Održana međuparlamentarnoj konferenciji pod nazivom „Prednosti Berlinskog procesa: poseban fokus na zajedničkom regionalnom tržištu”, u Petrovcu (Crna Gora) u sklopu regionalnog projekta “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Regional Cooperation through Enhanced Parliamentary Dialogue”.

Zastupnica u Zastupničkom domu Parlamentarne skupštine Bosne i Hercegovine (PSBiH) i predsjedateljica Zajedničkog povjerenstva za ekonomske reforme i razvoj PSBiH Ermina Salkičević – Dizdarević i zastupnici u Zastupničkom domu PSBiH Jasmin Emrić i Šemsudin Mehmedović, te predsjednik Odbora za evropske integracije i regionalnu saradnju u NSRS, Siniša Marković su učestvovali u konferenciji, zajedno sa predstavnicima partnerske organizacije projekta iz BiH, Mreže progresivnih inicijativa.

U okviru panela “Zajedničko regionalno tržište 2.0 – šta je to što je ranije funkcioniralo i izazovi Akcijskog plana 2.0”, sudjelovala je i predsjedateljica Zajedničkog povjerenstva za ekonomske reforme i razvoj PSBiH Ermina Salkičević – Dizdarević, koja je u svom izlaganju posebno predstavila rad ovog parlamentarnog tijela, kao i planirane aktivnosti Zajedničkog povjerenstva u narednom razdoblju. Naglasila je važnost i uključenost poslovne zajednice u promoviranju koristi koje Berlinski proces donosi za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, kao i konekcije i suradnje sa trgovinskim komorama, nevladinom sektorom, te akademskom zajednicom.  

Sudionici konferencije tijekom diskusija uputili su i nekoliko zajedničkih poruka, od kojih je posebno važna ta da bez sigurnosne i političke stabilnosti regije ni rezultati nacionalnih ekonomija neće biti u punom kapacitetu.

Istaknuto je da će pitanja konkurentnosti gospodarstva, ljudskog kapitala i digitalizacije sigurno biti u fokusu Berlinskog procesa, te ukazano na mogućnosti unaprjeđenja ovih pitanja u okviru zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta.

Konstatirano je da sam Berlinski proces i koristi koje donosi nisu dovoljno predstavljene javnosti, posebno poslovnoj zajednici, te da treba pojačati aktivnosti na promidžbi ove regionalne inicijative. 

Također je ukazano na činjenicu da su članovi poslovne zajednice, pored parlamenata i drugih institucija, sudionici Berlinskog procesa, te da je izbor pravih partnera koji će biti dio rješenja, a ne dio problema, od velike važnosti za brzinu provedbe obveza iz Berlinskog procesa. 

S tim u svezi, istaknut je značaj izgradnje povjerenja između pojedinaca i institucija, te rada na razvoju demokracije, dobrog poslovnog okruženja, borbe protiv korupcije, kao i značaj brzog usvajanja najboljih europskih praksi u svim zonama poslovanja.

Ponovo je aktualizirano pitanje slobodnog kretanja ljudi i u tom smislu ratifikacija preostalih sporazuma u okviru Berlinskog procesa od strane BiH.

Naglašena je važnost uloge parlamenata, potreba za većim dijalogom unutar parlamentarnih struktura, kao i kreiranje društva zajedničkih vrijednosti u kojem bi benefiti zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta bili cilj političkog djelovanja, a nikako sredstvo za udaljavanje političkih stavova. 

Bilo je riječi i o sredstvima koja su, kroz Plan rasta, rezervirana za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, te upozoreno na činjenicu da je korištenje tih sredstava uvjetovano izvršavanjem preuzetih obveza. (kraj)

“Tomorrow’s Vote: Youth Engagement and Political Strategies in European Elections 2024”

“Tomorrow’s Vote: Youth Engagement and Political Strategies in European Elections 2024”

‘People often say with pride, I’m not interested in politics. They might as well say, I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future. If we mean to keep any control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics.’’  Martha Gelhorn, 

American Novelist, Writer, and Journalist

Introduction

While I was exploring the significance of the European elections, I came across this inspiring ‘call to action’ quote, which serves as a reminder that engagement in political processes is not merely an option but a necessity for those who wish to influence the decisions that affect our daily existence. Being one day away from the European Elections which will take place in 27 member states between 6-9 June 2024, it is crucial to recall the importance of political awareness and active participation for maintaining and enhancing the people’s spirit to stand up for the issues that affect their lives and their role in election processes.   

In a recent interview for The Economist, President Macron warned that Europe faces immediate threats deriving from external and internal factors. Because these elections come at a time when the Union is battling multiple challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine, rising inflation, defense and security and the enlargement project, we have our eyes wide open to see what the future holds for Europe. Reflecting on the lessons from the previous elections, understanding European political groups’ key priorities and manifestos, exploring the engagement of youth in the next European Parliament, and assessing the impact social media is playing in increasing youth voter turnout, are the main topics this blog aims to cover.

  Lessons from the previous European Elections

After declining ever since the first European elections in 1979, the voter turnout for the 2019 European elections was marked at 50.6%, the highest since 1994 and a significant rise from 42.6% in 2014 Eurobarometer. This increase occurred in 19 Member States, with notable rises in Poland, Romania, Spain, Austria, Hungary, and Germany, as well as significant increases in Slovakia and Czech Republic, where turnout had previously been low. Despite this overall increase, turnout dropped slightly (by no more than 3%) in eight countries. As per the youth participation in the 2019 elections, the post-election Eurobarometer showed also that the boost in participation was predominantly driven by younger voters, particularly those under 25 and those aged 25 to 39 years old. This phenomenon came as a result of effective engagement strategies such as local volunteering and partnerships entered into with organizations like the European Youth Parliament and the Federation of Young European Greenswhich used non-formal education methods to increase awareness and participation of young people in those elections​. Building on this, it is important to highlight that the voters in 2019 were better informed compared to 2014, and both voters and non-voters expressed a higher level of political interest, suggesting a solid foundation for further increasing voter turnout in future elections. Social media platforms were also considered as an essential tool that contributed to this increase. Specifically, this surge is attributed to parliamentary campaigns on platforms such as Snapchat. Given TikTok’s significant Gen-Z users, it could also play a crucial role in future elections. Recently, Ifop poll conducted in April, indicated that around one-third of young people use a specific application to keep up with election campaigns. 

Also, the 2019 elections taught us that Eastern and Western Europe are significantly divided, raising concerns for the future of Europe. While Western Europe largely voted for change, the strong support for right-wing populists in Eastern countries like Hungary and Poland suggested these nations have a different vision of Europe compared to other EU members. This divergence could slow down the progress in European integration across various critical areas, including security cooperation, coping with mass migration, enlargement & institutional reforms of the EU. Moreover, the topics of the Eastern Partnership and enlargement to the Western Balkans were notably absent from the election campaigns. Probably, the lack of campaign discussion on these issues might stem from their low appeal to voters or a strategic choice to avoid empowering far-right populist factions.

In terms of promoting democratic elections, the 2019 European Parliament elections marked a significant moment, signaling a demand from voters for greater transparency and influence. The elections saw a slight dominance of Liberals and Greens, suggesting that if these groups can promote more accountable governance and greater public engagement, Europe could navigate through its current challenges more robustly(Heinrich Boll Stiftung)However, as in the previous two European elections, all eyes will be on the far right, which is expected to be the big winner this year. According to the poll’s projections, far-right parties are topping the polls in key European countries like France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, and Poland, and influencing EU politics even from their national perspectives.(Politico)

How are European Parliamentary group’s manifestos attracting young people to vote?

Political parties are also recognizing the importance of appealing to younger voters and integrating young candidates into their ranks. Many parliamentary groups push for improvements on issues young people find the most urgent, such as climate change, working conditions, democracy, and representation of marginalized groups. For instance, many parties with anti-immigrant agendas are receiving noticeable support from first-time young voters in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Recent analyses on political preferences indicate that in several EU member states (Belgium, France, Portugal, Germany, and Finland) young people are supporting anti-immigration and anti-establishment parties as much as, or even more than, older voters. In the Netherlands, the far-right Freedom Party secured victory in the 2023 election by orienting the focus towards affordable housing to immigration restrictions, issues that help them resonate strongly with young voters. (Politico). One of the young voters, Gerald, 24, was clear about his decision in the last weeks of the Dutch election stating for The Guardian:

“I voted for Wilders, and many of my friends did too,” he said. “I don’t want to live with my parents for ever. I want my own home, and to be able to provide for my family later. Wilders wants to figure out the housing crisis and make our healthcare better. Those are the most important topics for me.’’

Similarly, in Portugal, the far-right party Chega took advantage of the frustrations of young people regarding the housing crisis and other quality of life issues. André Azevedo Alves, a political scientist at the Catholic University of Portugal and St Mary’s University in London, explained for Politico that Chega, has successfully tapped into the frustrations of Portuguese youth regarding quality of life issues such as the housing crisis and lack of well-paying jobs. This dissatisfaction is further fueled by anger towards mainstream parties that have failed to address these challenges. “Chega’s leader, André Ventura, leveraged this discontent, portraying the Socialist Party and the center-right Social Democratic Party as the cause of the country’s problems and the stagnation that has driven many young Portuguese to emigrate,” he said. “He has attracted many supporters by presenting Chega as an anti-establishment party ready to challenge the system.”

If extremist or far-right groups were to gain significant influence in the upcoming elections, in the long run, it could have profound implications for candidate countries (including Albania), potentially affecting their EU integration prospects and their standing within the broader European political landscape. The stance of these groups on issues like immigration, national sovereignty, the European Enlargement project, and EU regulations could significantly negatively impact Western Balkan’s Integration Process. Most Radical Parties view enlargement critically, considering it costly and potentially leading to increased migration. In addition to their general skepticism toward enlargement, radical-right parties often endorse raising historical grievances and identity issues during EU accession negotiations. Their attempts to use EU enlargement to extract concessions from candidate countries have become one of the biggest obstacles to advancing the process. Even though far rights lack an essential schism over enlargement, the mainstrem parties must buy into the enlargement discourse and preach it with conviction to their citizens while supporting a merit-based enlargement process.(Balkaninsights)

Youth Quota

Political parties have been the primary vehicle for political engagement and representation in Europe for over a hundred years. However, there’s an increasing disconnect between political parties and the youth, highlighted by a significant decrease in party membership over the past two decades in Europe, only about 2% of young people are members of any political party.

A study of the European Parliament suggests that this growing skepticism towards parties stems from their failure to facilitate young people’s political involvement. Such low membership rates among youth now indicate too that party affiliation is no longer a reliable measure of political engagement. Today, the average age of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is 50, with national averages ranging from 44 to 60. Denmark boasts the youngest MEP, who was 21 at the time of the election, whereas in other countries, the youngest MEP is at least 30 years old. This noticeable disparity between the proportion of MEPs under 35 and the general population of Europeans in the same age group suggests a lack of descriptive representation, which carries significant implications for policymaking.

Just one day ahead from the next European elections, only two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are still under 30 which comprises only 0.28% of all MEPs.  For the 2024 European Parliament elections, there are several young candidates actively participating, although exact numbers are not specified, as Euronews reports. European Greens are prioritizing young candidates under the age of 35,  by placing them in electable positions to ensure their representation in the 2024 European Parliament.

On one hand The European Parliament through its  Resolution 2015/2035(INL) has urged EU member states to take proactive steps to improve the representation of underrepresented groups at the supranational level. A proposed solution to ensure young people’s interests are better represented in European political arenas is the introduction of youth quotas in the European Parliament. These quotas address the underrepresentation of the younger generation by setting a flexible target percentage for MEPs under the age of 35.  On the other hand, such an initiative is also requested from various groups, including the  Youth for European people’s Party (YEPP). YEPP, along with other youth organizations and political groups, have been actively advocating for these quotas to address the underrepresentation of young people in the Parliament.

There is no doubt that to meet the challenges young people are facing today, we need to see more young candidates and youth representation in electoral lists which should not be a symbolic effort of filling a quota. Addressing the underrepresentation of young Europeans through the adoption of youth quotas and lowering the age to stand as a candidate may be a key impediment to young people’s participation. Instead, many European member states have lowered the age of voting. For the first time, German and Belgian 16 year olds will join young people from Malta and Austria to vote in the upcoming elections. This is great news for youth participation, but it results in discrimination for other 16-year-old Europeans who are not allowed to vote. This leads to decreased involvement of young people due to a lack of ownership over decisions and the decision-making process.

Social media as a mean to boost youth engagement in European Elections

In recent years, foreign governments have increasingly utilized social media and the internet to influence elections worldwide. A 2023 study by the European Parliament found that young people remain actively engaged in politics, often through diverse methods, with social media being their preferred medium. This platform allows them to quickly mobilize large numbers of people across borders and stay informed about political and current events relevant to them.

For the 2024 elections, the European Parliament is adopting various strategies to engage young voters, emphasizing the importance of digital platforms. The ‘Play your part, Europe’ campaign is streamed via Spotify to notify and remind all users over 18 about the EU election. Spotify has previously launched voting campaigns before elections. The Swedish company issued similar notifications for local elections in the United Kingdom, as well as for elections in Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States.

According to Eurostat, TikTok has become popular in Europe, often serving as a constant news source against its competitors like X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. The European far-right effectively utilizes platforms like TikTok to reach out to young voters, engaging content and utilising the platforms’ algorithms to maximize reach, especially among those who may feel disillusioned with traditional politics (Politico).

Renew Europe group, heavily utilizes Instagram and Snapchat to connect with young voters. They focus on liberal values like individual freedom, digital transformation, and European integration, using engaging visuals and quick, impactful stories. The European People’s Party also employs robust strategies, particularly in digital campaigning and educational content.

The Greens/European Free Alliance often stands out in effectively engaging young voters through Instagram and X. Their focus on pressing global issues including climate change, environmental sustainability, and social justice, are the issues that resonate strongly with many young Europeans today.

Being aware of the hard efforts needed to enhance youth participation in electoral politics, it is crucial to remember that young people are the key to bridging this gap. As a Young European Ambassador from the Western Balkans, I am well aware of the consequences of undermining the political systems’ representativeness and the resistance of young people to vote.  I believe that one way to approach youngsters in political life is by encouraging youth activism which is less practiced by them, such as signing petitions, participating in legal demonstrations, and engaging in unofficial strikes. Additionally, advocating for the implementation of youth quotas in political institutions, like parliaments, is another strategy that young people should persistently pursue in their countries to increase their visibility and influence in decision-making bodies.

In the spirit of Martha Gelhorn’s call to action, I would prefer to embrace the European Parliament’s compelling appeal from the video, “Use your vote.” and encourage Young Europeans to voice the concerns of the European Youth generation, thus determining the direction of Europe by voting!

About the Author

Xhuljana Mucaj graduated from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, obtaining a Master of Laws as a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. This achievement adds to her previous successes, including a Law Degree from the University of Tirana and a degree in Business Administration from the Canadian Institute of Technology. As a Young European Ambassador, Xhuljana has considered this platform to champion EU values and advocate for the rule of law, democracy, and the integrity of public institutions. Noteworthy among her initiatives is the #IDECIDE awareness campaign, which aimed to raise awareness about the importance of free and fair elections while constantly opposing the culture of the vote-buying phenomenon. Xhuljana is eagerly committed to supporting vulnerable youth in rural areas and proposing substantial instruments that secure their presence in decision-making bodies.

*This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

POLITEIA Thematic Session: Youth and Digital Agenda – The Role of Different Actors and the Importance of Participation in Policy Making

POLITEIA Thematic Session: Youth and Digital Agenda – The Role of Different Actors and the Importance of Participation in Policy Making

POLITEIA Thematic Session, held on June 19-21 in Tirana, brought together 12 dynamic young professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia.

Over two intensive days they were trained about these key topics like:

🔹 “Digitalization Impact on Western Balkans Youth”

🔹 “Safeguarding Human Rights in WB6 Economies Amidst Digital Transformation”

🔹 “Youth and Digital Agenda: The Role of Different Actors and the Importance of Participation in Policy Making”

A highlight of POLITEIA Thematic Session is the group work, when after online mentoring sessions the participants will produce policy briefs. 💡📄

📌This Politeia Thematic Session is organised under the Project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe”, financially supported by European Union and being implemented by Center for Democracy Foundation in collaboration with Academy of European Integration and Negotiations (AIEN), Youth Act, Network of Progressive Initiatives , Academy fo Democratic Development, Kosovar Stability initiative and Mreža Progresivnih Inicijativa.

POZIV za PRIJEDLOGE PROJEKATA u okviru Active Achievement Fonda za regionalne neformalne grupe je otvoren! 

POZIV za PRIJEDLOGE PROJEKATA u okviru Active Achievement Fonda za regionalne neformalne grupe je otvoren! 

Zvanično je otvoren Poziv za prijedloge projekata u okviru Active Achievement Fonda za regionalne neformalne grupe, kao dio projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, koji finanasira Evropska Unija.

Osnovni cilj Poziva je da jača kreativne grupe na Zapadnom Balkanu, naročito neformalne, tako što će omogućiti finansijsku podršku za inicijative koje za cilj imaju:

  1. Povećanje aktivizma mladih u lokalnim zajednicama i učešće u strukturnom dijalogu sa donosiocima odluka o politikama koje se tiču mladih 
  2. Zagovaranje usvajanja evropskih vrijednosti i jačanje demokratskih i odgovornih institucija
  3. Promovisanje regionalne saradnje i političkih, ekonomskih i socijalnih benefita od evrointegracija za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana.

Ukupan dostupan budžet Active Achievement Fonda je 30.000 EUR. Regionalne neformalne grupe mogu da konkurišu za finansijsku podršku za projekte u iznosu: 

  • minimalan budžet: 2.000 EUR
  • maksimalan budžet: 4.000 EUR

Samo neformalne grupe mogu da konkurišu za ovaj Poziv za prijedloge projekata. Ove grupe nisu formalno registrovane, imaju nizak nivo formalnosti i slabe tehničke i upravljačke kapacitete. Poziv je otvoren za neformalne grupe koje su spontano okupljene radi rješavanja problema u lokalnim zajednicama, a prioritet imaju učesnici projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, odnosno aktivnosti: Regionalna Politeia škola mladih, Politeia tematske sesije, omladinske radionice za javne politike i pripravnička praksa. 

Regionalna grupa treba da bude sastavljena od najmanje 5 mladih ljudi od 16-30 godina, od kojih najmanje tri člana/članice žive na različitim područjima Zapadnog Balkana na kojima se sprovodi projekat Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu: Albaniji, Bosni i Herzegovini, Kosovu, Sjevernoj Makedoniji i Srbiji. Najmanje jedan član/članica neformalne grupe mora biti punoljetan/punoljetna zbog potpisivanja Ugovora o sprovodjenju projekta.

Podrška će biti omogućena kroz direktna plaćanja aktivnosti projekata od strane partnerskih organizacija u okviru Projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, a koji će biti posrednici za sprovođenje projekata neformalnih groupa. Uz svaki podnijeti projekat, podnosioci projekta će odrediti zemlju odnosno primarno područje djelovanja, što će odrediti i partnersku organizaciju koja će biti posrednik u procesu sprovođenja projekta. Partnerska organizacija će obavljati plaćanja za projektne troškove u skladu sa odobrenim budžetom ovih projekata.

Zemlja/teritorija  domaćinGradPosrednička organizacijaKontakt
AlbanijaTiranaYouth Act Center  info@youthact.al
Bosna i Herzegovina SarajevoNetwork of Progressive Initiatives   anida@mpi.ba
KosovoPristinaKosovar Stability Initiative shpresa_krasniqi@iksweb.org
Sjeverna Makedonija SkopljeNGO Info Center Foundation  contact@nvoinfocentar.org.mk
SrbijaNovi Sad Regional Academy for Democratic Development  office@regionaladd.org

Trajanje projekata je do šest mjeseci.

Odabrane neformalne grupe su u obavezi da sprovedu projekat u period od 10. jula 2024. do 10. januara 2025.

Rok za podnošenje prijava je 2. juli 2024. godine u 20:00

Prijedlozi projekata i neophodne informacije se dostavljaju na engleskom jeziku, elektronski, na email adresu: shpresa_krasniqi@iksweb.org

U nastavku možete da nađete Smjernice za regionalne neformalne grupe i Anekse neophodne za podnošenje prijedloga projekata. 

Smjernice

Annex 1: Forma aplikacije

Annex 2: Forma za prijedlog budžeta

Annex 3: Izjava

Active Achievement Fond za regionalne neformalne groupe je FSTP aktivnost (finansijska podrška trećim stranama), odnosno predstavlja dio paketa grantiranja u okviru trogodišnjeg projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, koji financira Evropska Unija u period 2023-2026 kroz EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme za Zapadni Balkan i Tursku za 2021-2023 (IPA III). Projekat sprovodi Fondacija Centar za demokratiju iz Srbije u saradnji sa partnerskim organizacijama iz regiona:  Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations (Albanija), Youth Act Center (Albanija), Kosovar Stability Initiative (Kosovo), Network of Progressive Initiatives (Bosna i Hercegovina), NGO Info Center Foundation (Sjeverna Makedonija) and Regional Academy for Democratic Development (Srbija). 

POZIV za PRIJEDLOGE PROJEKATA u okviru Active Achievement Fonda za regionalne neformalne grupe je otvoren! 

Call for Proposals for the Active Achievement Fund for Regional Informal Groups is open!

Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe project 

We are officially launching the open Call for Proposals for the Active Achievement Fund for Regional Informal Groups within the framework of the project Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe funded by the European Union.

The main objective of this Call is to strengthen creative groups in the Western Balkans, particularly informal ones, by providing financial support for initiatives aiming to:

  1. Increase youth activism in their communities and participation in structured dialogue with decision makers on public policies relevant to youth
  2. Advocate for the adoption of European values and strengthening of democratic and responsible institutions
  3. Promote regional cooperation and political, economic and social benefits of the EU integration for the Western Balkans countries

Total available budget of the Active Achievement Fund is 30.000 EUR. Regional informal groups can apply for financial support for project that must fall between the following minimum and maximum amount:

  • minimum amount: 2.000 EUR
  • maximum amount: 4.000 EUR

Only informal groups are eligible to apply for this Call for Proposals. These groups are not formally registered and have a low level of formality and weak technical and managerial skills. The Call is open to informal groups that spontaneously gathered to solve a problem in the local community, with priority to individuals that participated in RYDE activities such as Politeia School, Politeia Thematic Sessions, Youth Policy Labs and Internship program.

The regional groups shall be composed of at least 5 young people aged 16-30 who are citizens of at least 3 out of five Western Balkan countries in which the RYDE project is implementing (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*[1], North Macedonia and Serbia). At least one person from the informal group must be of legal age in order for the project implementation contract to be signed.

Support will be provided through direct payments conducted by RYDE partner organizations that will act as intermediary organizations for the particular project. With the project proposal, the applicants should select the project host country which will consequently determine which partner organization will act as intermediary organization. The partner organizations will execute payments for costs incurred as per the approved small project budget.

Host countryCityIntermediary organizationsContact
AlbaniaTiranaYouth Act Center info@youthact.al
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSarajevoNetwork of Progressive Initiatives info@mpi.ba
Kosovo*PristinaKosovar Stability Initiativeshpresa_krasniqi@iksweb.org
North MacedoniaSkopjeNGO Info Center Foundation contact@nvoinfocentar.org.mk
SerbiaNovi SadRegional Academy for Democratic Development office@regionaladd.org

The duration of the projects is up to six months.

The selected informal groups are obliged to implement their projects within the period from 10th July 2024 to 10th January 2025.

The deadline for submitting applications is 2nd of July, 2024 at 20:00 CET.

Applicants must apply in English and submit their applications electronically to the e-mail address: shpresa_krasniqi@iksweb.org.

You can find below the Guidelines for regional informal groups and the Annexes needed for the project application.

The Active Achievement Fund is a sub-granting activity of the three-year regional project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe” (RYDE), funded by the European Union in the period 2023-2026.

Center for Democracy Foundation

[1] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Akademija klimatskih akcija 2024

Akademija klimatskih akcija 2024

UNDP u Bosni i Hercegovini uspješno je pokrenuo Akademiju klimatskih akcija 2024., inicijativu koja već drugu godinu zaredom pruža izabranim zvaničnicima iz parlamenta, skupština i vijeća  priliku da steknu stručno znanje o ključnim klimatskim temama. Cilj Akademije je potaknuti snažnije djelovanje u suočavanju sa izazovima klimatskih promjena, kao i i unaprijediti saradnju među različitim političkim predstavnicima u ovoj oblasti.

Akademija obuhvata tri modula, a ove godine se fokusira na teme energetske tranzicije, upravljanja rizicima i očuvanja okoliša. Pored stručnih predavanja, učesnici će imati priliku da se kroz terenske posjete direktno upoznaju s primjerima dobre prakse iz projekata koje provodi UNDP u Bosni i Hercegovini, uz podršku međunarodnih i lokalnih partnera.

a otvaranju Akademije, Raduška Cupać, rukovoditeljica Sektora za energiju i okoliš u UNDP-u u BiH, zahvalila se učesnicima na njihovom kontinuiranom interesu za ove teme, Istakla je važnost saradnje i zajedničkog djelovanja na zelenim politikama na svim nivoima vlasti u zemlji kako bi što bolje odgovorili na izazove koje donose klimatske promjene.

Saša Magazinović, poslanik u Predstavničkom domu Parlamentarne skupštine BiH i predsjedavajući Zelenog kluba, zahvalio se UNDP-u na podršci ovoj inicijativi, koja predstavlja platformu za dijalog, okupljajući predstavnike svih političkih stranaka u Bosni i Hercegovini. Istakao je da se ove teme tiču svih i predstavljaju mjesto susreta za prevazilaženje političkih razlika.

Prvi modul Akademije održan je od 31. maja do 2. juna 2024. godine u Sarajevu, s fokusom na inovativne modele finansiranja i međunarodne obaveze BiH u ovoj oblasti. 

Prvog dana, predstavnici UNDP-a i Ministarstva vanjske trgovine i ekonomskih odnosa BiH predstavili su Nacionalni investicijski okvir (NIF), model finansiranja projekata energetske efikasnosti.

Učesnici Akademije su posjetili JU Zavod za zbrinjavanje mentalno invalidne djece i omladine u Pazariću, gdje su mjere energetske efikasnosti realizovane putem NIF modela finansiranja, što je rezultiralo značajnim poboljšanjem uslova kako za osoblje tako i korisnike, uz istovremene značajne uštede troškova. Radovi su finansirani investicijama Federalnog ministarstva prostornog uređenja, uz kredit od Svjetske banke, i provedeni kroz UNDP-ov projekat “Povećanje ulaganja u javne objekte sa niskom stopom emisije ugljika – LowCarbon”koji finansira Zeleni klimatski fond (GCF). 

Drugi dan je bio posvećen inventaru emisija stakleničkih plinova (GHG), što je ključno za ispunjavanje međunarodnih obaveza Bosne i Hercegovine prema UNFCCC-u, Pariškom sporazumu i Sofijskoj deklaraciji, kao i za ublažavanje negativnih uticaja klimatskih promjena. UNDP je u ovom kontekstu predstavio napore projekta 5NC koji finansira Globalni fond za okoliš (GEF), aktivno doprinoseći kreiranju politika za smanjenje emisija stakleničkih plinova.

Prof. dr. Amila Pilav-Velić, prodekanica za naučno-istraživački rad i projekte na Ekonomskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Sarajevu, govorila je o efektima EU Uredbe o Mehanizmu za prilagodbu granice ugljika (CBAM) na konkurentnost i održivi razvoj u BiH. Da bi preduzeća u BiH i dalje bila konkurentna na tržištu EU, moraju se pripremiti za uvođenje CBAM-a od januara 2026. godine, analizom svog poslovanja, mjerenjem i izvještavanjem o emisijama ugljika, te smanjenjem emisija uvođenjem novih, čistih tehnologija i obnovljivih izvora energije. Istaknuto je da iako CBAM predstavlja izazov, također daje priliku za preduzeća da unaprijede svoje proizvodne prakse i modele održivog poslovanja, čime doprinose zaštiti životne sredine i dekarbonizaciji industrije.

Učesnici su istakli važnost Akademije klimatskih akcija koja im omogućava efikasnije angažovanje u pitanjima vezanim za klimu u njihovim aktivnostima, čime se smanjuje ranjivost kako prirodnih tako i društvenih procesa na klimatske promjene.

U naredna dva modula, fokus će biti na upravljanju rizicima, sa posebnim naglaskom na prirodna rješenja za jačanje otpornosti na klimatske promjene i dugoročnu zaštitu biodiverziteta u Bosni i Hercegovini, dok će se treći modul baviti zaštitom okoliša, pravnim i institucionalnim okvirima, harmonizacijom sa EU i međunarodnim standardima, ekološkim kriminalom, kao i upravljanjem opasnim otpadom i hemikalijama.

Za organizaciju Akademije zadužena je nevladina organizacija iz Sarajeva, Mreža progresivnih inicijativa (MPI).