Signing of sister-cities agreement between Hrastnik and Drohobych

Signing of sister-cities agreement between Hrastnik and Drohobych

14 November, Drohobych, Ukraine – Today, we have marked a significant step in cooperation between Drohobych Urban Hromada and Municipality Hrastnik. 

The signing was celebrated with a discussion on inter-municipal cooperation and a public discussion on the role of local communities and international partnerships in supporting Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding efforts, with the signing and the accompanying activities in Drohobych organised under the auspices of the project “Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Ukraine”. The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovenia Aid and Partnerships Programme) and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in Slovenia in partnership with the EU Programme U-LEAD with Europe implemented by GIZ Germany.
Signing on behalf of Municipality Hrastnik was Mr Marko Funkl, Mayor Hrastnik. Slovenian Ambassador to Ukraine, H.E. Ms Mateja Prevolšek, and representatives of U-LEAD with Europe Programme also attended the activities marking this significant step in the cooperation between the two municipalities.

The partnership between Hrastnik and Drohobych dates to 2021, when the first contacts were made under the U-LEAD with Europe framework, with initial cooperation plans focused on youth, culture, and tourism. At the outbreak of war, Hrastnik’s citizens showed their solidarity by sending significant humanitarian aid directly to Drohobych. The ongoing project with CEP has deepened the partnership, allowing for the development of concrete project plans, including equipping a rehabilitation centre in Drohobych and providing essential medical equipment to the local hospital. The cooperation will also aim to collaborate on enhancing the local and regional tourism sector in Drohobych, which will further strengthen our partnership through new joint ventures. Becoming a sister city has strengthened cooperation on multiple levels for years.

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Seventh mentorship visit in Slovenj Gradec begins

Seventh mentorship visit in Slovenj Gradec begins

13 November 2024, Slovenj Gradec – Today, we kicked off the seventh three-week mentorship of 2024 between the City Municipality Slovenj Gradec and Municipality Ladyzhyn under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’.

The event was opened with a welcome speech and presentation of City Municipality of Slovenj Gradec by Mr Tilen Kligler, Mayor of Slovenj Gradec, who welcomed mentees Mr Maksym Chekryhin, Deputy Mayor of Ladyzhyn and Ms Olena Fadiievska, the Head of the Municipal Institution “Local Economic Development Agency of Ladyzhyn”. Mayor Klugler welcomed the mentees with an optimistic outlook, expressing his hope for a successful mentorship and possible future cooperation. Following was a presentation by Ms Ana Novak, CEP Project Manager, who presented the project and its objectives and Ms Nuša Blatnik, CEP Project Assistant, who presented the logistical aspects of the mentorship. Mentees from Ladyzhyn presented the municipality, the current reconstruction process and their 

The three-week mentorship in Slovenj Gradec will cover project development and fund absorption, business development, the EU enlargement process on the local level, and alternative energy sources.

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The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. The U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Slovenia, to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the Ukrainian population.

CEP na 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevih

CEP na 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevih

CEP je danes v sodelovanju s Centrom za mednarodno sodelovanje in razvoj – CMSR organiziral panel Vloga Slovenije v globalnem razvoju: Ali vemo, kaj za Slovenijo pomeni mednarodna razvojna pomoč?, ki je potekal v sklopu 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevov.

Panel, na katerem so govorili g. Jernej Salecl, generalni direktor Direktorata za industrijo, podjetništvo in internacionalizacijo Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport, g. Edvin Skrt, generalni direktor Direktorata za razvojno sodelovanje in humanitarno pomoč, Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve, ga. Jelka Klemenc, vodja sektorja za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje, CEP, g. Dejan Prešiček, direktor CMSR, je moderirala zasl. prof. dr. Maja Bučar.

G. Edvin Skrt, MZEZ je poudaril, da je za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje (MRS) ključna predvidljivost financiranja, saj brez jasnega finančnega načrta ni mogoče uspešno izvajati projektov. Prav tako je izpostavil potrebo po boljši medresorski koordinaciji, saj trenutna situacija povzroča zamude in neučinkovitost.

G. Jernej Salecl, MGŠT je MRS označil kot odlično priložnost za slovenska podjetja, ki želijo prodreti na mednarodne trge.

G. Dejan Prešiček je izpostavil pomen slovenskega znanja in izkušenj v MRS, vendar opozoril na težave pri časovnici financiranja, kar ovira hitre odzive ustanov.

Ga. Jelka Klemenc, CEP, je predstavila izkušnje dela v tujih razvojnih agencijah in drugih akterjih ter primere z Zahodnega Balkana, ki orišejo tematsko prednost slovenskega znanja; tudi majhnost slovenskih projektov vidi kot prednost, saj omogočajo večjo fleksibilnost na terenu, ter opozarja na priložnosti, ki bi jih lahko imeli s programskim pristopom, ki nudi orodja za koordinacijo. Hkrati je izpostavila pomen udejstvovanja v MRS in razvojne pomoči za človekovo varnost, kjer v Sloveniji manjka akterjev, ki bi o njenih razsežnostih ozaveščali; tudi zato se še vedno sprašujemo, čemu MRS. Potrebna je nujnost ozaveščanja tako strokovne javnosti kot tudi širše družbe o vseh koristih MRS za državo in njene državljane, za kar bi bila ključna uvrstitev te tematike v vzgojno-izobraževalni sistem.

Prof. dr. Bučar pa je poudarila, da je ključni izziv predvsem birokracija in slaba koordinacija, tako v Sloveniji kot v državah prejemnicah, poleg ozaveščanja.

Vsi panelisti so se strinjali, da je za uspeh MRS nujna boljša koordinacija med institucijami ter dolgoročna finančna stabilnost.

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Upcoming capacity-building session in Serbia

Upcoming capacity-building session in Serbia

Next week, we are in Serbia to kick off a two-day capacity-building session for the Zrenjanin and Kikinda Police Departments. The session will focus on continuing to expand the patrol management system, which already connects 14 out of 27 PUs in the country.

The workshop will focus on transferring the experience and good practices of the Slovenian police administrations of Novo Mesto and Maribor to their Serbian colleagues, transferring the experience of the Serbian police administration of Sremska Mitrovica, and demonstrating the practical use of the system by the subcontractor ZZI. 

Activities of the project are financed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships programme and supported by the Ministry of Interior of Slovenia and Slovenian Police.

Consultations with MUP Serbia confirm revised plan for implementation of activities

Consultations with MUP Serbia confirm revised plan for implementation of activities

Today, we concluded consultations with the Serbian Ministry of Interior, with the successful collaboration of the Police Directorate of Serbia, the Information and Communication Technology Service (SIKT), the Slovenian Police, the Embassy of Slovenia in Serbia, and CEP as the facilitator of the discussions. Together, we defined a confirmed major step that will lead to the successful conclusion of Project Phase III. According to a detailed plan, the technical implementation of a revised system for patrol management will continue. By the end of 2024, two new police directorates in Serbia will be included in the pilot project.

Discussions showed that the transfer of best practices from Slovenia through the Slovenian Police is of great importance. However, it is also crucial that our partnership enables the adaptation of Slovenian good practices to the requirements and specifics of the Serbian landscape. Our trusted partner, ZZI, makes a significant contribution in this respect.

The patrol management system is a crucial tool that will enable our Serbian partners to facilitate efficient field operations, enhance the safety of civilians and police officers, and rationalize work processes. The system’s importance was further solidified during the recent visit to Slovenia in May 2024.

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.