO


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on three different locations in Skopje. Besides the main music programme, the festival also brings performance art, theatre, and social cam-paigns aimed at promoting positive values among the young people. The festival is a member of the European Festival Association YOUROPE.

If you are up for more traditional pursuits, don’t miss the Vevcani Carneval taking place each year on 13-14 January, celebrating the begin-ning of a new year according to the Julian calen-dar, but also bringing 14 centuries old pagan rituals, such as masks, magical rites of passage and blessings.

Skopje abounds with cultural offer during autumn and winter month. Throughout October, visitors can enjoy in the sweet sounds of jazz in the city’s Jazz Fest (21-24 October 2011), which was founded in 1981, at-tracting a large audience throughout thethe years and great and varied line-ups and innovative concerts. This is followed by the Festival of Contempo-rary Dance and the European Days of Silent Film, offering a selection of French and German silent films from the twenties.

Also in October, Bitola is home to the 32nd edition of the Manaki Brothers film festival. The Festival's remarkable profile, whose mandate is enriched from year to year, is attractive to both film professionals and film aficionados from all over the world. The main part ofof the Festival's program belongs to Camera 300 – the Official Competition of Long Feature Films from the most recent European and world produc-tion.

TAKSIRAT Festival 13 will take place from 25 November to 3 December

the Former Yugoslav Republic

of Macedonia

Masked Carnival in Vevcani– mystery and wild dances

Manaki Brothers Film Festival 15-21 October 2011

Mavrovo

MK


understanding and reconciliation in the region.

ForFor those who prefer outdoor activities and some superb skiing, Brezovica is a pretty and popular winter resort situated within Sara Na-tional Park. Brezovica enjoys an excellent verti-cal range from November until May. The infa-mous Orlovo Gnezdo slope is incredibly steep. There are 4 hotels at Brezovica and three new lifts opened in 2008.

SKENA UP – promoting inter-ethnic understanding

New Year’s eve in PristinaJazz Festival 2-6 November 2011 Kosovo

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Brezovica

Pristina Jazz Festival puts the city on the map of European and world jazz festivals. Taking place on 2-6 November 2011, the festival will bring well known jazz artists from all over the world and allow for ex-citing professional and creative re-lationships between local and in-ternational artists. Youth Jazz Launch Concert Stage is intro-duced as a separate stage dedi-cated to young local and regional talents, encouraging them to write and perform their original pieces.

SKENA UP International Student Film and Theater Festival will follow on 2-9 December 2011. SKENA UP aims to promote artis-tic and professional values, as well as partnership and artistic commitment between Kosovo and otherother countries in the world. In ad-dition, by bringing together young artists from all the various coun-tries of the Balkans, SKENA UP makes a valuable contribution to-wards promoting inter-ethnic

KOSOVO(under UNSCR 1244/99)

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– December Art Scene, a range of cultural events, mainly theater shows and concerts, and the International Children’s Song Festival ‘Nasa Radost’, taking place on 3 December 2011.

RealReal joys of winter are best experienced in Northern Montenegro, with Hot Winter in the Hills taking place in Kolasin, Zabljak, Niksic, Rozaje, Berane and Cetinje, offering a wide range of sport, cultural and music events both on and off the slopes. This is followed by the ‘Ev-eryone on the Snow’ ski cross competition in Za-bljak in January. Traditional New Year’s

celebration on Kotor main squares

Olives, wine and othertraditional food and artisan products

Jajce Waterfall

An average person may think that with the last balmy days of September all fun stops at the Montenegro coast until the warm days of spring allow a new opportunity for enjoying the sea-side. However, numerous cultural events taking place along the coast throughoutthroughout autumn and winter witness to the contrary.

The International TV Festival takes place on 26-30 October 2011 in Bar, and is followed by the traditional festi-val of wine and bleak in Virpazar and Maslinijada in Bar in December, allow-ing visitors to taste a wide variety of local food and products, as well as enjoy some traditional festivities. The spectacular New Year’s eve on Kotor city square is followed by the Winter Days of Music in Herceg Novi, bring-ing together classical music perform-ers from all over the Region.

The capital of Podgorica is a busy place during autumn and winter as well: the fun starts with the 18th Podgorica Marathon scheduled for 30 October 2011, followed by DEUS -

Montenegro

December Art Scene in Podgorica brings something for every taste

Durmitor

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Serbia

Film fans rejoice! Belgrade, Novi Sad and Leskovac offer as many as six different international film festi-vals during November and Decem-ber, enough to cater for any taste – Free Zone festival (4-9.11.2011, Belgrade), Auteur Film festival (29.11.-5.12.2011, Belgrade), Inter-national Film Festival Leskovac (November 2011), European and Independent Film festival (3-24.12.2011), to name a few, aim to bring a wide selection of works for the refined palates of the Serbian audience.

It all culminates with a film and music extravaganza that is the Kus-tendorf festival, taking place in January 2012 on Mokra Gora, serv-ing as a perfect overture for the world famous Belgrade Film Festi-val, FEST, in February 2012.

Belgrade Music Festival, BEMUS, and two jazz festivals, in Novi Sad and Belgrade, will let you stay warm with the sounds of some of the world’s most renowned classical

and jazz artists throughout October, November and December. And if you’re on the lookout for some contemporary art, Belgrade October Salon is taking place from 20 October to 3 De-cember 2011.

After the New Year’s celebration in the town squares throughout Serbia, time is ripe to test your skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of trusty Kopaonik and Zlatibor, or the newly con-structed ski resort of Stara planina in Eastern Serbia.

Kopaonik

Jazz is still alive! – Belgrade Jazz Festival

The Mokra Gora Odyssey: Kustendorf 2012

Founded in 1969, the Belgrade Music Festi-val – BEMUS is the oldest and the most prominent music festival in Serbia

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SRB

EDITORIALEditor-in-Chief: Natasa Gospodjinacki

Executive Editors: Milena Milovic Blagojevic Snezana Paranosic

TEXT EDITING&TRANSLATIONSMilena Milovic BlagojevicMilena Milovic Blagojevic

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PHOTO EDITORSnezana Paranosic

CONTRIBUTORS

Andi Cekaj, Besim Kamberaj, Boban Ilic, Boris Mardjonovic, Danijela Soskic, Denis Slatina, Dragan Đurisic, Emina Steficic, Goce Toleski, IrenaIrena Andreevska, Jasminka Taseva Jankovic, Kjartan Bjornsson, Lejla Brutus,Ljiljana Rsumovic, Ljubisa Petrovic, Milan Petrovic,Milena Milovic Blagojevic, Natasa Gospodjinacki, Nevenka Savic, Normela Rados, Olivera Milutinovic,Paale Westergard, Rade Milosevic, Sanela Tunovic,Snezana Tomasevic, Slobodan Naric,Snezana Paranosic, Snezana Paranosic, Tamara Todorovic,Vesna Pavicevic

PUBLISHERCBIB – Cross Border Institution Building An EU-funded Project

ADDRESS Dobracina 44, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia

[email protected]

WWW.CBIB.EU

PRE-PRESSSnezana Paranosic, Snezana Petrovic

PRINTING HOUSEAlta Nova d.o.o.BelgradeBelgrade

Printed in 600 copies

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the EC

Copyright:©EC 2007-2011


No part of Connect WB may be reproduced in any form or by any means either wholly or in part, without prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher,

editor and authors accept no responsibility for any errors, omissions, misstatements or mistakes in this issue.

impressum

Maybe you will find the names of some of these tasty Bosnian dishes hard to pronounce, but they are sure worth a try!

Djulbastije: round balls the size of your palm, made of minced lamb meat, onion and garlic, fired in hot oli and covered in a sauce of cooked onions and paprika.

Kvrgusa:Kvrgusa: chicken pot pie, featuring cubed or sliced white or dark meat chicken enrobed in a pancake-like batter that puffs up; after a 40-to-50-minute bake, it's topped with sour cream and browned for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Sogan dolma:Sogan dolma: fried onions stuffed with minced meat - the skin being removed, the larger, external, layers of onion bulbs are used as containers for the meat stuffing. Filled onions are boiled slowly at a low heat in broth. Sogan dolma are usually served with dense natural yogurt.

Klepe:Klepe: minced meat, flour, onion, vegetable spices, pepper, eggs, sour cream. Dumplings are stuffed with meat and covered in a thin layer of pasta. Cooked in a tomato and garlic sauce, they are finished off with dol-lops of sour cream.

Tufahije: walnut-stuffed apples stewed in water with sugar make for a very popular dessert, originating from Persia. see page 43

The magazine can be recycled for use in newspapers or packaging.

Dispose of it at your local waste-collection point or recycle it by passing it to another reader.

WBconnect

,,CBIB - Cross Border Institution Building,,An EU-funded Project

if you didn’t know...

page 58

Bosnian Cuisine

Ever since the end of WWII and the first post-war summer Olympic games held in London 1948, the sports men and women of the Western Balkans have achieved notable success inin a range of team and indi-vidual sports, from athlet-ics to ski jumping. First as the representatives of the then Yugoslavia, and from the summer games held in Barcelona in 1992 of the post break-up autonomous countries, as many as 103 medals have been won in total, with 28 gold, 41 silver and 34 bronze ones. Tradi-tionally, team sports such as basketball, handball, water polo and volleyball have reaped most suc-cess, but top results have also been achieved by wrestlers, boxers, gym-nasts, rowers, swimmers and tennis players.

Sarajevo was home to the Winter Olympics in 1984. Slovenian skiers Jure Franko and Mateja Svet became part of the Olym-pic history in the 80ies, as well as the ski jumping teamteam of Yugoslavia, while Janica and Ivica Kostelic of Croatia have won 4 gold and 5 silver medals in total in last 3 Winter Olympic games.

Although Albania has yet to win an Olympic gold, its nationals have already done so under the flag of Greece – Pyros Dimas is the three-time Olympic champion weightlifter born inin Albania, while Mirela Manjani is a champion jav-elin thrower with a silver in Sydney in 2000 and a bronze in Athens in 2004. SUMMER OLYMPICSLondon 1948Ivan Gubijan, athletics, silverHelsinki 1952Football, gold

Water polo, silverRowing, coxless four, silverMelbourne 1956Franjo Mihalic, athletics, silverFootbal, silverFootbal, silverWater polo, silverRome 1960Football, goldBranko Martinovic, wres-tling, silverTokyo 1964Miroslav Cerar, gymnas-tics, goldBranislav Simic, wrestling, goldWater polo, silverMiroslav Cerar, gymnas-tics, bronzeBranko Martinovic, wres-tling, bronzeMexico 1968Water polo, goldMiroslav Cerar, gymnas-tics, goldDjurdja Bjedov, swimming 100m breast stroke, goldStevan Horvat, wrestling, silverDjurdja Bjedov, swimming 200m breast stroke, silverBasketball, silverBranislavBranislav Simic, wrestling, bronzeZvonko Vujin, boxing, bronzeMunich 1972Handball, goldMate Parlov, boxing, goldJopis Corak, wrestling, Jopis Corak, wrestling, silver

Milan Nenadic, wrestling, bronzeZvonko Vujin, boxing, bronzeMontreal 1976Momir Petkovic, wrestling, Momir Petkovic, wrestling, goldMatija Ljubek, canoe 1000m, goldTadija Kacar, boxing, silverIvica Frgic, wrestling, silverBasketball, silverBasketball, silverAce Rusevski, boxing, bronzeMatija Ljubek, canoe 1 500m, bronzeSlavko Obadov, judo, bronzeSlobodan KacaSlobodan Kacar, boxing, goldBasketball, men, goldHandball, women, silverWater polo, men, silverStanulov-Pancic, rowing, coxless pair, silverBasketball, women, Basketball, women, bronzeRadomir Kovacevic, judo, bronzeSaban Sejdiu, wrestling, bronzeLos Angeles, 1984WWater polo, goldHandball, men, goldHandball, women, goldAnte Josipovic, boxing, goldVlado Lisjak, wrestling, goldLjubek-Nisovic, canoe, Ljubek-Nisovic, canoe, goldRedzep Redzepovski, boxing, silverMilan Janjic, kayak, silverRefik Memisevic, wres-tling, silverLjubek-Nisovic, canoe, silver

Football, bronzeBasketball, bronzeMirko Puzovic, boxing, bronzeAziz Salihu, boxing, bronzeJozefJozef Tertei, wrestling, bronzeSaban Sejdiu, wrestling, bronzeStanulov-Pancic, rowing coxless pair, bronzeSeoul 1988Jasna Sekaric, shooting, Jasna Sekaric, shooting, goldGoran Maksimovic, shoot-ing, goldWater polo, goldBasketball, men, silverBasketball, women, silverSaban Trstena, wrestling, silverLupulesku-Primorac, table tennis, silverHandball, men, bronzeDamir Skaro, boxing, bronzeJasna Sekaric, shooting, Jasna Sekaric, shooting, bronzePerkucin-Fazlic, table tennis, bronzeMujkic-Presern, rowing coxless pair, bronzeBarcelona 1992Jasna Sekaric (YU), shootJasna Sekaric (YU), shoot-ing, silverBasketball (CRO), men, silverGoran Ivanisevic (CRO), tennis, silverIvanisevic-Prpic (CRO), tennis doubles, silverAranka Binder (YU), shoot-ing, bronzeStevan Pletikosic (YU), shooting, bronzeAtlanta 1996Handball (CRO), men, goldAleksandra Ivosev (YU), shooting, goldWater polo (CRO), silverBasketball (YU), men, silverAleksandra Ivosev (YU), Aleksandra Ivosev (YU), shooting, bronzeVolleyball (YU), men, bronzeSydney 2000Volleyball (YU), men, goldNikolaj Pesalov (CRO), Nikolaj Pesalov (CRO), weight lifting, goldJasna Sekaric (YU), shoot-ing, silver

Rowing coxed eight (CRO), bronzeWater polo (YU), bronzeMogamed Ibragimov (MK), wrestling, bronzeAthens 2004Handball (CRO), men, goldDuje Draganja (CRO), Duje Draganja (CRO), swimming, silverSkelin brothers (CRO), rowing, coxless pair, silverWater polo (SCG), silverJasna Sekaric (SCG), shooting, silverPeking 2008Peking 2008Primoz Kozmus (SLO), ath-letics, goldBlanka Vlasic (CRO), ath-letics, silverFilip Ude (CRO), gymnas-tics, silverSara Isakovic (SLO), swim-ming, silverMilorad Cavic (SRB), silverNovak Djokovic (SRB), tennis, bronzeWaterpolo (SRB), bronzeSnezana Pejcic (CRO), shooting, bronzeRajmond Debevc (SLO), shooting, bronze

WINTER OLYMPICSSarajevo 1984Jure Franko, giant slalom, Jure Franko, giant slalom, silverCalgary 1988Mateja Svet, slalom, silverSki jumping team, silverMatjaz Debeljak, ski jump-ing, bronzeSalt Lake City 2002Janica Kostelic (CRO), slalom, goldJanica Kostelic (CRO), giant slalom, goldJanica Koselic (CRO), com-bination, goldJanica Kostelic (CRO), super giant slalom, silverTorino 2006Janica Kostelic (CRO), combination, goldJanica Kostelic (CRO), super giant slalom, silverIvica Kostelic (CRO), comIvica Kostelic (CRO), com-bination, silverVancouver 2010Ivica Kostelic (CRO), slalom, silverIvica Kostelic (CRO), super combination, silver


Sudoku

3.

4.

2.

1. At each stage, a new dot starts at the top and then goes either clockwise, or counter-clockwise.

solutions

Complete the fifth circle with the correct dots.

How to put ten horses in nine boxes?

Add lines to this grid and create five areas that each have 4 letters, to spell five 4-letter words.

1.

2.

4.

3.

brain training


We are here to give the voice to all initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people on the local level, contributing to tighter cooperation between communities in the bordering areas

and overall regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. If you wish to present your achievements, or problems you are faced with, or goals you dream to achieve, write to:

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Write for Connect WB!

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