17. 3. 2020 | Helicopter, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language. 
With the development assistance of Slovenia, Montenegro is building a system of helicopter police operations and helicopter emergency medical services, and enhancing the role of the Ministry of the Interior in this system.
Expertise of Flight Police Unit and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia is primarily used to assist Montenegrin Interdepartmental Working Group in establishing expert interdepartmental dialogue. Interdepartmental Working Group discussed Slovenian experience for steps of Montenegrin system development between 11 and 12 March 2020 in Podgorica.
It consulted on the preparation of a strategic document to guide the development of a new system of public services provided by helicopter operations of the Ministry of Interior, particularly relevant to the safety, health and lives of residents and visitors of Montenegro. Its importance and importance of enhancing efficiency of public administrations was emphasised also by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Montenegro Gregor Presker who opened the working gathering together with Program Director Andreja Dolničar Jeraj. Slovenian representatives also held a working meeting on specifics of helicopter police operations planning on 13 March 2020 at the Police Administration of Montenegro.
The project is part of programme activities of the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and carried out together with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
6. 3. 2020 | Helicopter, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
In 2020, Slovenia continues to implement development assistance to Montenegro, which is aimed at strengthening the role of the helicopter unit of the Ministry of Interior of Montenegro within the establishment of a system of helicopter emergency medical services and helicopter police operations. Montenegro does not yet provide these public services systematically. An interdepartmental working group has been established to set up the system and will use Slovenian experience in its work and in inter-sectorial dialogue. For this purpose, in Podgorica, during 11–12 March 2020, 22–24 April 2020 and 3–5 June 2020, workshops and working meetings will be held and assisted by the experts from Slovenian Police and Ministry of Health.
The project is part of programme activities of the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and carried out together with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Police of the Republic of Slovenia.
Further information:
Andreja Dolničar Jeraj
Programme Director
Centre for European Perspective
5. 3. 2020 | Bled Strategic Forum, PR, Youth
On 4 March 2020, Jable castle hosted a group of some 40 experts, practitioners, state officials, diplomats, students and civil society representatives to discuss demographic challenges of the Western Balkan (WB) countries in the context of brain drain and possibility of turning it into brain circulation. Organized by Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in cooperation with Central European Initiative (CEI), the event took place within the framework of Young Bled Strategic Forum (Young BSF).
The closed morning session aimed to outline the demographic challenges of WB region and shed a light on the brain drain, as well as identify good practices and policies. The main guiding questions were: Are there ways to stop the brain drain? Is it productive to think of ways to stop it? How can we turn brain drain into brain circulation? What good practices can EU countries offer in this regards? Are there any state-sponsored activities or programs tackling the issue that could be presented as good practices? Are governments doing something to re-attract skilled workers and highly educated individuals into their home countries? Are countries with a large diaspora in any way profiting from this?
The second part, open to general public, hosted various experts in the field who discussed the conclusions from the first session, as well as offered insights into potential solutions to the brain drain issue. The event was opened by Nina Kodelja, Deputy Secretary General of CEI, who stressed that demographic issues affect the societal tissue profoundly. Katja Geršak, Executive Director of CEP, continued with the presentation of good practices that CEP and Slovenia are implementing through development projects. In addition, Andor Dávid, Executive Director of International Visegrad Fund (IVF) shared some thoughts on entrepreneurship, where he stressed that entrepreneurial and innovation spirit have to be awoken at an early age. He added that IVF activities in the WB region focus on future jobs, which do not exist yet but could offer a new impetus to local communities in the future.
The discussants, Dafina Peci, Secretary General at National Youth Congress of Albania, Jernej Štromajer, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education of Slovenia, and Anja Fortuna, President of National Youth Council of Slovenia, agreed there are numerous reasons to why people decide to move, while we should seek deeper reasons to why this occurs. Healthcare, housing, family policies, educational system, democratic performance, environment policies etc. all play an important role when trying to turn brain drain into brain circulation. They also agreed that governments should, through a mix of different policies, offer incentives for youth to stay in their home countries.
Concluding remarks were offered by Peter Grk, Secretary General of Bled Strategic Forum and National Coordinator for the Western Balkans from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, who stressed that what the WB region is lacking are the “lights” (hope), while currently there are no lights to be turned off, paraphrasing the title of the round table. “Both the EU and WB countries need to stop pretending and start creating favourable conditions for youth in the region”, stressed Grk.
Meliha Muherina, Programme Director of the Young BSF, moderated the event.
Concrete policy recommendations on the topic discussed will follow in the upcoming weeks.
4. 3. 2020 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
The Centre for European Perspective (CEP), together with the U.S. Department of State, and the support from the Moldovan State Chancellery and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, is organizing a two-day training for Moldovan government communicators within the scope of “European Digital Diplomacy Exchange (EDDE)” project. The training will take place on 5 – 6 March in Government House in Chișinău.
Today’s public sphere is shaped by the proliferation of digital communication channels that are constantly bringing new challenges for governments. Government communicators are required to be active on social networks, but this role is too often taken for granted. In order to ensure successful communication, they constantly need to expand their knowledge, experience, different abilities and skills.
This training will cover a range of topics from public relations and public diplomacy theory to the practical application of digital tools, conducted by experienced public and private sector communicators in this emerging media environment.
