28. 3. 2019 | Albania - Election, PR
Click here to read the news in Slovenian language 
Within the framework of the International Development Cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia, the Center for European Perspective launched the two-year project “Strengthening the Transparency of the Electoral Bodies-Exchange of Experiences between Albania and Slovenia 2019-20”. The opening conference was held on Tuesday 26. March at the premises of the Central Election Commission. The conference will be followed by a workshop which will be held at the Hotel “Tirana”. between 26 and 28 March 2019. The conference was opened by her exellency Ms Lea Stančič Ambassdor of Republic of Slovenia to Albania, President of the Electoral Commission of Albania Klement Zguri and President of the National Election Commission of Slovenia Dušan Vučko.
The project addresses strengthening of democratic institutions, which is of utmost importance for Albania as a candidate country for EU membership. This process also includes elections and electoral system, which is one of the cornerstones of democratic development and the rule of law. The project focuses on the niche of ensuring transparency of the elections, which is an essential element of the credibility of the elections. The implementation of the project includes recognized experts from the field of election management: dr. Alenka Verbole, dr. Igor Gaon and Director of the State Election Commission of the Republic of Slovenia Dušan Vučko, who will share Slovenian and other experiences in this field. In addition to Albanian election experts, representatives of the Central Election Commission also representatives of international community were present at the opening. In the next two days, the workshop will be dedicated to representatives of non-governmental organizations, domestic observers and professional public. The recommendations regarding the observation of local elections will be discussed.
The project is financed from the funds for International development cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.
26. 3. 2019 | PR
Centre for European Perspective (CEP) kindly invites you to a round-table discussion on 1st of April at 9.45. Slovenia is celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty and 15th Anniversary of Slovenian membership in the Alliance. Seven decades ago twelve countries from both sides of the Atlantic signed an agreement in Washington, seeking to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They committed to fostering peaceful and friendly relations between members and beyond.
The North Atlantic Alliance was founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, it remains the backbone of our collective defence. After 70 years it still embodies the transatlantic link that binds North America and Europe in a unique defence and security partnership. NATO has experienced many challenges on its path from rebuilding of Europe after the WW II, the Cold War era, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the attacks of 9/11 and the so far only instance of Article 5 activation.
At 70 year anniversary we would like to reflect on the path traveled and on the future of NATO alliance. The round-table will discuss the role of NATO in our region, particularly in light of changes in our security environment as well as the importance of the transatlantic alliance. How will the alliance, which has overcome historic divisions and became the most successful alliance in history, overcome internal and external challenges? What will the NATO alliance look like in the 21st century? What is the future of NATO in the Western Balkans?
DATE: 1 April, 09.45 – 11.30
Location: Jable Castle
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Klemen Grošelj, State Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Slovenia
Lawrence Chalmer, Consultant on NATO and international security
Dr. Jelena Juvan, Faculty of Social Sciences
Moderated by Aleš Kocjan, Večer
25. 3. 2019 | PR, U-LEAD: with Europe, Waste management
U-LEAD with Europe: Ukraine – Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Programme 4th international study visit that Slovenia is hosting began on Monday, 25th of March at Jable castle.
There are currently 18 public officials from Ukraine taking part in the fourth study visit from three Ukrainian regions: Dnipropetrovsk, Volyn and Zhytomyr. The topic of the visit is waste management and the visit is a part of the project “Upgrading Municipal Waste Management Services”, which helps key actors of 36 selected amalgamated hromadas in the mentioned Ukrainian regions to implement green approaches in the waste management sector.
Participants began their visit with an introduction day at Jable Castle, where they were welcomed by CEP Executive Director Ms Katja Geršak, Ms Andreja Purkart Martinez from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Andrii Borodenkov, First Secretary from the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia.
First day at Jable castle kicked-off with an activity organized by the moderator of the visit, Ms Meliha Muherina and a lecture on the topic of waste management in Slovenia by Dr Lucija Jurić Soršak from the Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning , a lecture on EU approach to waste management and extended producer responsibility by Mag Radovan Tavzes, former director general of the directorate for environment. Ms Tatjana Orhini-Valjavec then led an active lecture on efficient use of resources and circular economy.
In the following days, the participants will learn more about the role of NGOs in efficient waste management and the importance of communication between the community and the municipality. They will also be able to experience Slovenian waste management in practice, as they will visit Snaga Ljubljana, Kemis Vrhnika, RCERO Celje, Toplarna Celje and Kostak Krško. The participants will also meet with the Mayor of Logatec and the Mayor of Krško.
The visit is taking place in the framework of the multi-donor action U-LEAD established by the European Union and its Member States Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. It is aimed to contribute to the establishment of multilevel governance that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine. U-LEAD with Europe is supporting the Ukrainian Government, represented by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine (MinRegion) as a key political partner, in the coordination and implementation of the decentralisation and regional policy reforms. The Programme carries out demand-driven and targeted trainings for officials at the national, regional and local level.
22. 3. 2019 | PR, WB6 Startup academy
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
Next week, a program of workshops for young entrepreneurs and startups in the Western Balkans will continue in Niksic, Montenegro. This year we are implementing it with support of the Slovene Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Slovenia’s Development Cooperation and German development agency GIZ’s office in Sarajevo.
The first workshop was held two weeks ago and was dedicated to the actors of the entrepreneurship and startup environment (HUBs, accelerators, incubators) and this time the young entrepreneurs and startups will join us for the first time. There will be 18 young representatives from all six Western Balkan countries with good business ideas. The workshop will focus on the different funding options, since each requires a different preparation and approach. In this way, the participants will get to know the possibilities of financing through various funds of the initial capital and discuss the advantages and disadvantages, steps and timelines of business angel investments.
Workshop activities are interactive and are designed to best prepare young entrepreneurs for participation in the international conference Podim, which traditionally takes place in May in Maribor. Until then, all young people will meet at least once in a workshop in Pristina, and then intensive 1:1 mentoring will take place, whose main purpose is to prepare best young entrepreneurs to present their business idea and find potential investors, partners and supporters at the conference.
Project is part of the activities that are through the Slovenia’s Development Cooperation financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.
20. 3. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
The European Digital Diplomacy Exchange Western Balkans Road Show has moved to its third and final destination, wonderful Tirana, Albania. The activities of the two-day training will take place at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs between Wednesday March 20th until the 21st of March. We look forward to the opportunity of engaging with communicators, PR officers and other public servants through discussions on the topic of digital diplomacy.
The event was officially opened by project manager Ms Ingrid Omahna, who has been at the core of the EDDE project from the very beginning. Participants of the event were also addressed by Ms Lucija Straley, who is currently working as an Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. Ms Straley underlined the digital environment that facilitates the debate of this generation. It is up to governments to engage and communicate with their citizens, with digital innovation as only one of the fast evolving tools that can represent a bridge for the fulfilment of the gap between institutions and the people they represent.
The environment in which communication takes place today is devised as a mosaic of multiple media outlets, among them traditional and digital, that have complemented the public discussion into a more democratic network than ever. The participants in today’s training, who are facing the challenges of their institutions representation, had expressed the challenges such an environment entails, and how they are working on fostering the highest level of engagement with their audience, the citizens they represent.
Mr Matt Jacobs, who gained his expertise through his work within the U.S. Department of State, also sees the challenges and opportunities todays public debate yields. Today’s environment should be another opportunity to engage and empower communities through dialogues, not monologues as in the past with traditional media and communication hierarchies. The citizen of today needs to be informed, included in the debate and facilitated towards engagement, to bolster a democratic and transparent discussion, that will in the end effect in more fruitful policies and embrace a more prosperous future for the whole community. State institutions can and should use digital innovation, to make good on their promise towards their citizens as public officers have been entrusted the privilege of representing their constituents, and ensure the interest and wellbeing of the lather. Communicating through social media and other platforms therefore presents an opportunity, to step up to the plate and engage their communities. It´s an opportunity state institutions cannot miss if they wish to not only provide leadership, but strive for a progressive environment in the interest of their communities.
Technological advances have contributed to new opportunities, but also threats. The fully democratized communication flows have also contributed to the rise of deception, disinformation and societal threats, that need to be addressed. Disinformation, as a form of deliberate transmission of false information and data is present in our everyday lifestyle, as U.S. Department of States analytic Darjan Vujica expressed. It is therefore essential that governments who are already aware of this threats, reach out to their audiences and provide them with information and effort, to secure a trustworthy communication flow among everyone.
The training will continue with many more discussions tomorrow, and build on the challenges all public services and their respectful institutions face, to find solutions that will pave the road to an engaging, transparent and democratic future.
Activities in Tirana follow a series of multiple events that focus on European Digital Diplomacy Exchange. All of the trainings serve as a fruitful cooperation between The Centre for European Perspectives, the U.S. Department of state and U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana. It is the common goal of all the organising parties, to further expand the network and strengthen it, so that it may be best equipped for the digital challenges future has in store.
18. 3. 2019 | European Digital Diplomacy Exchange, PR
After a successful event in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Digital Diplomacy Exchange project team continues with an extensive and engaging program in Podgorica, Montenegro. The training will take place from March 18th through March 19th and will include advanced level digital diplomats, beginners in the topic and all kinds of digital diplomacy enthusiast, that will make the discussion and sharing of best practices limitless.
On Monday the participants of the event were addressed by Mr Jeff Adler representing the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica at the capacity of Public Affairs Officer. The discussion engaged the participants on the topic of disinformation, with lectures by Mr Matt Jacobs and Mr Darjan Vujica, who both currently actively participate in the U.S. Department of state. Both trainers presented the topic of disinformation in a specific way, either from a communication perspective or with more focus on analytics. This enabled the participants to comprehend more closely and clearly, on how disinformation works and disseminated the environment, which enables disinformation to thrive and survive. The participants were engaged in the discussion and not only offered their own opinion and knowledge on the topic, but also valuable experience that addresses the threat of disinformation.
Matt Jacobs tackled two other important topics, namely the way to approach communication in a more structured manor, and how to improve listening to the needs of audiences. We often tend to think of a milestone of communication with the invention of gadgets like the printing press that drastically changed the world we live in. But communication dates much more into the past, and the concept used then are still applicable and useful today, as Mr Jacobs explained with concrete examples, methods and concepts. The discussion also touched upon how to approach communication properly, to reach the engagement and feedback of the audiences in the greatest extent possible, as it is an extensive way to secure transparency and direct democracy.
The program continued with workshops on Tuesday, ranging from morning to the late afternoon, approaching the topic of digital diplomacy in an even more practical and engaging way. Participants were engaged in the practical view of digital campaigns, from their initial planning to purely practical implementation. The discussions were held by Mr Matt Jacobs and Ms Carey Hogg, both experts coming from the U.S. Department of State, who challenged the participants to make their very own digital campaign on the spot. The two groups tackled the topic of public health policies, and devoted attention to the rise of awareness in the field of vital organ donorship. Digital diplomats that were present gave all their expertise, talents and ideas to the debate and produced content with great potential, that would not only raise awareness of a certain policy, but include citizens in their creation, contributing to better conditions in a community for every individual. Transparency, active participation and engagement are therefore only the beginning of multiple possibilities digital diplomacy can embrace.
