Ana Novak, Author at CEP

Enter: Change Forum II – Youth Shaping Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Future

25. 8. 2025 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

This week, the second Enter: Change Forum titled “Shaping BiH’s Tomorrow: Youth Leading the Way” will unite 16 young leaders from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing diverse ethnic and political backgrounds.

The Forum, starting on 28 August, will include participation in the Young BSF on 31 August and the Bled Strategic Forum on 1 and 2 September. It will provide a platform to address some of the most pressing challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, including European integration, the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and interethnic dialogue through inclusive leadership. Participants will engage in lectures, panel discussions, training sessions, mentorship, and public dialogue. Under the guidance of Mr Adnan Ćerimagić, analyst at the European Stability Initiative, the young leaders will prepare a vision statement on the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path towards the European Union.

The Forum will also unite young leaders with participants of the Young Bled Strategic Forum, with both then joining the Bled Strategic Forum, working to amplify the voices of youth and highlight their role in shaping inclusive political processes and promoting European values.

The activities of the Enter: Change project are supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the Embassy of the United States of America in Ljubljana.

Children from Bucha visit Kočevje

17. 7. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Kočevje, 17 July 2025 – A group of 45 children from Bucha Municipality (Kyiv region) spent a week in Kočevje, Slovenia, taking part in a programme designed to give them a break from the ongoing war and a chance to enjoy nature and new experiences.

The children, aged 9 to 14, followed an active schedule filled with sports, games, creative activities, and time outdoors. They especially enjoyed rafting and exploring the forests and hills of the Kočevje region, known for its natural beauty and wildlife. Teachers and mentors accompanying the group expressed gratitude for the opportunity to provide the children with a safe and peaceful environment where they could relax and recharge. On their final day, the children met with Oleg Rogoza, Project Manager at CEP, and shared their impressions and hopes, including the wish that one day their Slovenian friends might visit them in Bucha.

The visit was made possible by the initiative of the Municipality of Kočevje and the Municipality of Bucha, with support from CEP and other partners. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation between Slovenian and Ukrainian municipalities and support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The visit of Bucha children in Kočevje highlights good cooperation between Bucha and Kočevje, which signed a twin-cities agreement in April 2024.

We thank Mayor Gregor Košir, the team at the Municipality of Kočevje, all mentors, and the co-financers who helped make this visit possible.

The visit is in part supported by the Slovenian Aid & Partnerships programme of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

Conclusion of the first fact-finding visit in Podgorica

14. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

On Friday, 11 July, we concluded the first fact-finding visit to Podgorica, which took place from 9 to 11 July 2025, as part of an ongoing project aimed at strengthening the institutional capacities for financial investigations in Montenegro.

The visit aimed to gain a more in-depth understanding of the current situation and key challenges in the fields of investigative procedures and financial investigations, with Slovenian experts exchanging information with their colleagues at the Montenegrin Ministry of the Interior and Police Administration. The expert team, led by CEP, also held a meeting with Mr Vladimir Novovič, Chief Special Prosecutor at the Special State Prosecutor’s Office and discussed the role of their Office and inter-institutional cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia through the International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (Slovenia Aid & Partnerships) Programme, in cooperation with the Slovenian Police and the Ministry of Interior.

Conclusion of the first TIPS4UA internship in Hrastnik

10. 7. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, Ukraine

Today marks the conclusion of an intensive internship visit of the Ukrainian municipality Drohobych 🇺🇦 in Municipality Hrastnik 🇸🇮, as part of the TIPS4UA initiative. The visit brought together key municipal actors to exchange good practices, deepen cooperation, and co-develop solutions to one of the most pressing issues facing Ukrainian local governments today: housing. A representative from Drohobych spent two weeks in Hrastnik, focusing on sustainable housing, municipal planning, and strategic recovery efforts.

More than 2,400 people, including large families, families with disabilities, and over 300 internally displaced households, are currently waiting for safe and affordable housing due to a severe housing crisis. The visit was designed to support Drohobych in addressing this urgent need by learning from Hrastnik’s experience in socially inclusive, non-profit housing policies.

During the programme, participants took part in:
• Discussions on housing models in Hrastnik and Slovenia
• Field visits to Hrastnik, Celje and Ljubljana
• Workshops on legal, financial and planning aspects of housing strategy
• Expert exchanges with Slovenian institutions

The mentorship explored how communities like Hrastnik address housing challenges through open planning, financial foresight, and community involvement. These insights will contribute to a pilot non-profit housing project in Drohobych.

Mr Yatskiv, representative of Drohobych, shared: “This internship gave us concrete ideas and a vision of what is possible. The solidarity and support from Hrastnik give us hope and practical direction for building our community back stronger.” Although the internship may have concluded, cooperation between the two municipalities continues. CEP remains proud to support both partners in this essential work.

The activities are supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs under the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships Programme. In cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions and U-LEAD with Europe.

Fact-finding visit in the field of financial investigation to begin in Podgorica

2. 7. 2025 | Montenegro - finance, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

A working visit to Podgorica will take place from 9 to 11 July 2025 as part of the ongoing project focusing on strengthening the institutional capacities of stakeholders involved in the field of financial investigations in Montenegro. The visit will focus on gaining in-depth insight into the current situation and key challenges in the field of investigative procedures and inter-institutional cooperation.

Slovenian experts from this field will meet with selected counterparts from Montenegro, aiming to exchange information and lay the groundwork for further cooperation and expert support in strengthening the rule of law.