Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation begins in Lviv

29. 5. 2025 | PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance, U-LEAD: with Europe, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine, 28 May 2025 – Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation officially opened today in Lviv, bringing together over 80 participants from Ukraine, Slovenia, and wider for three days of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cooperation. Organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), with the support of U-LEAD with Europe programme and City of Lviv, the Forum is a cornerstone of the CEP Programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine”, supporting local resilience through international municipal partnerships.

With Ukraine’s recovery and EU path deeply interconnected, the Forum serves as a platform for transforming solidarity into action, across topics such as housing, waste management, decentralised governance, and European integration.

The Forum began with addresses by Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, Deputy Minister Oleksii Riabykin, and Slovenia’s State Secretary Srečko Đurov. Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, delivered a keynote address underlining the central role of Ukrainian municipalities in recovery efforts.

During the opening part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the German GIZ, confirming a strong framework for cooperation and support in Ukraine through CEP’s “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine” programme. At the heart of the Forum are the International Municipal Partnerships, an initiative that connects municipalities like Kočevje, Hrastnik, Pereschepyne, and Drohobych to share policy expertise and implement locally led reforms.

In a dedicated panel, Slovenian and Ukrainian mayors exchanged experiences in tackling pressing local needs from housing strategies to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring citizen trust in public services.

Another key side event launched the pilot project “Establishing a Sustainable Waste Management System in Samar Raion” in Pereschepyne. The session with mayors of the Samar Raion explored both the local challenges (such as landfill overuse, lack of funding and war-induced waste) and lessons learned from Slovenia’s transformation into an EU waste management powerhouse.

The Forum also highlights Slovenia’s strategic role in supporting Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, through a side panel titled “Ukraine’s Path Toward the EU”. Participants from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Slovenian Ministry for Cohesion, and the European Parliament shared insights on how Ukraine can build the institutional capacity to navigate complex EU processes.

On 30 May, the Forum will host a dedicated panel on housing policy with officials and experts from Lviv, CEDOS, Drohobych, and Hrastnik. The discussion will highlight how municipalities are addressing the housing crisis, including for internally displaced persons.

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Enter Change participants on a visit to the Slovenian Embassy in BiH

Enter Change participants on a visit to the Slovenian Embassy in BiH

15. 5. 2025 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance, Youth

On Wednesday, 14 May 2025, as part of the Enter Change project—led 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 Embassy of the United States of America in Slovenia—project participants visited the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Through an open dialogue, the participants learned about the functioning of the Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, diplomatic processes, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the relations between Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The young participants highlighted the importance of direct dialogue with diplomats, which provided valuable insight into the workings of institutions that shape international relations and contribute to regional stability.
 
A sincere thank you to H.E. Ambassador Damjan Sedar and his team for their exceptional hospitality, time, and willingness to engage with the participants’ many questions. The Enter Change project continues with activities that promote inclusive leadership, interethnic dialogue, and regional cooperation.
 

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Workshops in Skopje: Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education in North Macedonia

Workshops in Skopje: Advancing Nursing and Midwifery Education in North Macedonia

28. 4. 2025 | North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Slovenian Development Assistance

The second set of workshops within the project “Advancing nursing and midwifery education and establishing the system for the recognition of professional qualifications in the Republic of North Macedonia (2024–2025)” will take place from 27 to 28 May in Skopje. The workshops will bring together representatives from six faculties, healthcare professionals, and international experts to discuss the proposed national curriculum for nursing and midwifery, regulatory reforms, and the future of integrated primary healthcare.

Joining the workshops will be Slovenian experts from the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia (Zbornica – Zveza) and the Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care, who will share insights into curriculum development, the establishment of regulatory bodies, and the role of nurses in family medicine clinics.

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.

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

Journey of BiH’s Visionary Voices in 2024

13. 1. 2025 | BiH - Young Politicians, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

Za novičko v slovenskem jeziku kliknite tu.

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.

Local launch of the project and workshops in Skopje

Local launch of the project and workshops in Skopje

16. 12. 2024 | North Macedonia - Nursing and Midwifery, PR, Regional cooperation, Slovenian Development Assistance

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.

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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.