Regional cooperation

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

13. 1. 2025 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation

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From December 8 to 13, 2024, the first forum titled “BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change” was held in Portorož as part of the development project Enter Change. The forum brought together future young leaders from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through lectures, workshops, and discussions, the forum addressed key topics such as:
✔️ Leadership competencies and effective communication
✔️ Challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans on the path to EU integration
✔️ Strategic communication and combating disinformation
✔️ Diversity in the business world, gender equality, and the role of women in politics
✔️ Youth engagement in driving social change

The event’s highlights included contributions from esteemed speakers such as Alexander Kasanof, Peter Grk, Dr. Danica Purg, and Borut Pahor and interactive workshops that enabled participants to develop concrete solutions for future challenges.

The forum was a significant step in empowering young future political leaders from BiH and fostering positive change in the region. It was organized by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the U.S. Embassy in Slovenia. In 2025, we will continue our work with future leaders and look forward to the second forum in Slovenia, scheduled for late August. This forum will be aligned with the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Conclusion of the project Chapter 24 – Strengthening Patrol Management in Serbia

19. 12. 2024 | Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Security, Serbia - management of patrols

On 18 December 2024, we gathered in Belgrade to mark the conclusion of the project ‘Chapter 24 – Strengthening Patrol Management in Serbia’. The project that began in 2019 with the goal of enhancing patrol management capacities in the Republic of Serbia built upon excellent cooperation between the Ministry of Interior of Serbia, Ministry of Interior of Slovenia and Slovenian Police. The project activities empowered over 500 Serbian police officers in the usage of the patrol management system over the last 5 years.

The participants of the concluding event noted that the good cooperation between both sides enabled a safer working environment for the Serbian police while also providing better service to the citizens.

We thank all our partners, especially the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia and the Slovenian Police, for their support; we also thank the Serbian Ministry of Interior (MUP RS) and the Slovenian Embassy in Serbia for the support and organisation of the final event.

Activities are part of Slovenian development cooperation, financed by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia and the Slovenian police.

Local launch of the project and workshops in Skopje

16. 12. 2024 | Development (ODA), North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Regional cooperation

The project “Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education and Establishing the System for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia” was launched today in Skopje, with the participation of H.E. Minister Arben Taravari, Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia and H.E. Minister Vesna Janevska, Ministry of Education of the Republic of North Macedonia, who expresses their support for the project which addresses the needs of North Macedonia and thanked Slovenia for the support.

The event was organized by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in North Macedonia. It successfully brought together key stakeholders to discuss the project’s objectives, progress, and next steps for implementation.

The opening remarks were delivered by Ms Nika Rotar, Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in North Macedonia; H.E. Minister Arben Taravari, Ministry of Health, Republic of North Macedonia; H.E. Minister Vesna Janevska, Ministry of Education, Republic of North Macedonia; and Ms Vesna Marinko, Director-General of the Directorate for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Republic of Slovenia.

The program continued with an insightful project overview presented by Ms Jelka Klemenc, Head of the Project Team at the Centre for European Perspective; Prof. Dr Skela Savič from the Faculty of Health Care Angela Boškin, Slovenia; Ms Monika Ažman, Ms Anita Prelec, and Dr Andrej Vojnović from the Nurses and Midwives’ Association of Slovenia; and Ms Vesna Blazeski, Head of Project Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Republic of North Macedonia. The speakers highlighted the project goals, planned activities, outcomes of initial analyses, and the upcoming steps necessary for successful implementation.

We were honoured by the attendance of Prof. Dr Igor Gila Nikolov, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Dr Rashela Mizrahi, representative of the Parliament and President of the Health Commission, whose presence underscored the project’s significance at the national level.

The event served as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration, emphasizing the need to strengthen nursing and midwifery education and establish systems for recognizing professional qualifications in North Macedonia. This joint effort reflects a strong commitment to improving the healthcare system and supporting professional development in the country.

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 Programme] and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of North Macedonia, with technical support from WHO Office North Macedonia. The launch event was organized by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in North Macedonia, the WHO Country Office in North Macedonia, the Ministry of Health of Slovenia, as well as the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education of the Republic of North Macedonia.

BiH’s Visionary Voices Forum: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

16. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Youth

The first forum of the “Enter: Change” project, BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change, came to an end on Friday. Held in Portorož from 9 to 13 December, it brought together 12 young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a program focused on leadership, governance, and social change.

Over five days, participants discussed important topics such as challenges in the Western Balkans, the rule of law, democracy, and fighting corruption. They learned about strategic communication, tackling misinformation, and using media to bring people together. Sessions also focused on gender equality, the role of women in leadership, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in decision-making. Workshops helped participants build skills in leadership, teamwork, communication, and strategic planning while encouraging youth involvement in politics and democracy. The forum combined discussions, workshops, and interactive activities to help participants gain practical skills and share ideas. They worked on how to take what they learned and use it in their communities to make a positive impact.

The event featured contributions from key figures, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Ms Melania Arreaga, and former Slovenian President Mr Borut Pahor. Their insights inspired participants and added great value to the forum. This forum is the first step in the Enter: Change project, and we look forward to continuing this work and helping young leaders create meaningful change.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.

The BiH’s Visionary Voices Forum Wraps Up

13. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Youth

We’ve closed BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change forum with an inspiring session highlighting recent achievements and future aspirations for young BiH politicians.

The concluding ceremony opened with a keynote by H.E. Mr. Borut Pahor, Founder and Director of the Institute Friends of the Western Balkans and former President of Slovenia (2012–2022). His talk, Charting Bosnia’s Future: Leadership Lessons for and by Youth, offered participants interesting insights and encouragement.

The concluding session featured participants presenting key takeaways, sharing lessons learned, and reflecting on how these insights will shape their future efforts. These presentations underscored their dedication to applying new ideas in practical and impactful ways.

The successfully concluded forum highlighted the need for further cooperation, promoting meaningful discussions, skill-building, and networking. We will continue our work within the Enter: Change project and we look forward to hosting another forum next year.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS / Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy Ljubljana.

Midway through BiH’s Visionary Voices

12. 12. 2024 | BiH - Young Politicians, Development (ODA), PR, Regional cooperation, Youth

Portorož, 12 December 2024 – We are halfway through ‘BiH’s Visionary Voices: Leading the Change’ forum, offering an enriching experience for our participants.

Participants have delved into some crucial topics, including:

The challenges and opportunities of the Western Balkans and pathways to progress
The principles of rule of law and democracy
Shaping impactful messages for the media through effective communication
Using strategic communication to build democratic resilience and social cohesion
The role of media in fostering social change, with a focus on youth and citizenship

Two workshops further encouraged participants to explore leadership in depth—examining its core competencies, reflecting on their own leadership experiences, and considering how they can create meaningful change in their communities.

In the remaining two days, participants will focus on two very important topics: gender equality and diversity and the role of women in the political context.

The activities within the project ‘Enter: Change’ are financed by the Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve RS / Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs within the #SlovenianAid and Partnerships programme and by the U.S. Embassy Ljubljana.