The Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda team holds the Environmental Challenges and Exchange of Environmental Practices in Western Balkan Countries Regional Conference

On Friday July 2, the Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda team held a conference on the environmental challenges facing the Western Balkans, which was also designed to share good environmental practices between guest speakers and other participants from the region.

The conference was held online via the Zoom platform from 9:30-11:30 and was broadcast live on BIRN Kosovo’s social media platforms.

This online conference brought together representatives from some of the region’s most engaged and well-known civil society organizations, along with journalists and environmental activists working in the fields of environmental protection, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability in the Western Balkans.

Panelists and participants exchanged best practices, shared their experiences, learned from one another, and explored future opportunities for environmental collaboration.

The conference was moderated by Pippa Gallop, Energy Advisor on the Western Balkans for CEE Bankwatch, while panelists included: Flutra Zymi, Executive Director of the Active Citizens NGO and an environmental activist from Kosovo, Dina Djordjevic, an investigative journalist from the Center for Journalism Research in Serbia (CINS), Besjana Guri, Communications Officer from EcoAlbania, and Natasa Kovacevic, Executive Director of the Green Home NGO in Montenegro.

The panelists discussed both success stories and cases of environmental damage in the region. They also discussed both excellent and poor techniques for combating environmental degradation, as well as the process of advocating for a cleaner environment in the Western Balkans.

At the conclusion of the discussion, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the themes of the conference with the panelists, which made for a great wrap up to this very informative event.

This conference was organized as part of Green Energy Days 2021 – an event hosted as part of the Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Green Energy Days will take place until 7 July, 2021.

Ekipi, ‘Evropianizimi i Agjendës Mjedisore të Kosovës’, mban konferencën rajonale “Sfidat mjedisore dhe shkëmbimi i praktikave mjedisore në vendet e Ballkanit Perëndimor”

Ekipi, ‘Evropianizimi i Agjendës Mjedisore të Kosovës’, mbajti konferencën mbi sfidat mjedisore në Ballkanin Perëndimor me synim shkëmbimin e praktikave mjedisore ndërmjet folësve të ftuar dhe pjesëmarrësve nga rajonI.

Konferenca u mbajt online përmes platformës ‘Zoom’ prej orës 9:30 deri në orën 11:30, të premten, më 2 korrik 2021 dhe u transmetua drejtpërdrejt në platformat e mediave sociale të ‘BIRN Kosova’.

Kjo konferencë online tuboi përfaqësuesit nga disa prej organizatave më të angazhuara dhe më të njohura të shoqërisë civile në rajon, së bashku me gazetarë dhe aktivistë mjedisorë nga Ballkani Perëndimor që punojnë në fushat e mbrojtjes së mjedisit, të burimeve të ripërtëritshme dhe të mjedisit të qëndrueshëm. Panelistët dhe pjesëmarrësit shkëmbyen praktikat më të mira, ndanë përvojat e tyre, e sigurisht mësuan nga njëri-tjetri dhe hulumtuan mundësitë e ardhshme për bashkëpunim në lëmin mjedisor.

Konferenca u moderua nga Pippa Gallop – këshilltare për energji në Ballkanin Perëndimor nga “CEE Bankwatch”, ndërsa panelistët e kësaj konference. ishin Flutra Zymi – drejtore ekzekutive e OJQ-së “Qytetarë Aktiv” dhe aktiviste mjedisore nga Kosova, Dina Djordjevic – gazetare hulumtuese nga Qendra për Hulumtime të Gazetarisë në Serbi (CINS), Besjana Guri – zyrtare për komunikim nga “EcoAlbania” dhe Natasa Kovaçeviq – drejtore ekzekutive e OJQ-së “Shtëpia e Gjelbër” në Malin e Zi.

Panelistët e ftuar diskutuan si për historitë e suksesit, ashtu edhe për rastet e dëmtimeve të mjedisit në rajon. Ato diskutuan edhe për teknikat e shkëlqyera dhe ato të dobëta në luftimin e degradimit të mjedisit dhe për procesin e avokimit për një mjedis më të pastër në Ballkanin Perëndimor. Në fund, pjesëmarrësit patën mundësinë të shtronin pyetje dhe të diskutonin me panelistët mbi temat që u trajtuan në konferencë, gjë që doli me një përmbyllje të shkëlqyeshme të kësaj ngjarjeje shumë informuese.

Kjo konferencë u organizua si pjesë e Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021, ngjarje kjo që u organizua si pjesë e projektit të Evropianizimit të Agjendës Mjedisore të Kosovës, i financuar nga Zyra e Bashkimit Evropian në Kosovë. Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër do të mbahen deri më 7 korrik 2021.

Tim za Evropeizaciju kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine održao regionalnu konferenciju „Izazovi u zaštiti  životne sredine i razmena praksi u zaštiti životne sredine u zemljama zapadnog Balkana“

Tim za Evropeizaciju kosovske agende za zaštitu životnu sredinu održao je konferenciju o izazovima u zaštiti životne sredine na Zapadnom Balkanu sa ciljem da gostujući govornici i učesnici ovog regiona podele međusobno prakse u zaštiti životne sredine.

Konferencija je održana onlajn putem Zoom  platforme od 9.30 do 11. 30 u petak, 2. jula 2021, i direktno je emitovana na BIRN kosovskim platformama društvenih medija.

Ova onlajn konferencija okupila je predstavnike nekih od najangažovanijih i najpoznatijih organizacija građanskog društva, zajedno sa novinarima i ekološkim aktivistima sa Zapadnog Balkana koji rade u oblastima zaštite životne sredine, obnovljivih izvora i ekološke održivosti. Panelisti i učesnici su razmenili najbolje prakse, podelili svoja iskustva, sigurno su naučili jedni od drugih i istražili buduće mogućnosti za saradnju u zaštiti životne sredine.

Konferencijom je moderirala Pippa Gallop – energetska savetnica za Zapadni Balkan iz „CEE Bankvatch“, dok su panelisti ove konferencije bili Zymi – izvršni direktor NVO „Aktivni građani“ i aktivista za zaštitu životne sredine sa Kosova, Dina Đorđević – istraživačka novinarka iz Centra za istraživačko novinarstvo Srbije (CINS), Besjana Guri – službenica za komunikacije iz „EcoAlbania“ i Nataša Kovačević – izvršna direktorka NVO „Zelena kuća“ u Crnoj Gori.

Pozvani panelisti su razgovarali o pričama o uspehu i slučajevima štete po životnu sredinu u regionu. Takođe su razgovarali o odličnim i lošim tehnikama borbe protiv degradacije životne sredine i procesu zalaganja za čistiju životnu sredinu na Zapadnom Balkanu. Na kraju, učesnici su imali priliku da postavljaju pitanja i razgovaraju sa panelistima o temama o kojima se govorilo na konferenciji, što je stvorilo sjajan završetak ovog vrlo informativnog događaja.

Ova konferencija je organizovana u okviru Dana zelene energije 2021, događaja koji je domaćin u okviru projekta Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine koji finansira Kancelarija Evropske unije na Kosovu. Dani zelene energije održavaće se do 7. jula 2021.

 

 

BIRN Trains Regional Media in Engagement Journalism

Journalists and editors from six Balkans countries attended intensive online training led by a ProPublica editor about engagement journalism and citizens’ participation in the reporting process.

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, organised a series of online workshops and trainings for total of 28 media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia within the regional “Media for All” project.

During three weeks of June more than 100 journalists and editors from mainly local outlets learned about best approaches in engaging citizens, who can share their experiences and knowledge to contribute to more quality journalism.

The training was led by Ariana Tobin, an engagement editor from ProPublica, one of the leading media in engagement journalism globally, closely followed by local trainers, BIRN editors and mentors. Tobin shared her extensive experience in covering topics that require crowdsourcing and the engagement of larger numbers of people willing to share information and testimonials, evidentiary materials, etc.

“We know there are angry, overlooked, and systematically harmed people out there with stories to tell or insights that add up into powerful findings. We mobilize those people and lend journalistic muscle to their stories,” Tobin explained, emphasizing that this approach is not a replacement for traditional methods.

“People can help you with reporting tasks if you give them specific guidance, ask for specific information, or instruct them to share documents… Your journalism should add skills and value and you must verify what you collect,” Tobin insisted.

Sessions with ProPublica editor were followed by workshops led by the BIRNs trainers, who provided local perspective on citizens engagement, building on experience from work with over 20 grantees that started this project last year.

BIRN editors have shared some most successful examples from the entire region published in recent months, under close BIRN mentorship, including stories that engages hundreds or even more than a thousand citizens on topics such as online schooling, environmental protection, urban planning and others.

Local trainers also reflected on the most common pitfalls, making clear distinctions between citizen journalism, audience engagement and citizens’ engagement.

All the participants in the training have been given access to the Engaged Citizens Reporting, ECR, tool, that BIRN has developed through the Media for All project, implemented by a consortium led by the British Council, along with Thomson Foundation and INTRAC. The tool is now available to a total of 51 media outlets and more than 200 journalists and editors all over the Balkans.

 

 

Position Paper on Kosovo’s Renewable Energy Policy Published

The Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project team, which consists of BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, the ERA Group and TV Mreza, has published an analysis of renewable energy policies in Kosovo. The paper reviews the renewable energy targets for 2020, comparing the plans to the reality of 2020, and assesses the prospects for 2030, asking what is expected of Kosovo.

The analysis finds that Kosovo met its overall renewable energy target for 2020, but also outlines that very limited progress has been made in meeting its renewable energy targets in transport. It also criticises Kosovo’s plans to rely on small hydropower plants in its efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity sector. According to the analysis, these sectors have failed to generate significant amounts of electricity (just 2.3 percent in 2019).

“Despite revising its National Renewable Energy Action Plan in 2018, Kosovo did not manage to build as much solar, wind or small hydropower capacity as originally planned, and as of 2019 had reached a share of only 5.15 percent of renewable electricity – lower than any other Energy Community country except Moldova,” the analysis states.

The position paper also finds that the period between Kosovo setting its renewable energy target in 2012 and 2020 was characterized by renewable energy being constantly sidelined by plans for the Kosova e Re coal-fired power plant. Wind and solar capacities have started to take off only in the last three or four years.

With this report, the project team has provided recommendations to the Kosovo Government, the European Commission, the IFC and the EBRD, Kosovo Civil Society Organisations and the Energy Community Secretariat.

Future targets

In December 2018, a new Renewable Energy Directive entered into force in the EU, which continued to employ the definition of renewable energy set in 2009. It defines ‘energy from renewable sources’ as “energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases.”

The Directive contains an overall renewable energy target of 32 per cent of gross final energy consumption by 2030. EU Member States are required to set national contributions so as to collectively meet the binding overall Union target as part of documents called integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs), and the position paper identifies that it is EU Governance Regulation that sets out the requirements for these plans.

NECPs are designed to bring together greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, renewable energy targets and energy efficiency targets, and are to be drawn up for ten-year periods, with the first NECPs covering 2021-2030. This means that there is no longer an obligation to produce separate National Renewable Energy Action Plans.

However, the European Commission has now proposed to raise the EU’s greenhouse gas reduction target to 55 per cent compared to 1990 levels, up from the current target of 40 percent. To reach such a target, the 2030 renewable energy target will have to be raised as well. No drafts are publicly available yet but media reports suggest the Commission will propose a target share of 38-40 percent of renewable energy by 2030.

The project team has found that discussions within the Energy Community are currently underway to decide on 2030 targets. A study carried out by the E3M consortium is ongoing as of May 2021 and is expected to provide a baseline scenario as well as a methodology for target setting, to be presented in July 2021 at an informal meeting of the Energy Community’s Ministerial Council.

The development of 2030 targets and NECPs are a necessary step to make sure the transition away from fossil fuels and towards an energy-efficient, renewables-based society continues. However, as with the 2020 targets, there is still a danger that hydropower and other unsustainable renewable technologies will benefit.

This position paper was published as part of Green Energy Days 2021, an event hosted as part of the Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Green Energy Days will take place until 7 July, 2021

 

Open Call for EU Investigative Journalism Award for 2021 in Albania

Applications are now open for submission of investigative articles from Albania for the annual EU Investigative Journalism Award.

Investigative stories published from January 1 to December 31, 2020, and related to freedom of expression, rule of law, transparency, abuse of power and fundamental rights, corruption and organised crime are welcome to apply.

The award fund in each country in 2021 (for achievements in 2020) is 10,000 EUR. The first prize will be 5,000 EUR, the second 3,000 EUR, and the third will be 2,000 EUR.

Individuals or groups of journalists are eligible to apply in all journalism forms (print, online, radio and TV) published or broadcast in the media in each country in official, minority or international languages.

Articles eligible for submission must appear in print, online, radio and TV media outlets during the 2020 calendar year.

EU Investigative Journalism Awards in the Western Balkans and Turkey aim to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of investigative journalists as well as improve the visibility of quality journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

The awards are a continuation of the ongoing regional EU Investigative Journalism Award in the Western Balkans and Turkey and part of the ongoing project ‘Strengthening Quality News and Independent Journalism in the Western Balkans and Turkey’, funded by the European Union.

The project partners involved all have extensive expertise in the field of media freedom and have been recognised locally and internationally as strong independent media organisations.

The jury for the EU Award comprises media experts, some of them from the project consortia. Others are drawn from the extensive network projects that the consortium members have, such as editors, members of academia and journalists with merits.

Deadline for the submission of application for Albanian journalists is July 31st, 2021.

Please download individual package below to find more information about the EU Award for Investigative Journalism in Albania.

Download all necessary documents for Albania in local language click here, here and here.

 

 

 

BIRN and n-ost Hold Online Fundraising Workshop in Tuzla

BIRN Hub and partner organisation n-ost held a workshop about online fundraising for nine local media outlets from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia from June 27 to June 30 in Tuzla, which included a public ‘journalism slam’ event in the city.

The workshop and the journalism slam were organised as part of a project entitled ‘Local Journalism – European Perspectives’.

The workshop was designed to inspire local media outlets and give them tools to find their own strategies in managing their finances in the long run.

Lead trainers Luka Bozovic, project manager at BRODOTO, and Sanja Lazic, communications officer at the European Crowdfunding Network, presented the basic online fundraising models and then focused on crowdfunding.

On the second day, the participants learned about and practiced mapping their community, as well as hearing about the importance of creative elements in any fundraising campaign.

They had the opportunity to meet people from media organisations with experience in online fundraising, as there were guest speakers from Pod crto (Slovenia), KRIK (Serbia) and Szabad Pécs (Hungary). From their own perspective, they told the participants about their experience with crowdfunding campaigns.

On the last night of the training course, a ‘journalism slam’ was organized in Tuzla city centre.

This was a public event during which journalists used a selected publication to explain their background from the idea to the research to the finished result, giving an insight into the everyday life of journalistic work.

The speakers at the event were the editor of Front slobode, Alen Haman, and local journalists Maja Nikolic and Natasa Tadic. Guests at the event had the opportunity to ask them questions and exchange more in-depth information about the media scene and journalistic work in their respective countries.

The ‘Local Journalism – European Perspectives’ project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

 

Digital Rights Falter amid Political and Social Unrest

BIRN and SHARE Foundation identified more than 800 cases of digital rights violations in Southeast and Central Europe, including restrictions of freedom of speech, privacy breaches and disinformation.

In the period from August 2019 until December 2020, BIRN and the SHARE Foundation were gathering information on digital rights violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Romania and Serbia, and our monitoring shows violations of digital rights continued at an alarming rate in all six countries.

As all six held elections during this period – local, general and/or presidential – our findings raise serious concerns about how the digital arena has been effectively hijacked to propagate fake news, hate-fuelled conspiracy theories and misinformation in support of offline efforts to sabotage democratic processes.

Just when people needed factually-correct information and governments needed close scrutiny to ensure high standards in public life, cyberattacks were launched against state bodies and the public were overwhelmed with false information and discriminatory content designed to manipulate voting and/or stoke hatred of particular groups.

Governments, on the other hand, used the pandemic to curb freedom of expression, abused health data, while many public institutions failed to meet standards of free and open internet.

During this period, BIRN and the SHARE Foundation verified more than 800 violations of digital rights including efforts to prevent valid freedom of speech (trolling of media and general public engaged in fair reporting and comment, for example) and at the other end of the scale, efforts to overwhelm users with false information and racist/discriminatory content– usually for financial or political gain.

Most online violations we monitored were under the category of pressures because of expression and activities (375) while the fewest violations monitored were classified as holding intermediaries liable (0).

Action was taken in just 21 per cent of cases, which usually entailed – depending on the type of violation – removing articles or deleting posts and/or comments by the general public and public sector organisations. During the COVID-19 crisis, we saw a rise in arrests of citizens accused of causing panic by publishing fake news on social media. Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina were leading in this trend. Legal action, including arrests, penalties or other court action, was taken in less than 0.5 per cent of all monitored cases.

It is important to note that just as some violations included attempts to stifle free speech and frustrate freedom of expression through publishing falsehoods, not all legal actions launched to apparently hold intermediaries liable were legitimate attempts to protect freedom of speech. Some were cynical attempts against the public interest to block the publication of proven facts.

All these violations have contributed to an atmosphere dominated by fear and hatred with already vulnerable communities – such as LGBT+, groups identifying as female, migrants, particular ethnic groups – becoming subjected to worse and more frequent abuse, leaving them ever more isolated from support networks.

Those guilty of using the digital space to undermine democracy, intimidate others from publishing the truth or to spread malicious falsehoods operate with impunity, not least because there is no meaningful sense in the region of what constitutes digital rights – never mind the desire to or means to protect those rights.

Our report is the first effort on the regional level to map current challenges in the digital sphere and aims to fill in the gaps in the research. We took an interdisciplinary approach and looked at the problems from the legal, political, tech and societal angle, as an attempt to show that the problems and solutions to these violations should also be holistic and overarching. We also want to highlight these issues, as the lack of awareness of digital rights violations within society further undermines democracy, not only in times of crisis.

We don’t see the internet only as open and transparent but also see digital evolution as a set of mechanisms and tools that have great potential to serve the needs of people, and let’s not forget that internet access has proved indispensable in times of crisis such as in the COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope this report will serve not just for stock taking but be understood as a map showing what and how to further advance our rights, and also as an invitation to everyone to join forces in making our digital world healthy, too.

Marija Ristic is regional director of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Danilo Krivokapic is director of SHARE Foundation.

Report “Digital Rights Falter amid Political and Social Unrest” can be downloaded here.

As part of our Platform B, we are also hosting a discussion with policy makers, journalists and civil society members around digital rights in the Southeast Europe. Register here.

Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda Team Holds Youth Dialogue Meetings in Peja and Gjakova

On June 29 and 30, the Environmentally Responsible Action (ERA) Group, in partnership with BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, and TV Mreza, held two youth dialogue meetings with youngsters from the municipalities of Peja and Gjakova, organised as part of Green Energy Days 2021.

The purpose of the dialogue meetings was to promote the best energy efficiency and environmental practices with young people from Peja and Gjakova. Throughout the dialogue meetings, advocacy work of the partners and other environmental NGOs in Kosovo were discussed, as were the best practices for reducing environmental degradation.

The meetings started off with ERA Group’s Executive Director Fatos Lajqi, who imparted on the groups the importance of Article 52 of the Kosovo Constitution, which states: “Nature, biodiversity, the environment and national inheritance are each and every citizen’s responsibility.”

The second guest at the meetings was Fatos Katallozi from Outdoor Kosova, who covered some of Kosovo’s most pressing environmental issues, focusing particularly on energy efficiency and specific examples of river and environmental protection.

Meanwhile, the third session of each meeting was presented by BIRN Kosovo’s Managing Editor Visar Prebreza, who taught the youngsters from Peja and Gjakova on the basics of environmental investigative journalism, as well as the tools available to advocate for the environment through journalism.

After the talks, participants worked in groups and had the chance to exchange opportunities and ideas on advocating towards a cleaner and better protected environment. They also presented the most pressing environmental issues in their communities and offered solutions and advocacy tools to tackle them.

 The two youth dialogue meetings were organized as part of Green Energy Days 2021, an event held as part of the Europeanisation of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Green Energy Days will take place until 7 July, 2021.

Ekipi i “Evropianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës” organizon takime dialogu me të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova

Më 29 dhe 30 qershor, ERA Group në partneritet me BIRN Kosovën, CEE Bankwatch dhe TV Mrezhën, ka organizuar dy takime dialogu me të rinj nga komuna e Pejës dhe Gjakovës në kuadër të Javës së Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021.

Qëllimi i këtyre takimeve dialogu është të promovohen praktikat më të mira të efiçiencës së energjisë dhe ambientit nga të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova.

Takimet filluan me prezantimin e drejtorit ekzekutiv të ERA Group, Fatos Lajqi, të nenit 52 të Kushtetutës së Republikës së Kosovës i cili thotë që: “Natyra dhe biodiversiteti, mjedisi jetësor dhe trashëgimia kombëtare, janë përgjegjësi për secilin”.

Gjatë diskutimit u prezantuan arritjet kryesore të partnerëve të projektit dhe OJQ-ve bashkëpunuese mbi mbrojtjen e ambientit dhe praktikat më të mira për uljen e dëmeve mjedisore.

I ftuari i dytë në këto takime ishte Fatos Katallozi nga Outdoor Kosova, i cili diskutoi për çështje më të ngutshme mbi ambientin lidhur me efiçiencën e energjisë.

Shembuj praktikë të mbrojtjes dhe ruajtjes së energjisë, lumenjve dhe ambientit në tërësi u shpalosën në këto takime.

Sesioni i fundit u zhvillua nga redaktori menaxhues i BIRN Kosova, Visar Prebreza, i cili i mësoi të rinjtë nga Peja dhe Gjakova bazat e gazetarisë hulumtuese në fushën e ambientit si dhe mjetet gazetareske për të avokuar drejt një ambienti të pastër përmes gazetarisë hulumtuese.

Pas diskutimit nga të ftuarit në takime, pjesëmarrësit zhvilluan punë në grupe, ku patën mundësitë të shkëmbejnë informata dhe ide mbi avokimin ndaj mbrotjes së mjedisit si dhe përgatitën prezantime me problemet më të ngutshme mjedisore në komunitetet e tyrë, të cilat më pas i prezantuan dhe gjetën zgjidhje për to.

Ky aktivitet u organizua si pjesë e aktivitetit “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021”, aktivitet brenda projektit të financuar nga Zyra e Bashkimit Evropian në Kosovë, “Evropianizimi i agjendës mjedisore të Kosovës”. “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër” do të zgjasin deri më 7 korrik 2021.

Tim na projektu „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine” organizuje sastanke za dijalog sa mladima iz Peći i Đakovice

Dana 29. i 30. juna, ERA Group je u partnerstvu sa BIRN Kosovo, CEE Bankwatch, i TV Mrežom, organizovala dva sastanka dijaloga sa mladima iz Peći i Đakovice, kao deo Nedelje zelene energije 2021.

Cilj ovih sastanaka bio je da se promovišu najbolje prakse energetske efikasnosti i zaštite životne sredine od strane mladih iz Peći i Đakovice.

Sastanci su počeli prezentacijom izvršnog direktora ERA Group – Fatosa Ljajći, koji je predstavio član 52 Ustava Republike Kosovo, koji glasi: „Priroda i biodiverzitet, životna sredina i nacionalno nasleđe su obaveza svakog lica.” Tokom diskusije su predstavljena glavna dostignuća partnera na projektu i NVO-a koji sarađuju na njemu u vezi sa zaštitom životne sredine i najboljim praksama za smanjenje štete pričinjene životnoj sredini.

Drugi pozvani na ovaj sastanak bio je Fatos Katalozi iz Outdoor Kosova koji se osvrnuo na goruća pitanja kada je reč o životnoj sredini u vezi sa energetskom efikasnošću; praktične primere zaštite i očuvanja energije, reka i životne sredine u celosti, koji su predstavljeni na ovim sastancima.

Poslednju sesiju vodio je glavni i odgovorni urednik BIRN Kosovo – Visar Prebreza koji je mlade iz Peći i Đakovice naučio nešto više o osnovama istraživačkog novinarstva o životnoj sredini kao i o novinarskim sredstvima za zagovaranje čiste životne sredine putem istraživačkog novinarstva.

Nakon izlaganja, učesnici su radili u grupama gde su imali priliku da razmene informacije i ideje o zagovaranju zaštite životne sredine i pripremili prezentacije o gorućim ekološkim problemima u njihovim zajednicama, nakon čega su predstavljena i rešenja na iste.

Ova aktivnost organizovana je kao deo aktivnosti „Dani zelene energije 2021”, kao deo projekta koji finansira Kancelarija Evropske unije na Kosovu, „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine”. „Dani zelene energije”, trajaće do 7. jula 2021.

 

EU Awards for 2021 Announced in Turkey

Murat Ağırel, Hale Gönültaş, Volkan Nakiboğlu and Fevzi Kızılkoyun are the winners of this year’s EU Awards for Investigative Journalism, given for stories published in 2020 in Turkey.

This year’s winning investigations exposed a variety of malpractices in Turkey,  ranging from the mishandling of public funds to the infamous ties between a drug baron and a chief of police.

A total of 53 applicants submitted their stories uncovering wrongdoings and shedding light on issues of importance to the public.

Apart from the three stories that were given awards, two other stories received special recognition from the juries.

At the awards ceremony on June 29, the head of EU Delegation in Turkey, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, highlighted the importance of investigative journalism and of ensuring the safety of reporters.

“In the wake of the attack against an AFP photo-journalist, I state that according to EU values, violence against journalists cannot be tolerated. We are in need of journalism in this age of global disinformation,” Meyer-Landrut told the ceremony in Ankara.

The first prize went to journalist Murat Ağırel, whose series of stories featured how public funds are being misspent in a variety of areas such as health and education. Articles unearthed unlawful purchases and expenses as well as possible money-laundering.

Journalists Hale Gönültaş and Volkan Nakiboğlu got second prize for their stories Iranian Border: Between Bullets and Wolves, which exposed the inhumane conditions that immigrants face on the Iranian border as well as the cruelty of human traffickers.

Third prize was awarded to Fevzi Kızılkoyun for the story Prestigious Baron: Official Car Issued to Turkish Escobar,  which explained how a drug trafficker violated the curfew during the pandemic with the help of a chief of police.

“Today we are here to honour our colleagues who practise this profession by doing it justice. Journalism requires dedication, first and foremost to the public, then to the truth, knowledge, and objectivity,” said Yusuf Kanli, vice-president of the Association of Journalists.

Special recognition jury prizes went to the Hazal Ocak for the story Leak in the Bosphorus – Garden Rented for Only 258 Liras a Month, which showed how public spaces are being taken by top government officials. Ocak’s stories have been banned on the grounds that she has been “interfering with the fight against coronavirus” and she is facing 14 years in prison at an ongoing trial.

Another special recognition prize was awarded to İsa Örken for the story 14 Days as a Seasonal Worker, about the hardship faced by seasonal workers, their poor working conditions and how they try to get by on low salaries. Örken went undercover and worked alongside seasonal workers, documenting their working conditions.

The EU Award for Investigative Journalism is presented annually in six Western Balkan countries and Turkey for exceptional investigations published in the previous year.

Head of EU Delegation in Turkey, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut
President of the Association of Journalists, Nazmi Bilgin
Vice President of the Association of Journalist & Head of the Jury, Yusuf Kanli
First place prize: Murat Ağırel
Second place prize (co-authors): Hale Gönültaş and Volkan Nakiboğlu
Third place prize: Fevzi Kızılkoyun
Hazal Ocak
İsa Örken

Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda team holds Renewable Energy Policy in Kosovo conference

On June 28, BIRN Kosovo, in partnership with CEE Bankwatch, the ERA Group and TV Mreža, held the Renewable Energy Policy in Kosovo conference, which was organised as part of Green Energy Days 2021.

The conference was moderated by Executive Director of BIRN Kosovo Jeta Xharra and featured a host of guest speakers including: Pippa Gallop, an Energy Advisor on South East Europe for CEE Bankwatch, Jeta Statovci MP, the First Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade, Ymer Fejzullahu, Head of the Department for Tariffs and Fees at the Energy Regulatory Office, Besiana Berisha, a senior official at the Division of Renewable Energy, Efficiency and Cogeneration at the Energy Department of the Ministry of Economy, Dajana Berisha, a co-founder of the Kosovo Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development (KOSID), and Trim Tërnava, the CEO of Jaha Solar Panel and a renewable energy consultant.

Topics addressed at the conference mostly focused on current renewable energy policy in Kosovo, as well as the country’s slow progress towards developing a greener energy sector. The Panelists provided insights on the impact of the energy sector both on the environment and on the well-being of the citizens of Kosovo, as well as recommendations on future policies that will help integrate renewably sourced energy into Kosovo’s energy supply.

At the end of the panel discussion, the audience was given the opportunity to address their concerns by asking questions and participating in the discussion.

Photo: BIRN

This conference was organized as part of Green Energy Days 2021, an event hosted as part of the Europeanization of Kosovo’s Environmental Agenda project, which is funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo. Green Energy Days will take place until 7 July, 2021.


Tim na projektu Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“ održava lokalnu konferenciju o Politici obnovljivih izvora energije na Kosovu”

Dana 28. juna, BIRN Kosovo, je u partnerstvu sa CEE Bankwatch, ERA Group i TV Mrežom održao lokalnu konferenciju o  „Politici obnovljivih izvora energije na Kosovu”, kao deo „Dana zelene energije 2021”, aktivnosti realizovane u sklopu projekta koji finansira EU pod nazivom „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“.

Photo: BIRN

Konferenciju je vodila Jeta Džara – izvršna direktorka BIRN Kosovo, a ona je okupila paneliste Pippa Gallop – savetnica za energetiku za jugoistočnu Evropu CEE Bankwatch, Jeta Statovci – poslanica i prva predsedavajuća Odbora za privredu, preduzetništvo i trgovinu, Imer Fejzulahu – šef Odeljenja za tarife i naknade pri Regulatornoj kancelariji za energetiku, Besiana Beriša – viša službenica Odseka za obnovljive izvore energije, energetsku efikasnost i koproizvodnju pri Odeljenju za energetiku Ministarstva privrede, Dajana Beriša – suosnivačica Konzorcijuma građanskog društva za održivi razvoj (KOSID) i, Trim Trnava – izvršni direktor Jaha Solar Panel i konsultant za pitanja obnovljivih izvora energije.

Teme obuhvaćene konferencijom uglavnom su bile usredsređene na aktuelnu politiku obnovljivih izvora energije na Kosovu i spor napredak zemlje u razvoju zelene energije. Pored toga, panelisti su se osvrnuli na uticaj energetskog sektora na životnu sredinu i blagostanje građana Kosova, kao i na preporuke o budućim politikama koje će pomoći da se obnovljivi izvori energije uvrste u kosovski energetski miks. Na kraju panel diskusije, učesnicima je data prilika da iznesu svoje zabrinutosti postavljanjem pitanja i učešćem u diskusiji.

Photo: BIRN

Ova konferencije organizovana je kao deo „Dana zelene energije 2021”, pod okriljem projekta „Evropeizacija kosovske agende za zaštitu životne sredine“. „Dani zelene energije 2021″ traju do 7. jula 2021.


U mbajt konferenca lokale “Politikat e Energjisё sё Ripёrtёritshme nё Kosovё

Mё 28 qershor, “BIRN Kosova”, nё partneritet me “CEE Bankwatch”, “ERA Group” dhe “TV Mrezha”, mbajtën konferencёn lokale “Politikat e Energjisё sё Ripёrtrishme nё Kosovё”.

Në konferencën e moderuar nga Jeta Xharra – drejtoreshё e “BIRN Kosova”, ishin të pranishëm edhe Pippa Gallop – këshilltare e Energjisë në Ballkanin Perëndimor nga “CEE Bankwatch”, Jeta Statovci – deputete në Kuvendin e Kosovës dhe zëvëndëskryetare e parë e Komisionit për Ekonomi, Industri, Ndërmarrësi dhe Tregti, Ymer Fejzullahu – udhëheqës i Departamentit për Tarifa dhe Çmime në Zyrën e Rregullatorit për Energji, Besiana Berisha – zyrtare e lartë nga Departamenti i Energjisë, Divizioni për Burime të Ripërtëritshme të Energjisë, Efiçiencës dhe Bashkëprodhimit, Dajana Berisha – bashkëthemeluese e ‘Konzorciumit për Zhvillim të Qëndrueshëm në Kosovë’ (KOSID) dhe, Trim Tërnava – CEO në ‘Jaha Solar Panel’ dhe konsulent i energjisë së ripërtëritshme.

Photo: BIRN

Temat e trajtuara në konferencën e diskutimit ishin kryesisht të fokusuara në politikat e energjisë së ripërtëritshme në Kosovë dhe zhvillimin e ngadaltë të energjisë së gjelbër. Gjithashtu, panelistët ofruan njohuritë e tyre në ndikimin e sektorit të energjisë në mjedis dhe në mirëqenien e qytetarëve të Kosovës, si dhe rekomandime për politikat e ardhshme, të cilat do të ndihmojnë në integrimin e burimeve të ripërtëritshme në energjinë e Kosovës. Në fund të diskutimit, në mes të panelistëve, të pranishmit në audience paten rastin t’i adresojnë shqetësimet e tyre duke bërë pyetje dhe duke marrë pjesë në diskutim.

Kjo konferencë u organizua si pjesë e aktivitetit “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër 2021”, aktivitet brenda projektit të financuar nga Zyra e Bashkimit Evropian në Kosovë, “Evropianizimi i Agjendës Mjedisore të Kosovës”. “Ditët e Energjisë së Gjelbër”, do shtrijnë aktivitetin deri më 7 korrik 2021.

Photo: BIRN

Meet the People Behind BIRN: Ivana Nikolic

Each month, BIRN introduces you to its people. For June, meet Ivana Nikolic, Programme Coordinator for BIRN Investigative Reporting Initiative.

Nikolic, 29, first came to BIRN in 2014 as an intern, where she worked on The Unidentified, a documentary about the war crimes in Kosovo in 1999.

Following her internship, Ivana got her first job in BIRN. From 2014 until 2017, she worked as a journalist covering Serbia and Balkan Transitional Justice. Besides that, she was the Coordinator of BIRN’s bi-weekly newspaper, Belgrade Insight.

In February 2020, she re-joined BIRN and is now responsible for managing and coordinating all activities within the BIRN Investigative Reporting Initiative programme, including BIRN’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting.

The time when BIRN is about to publish an investigation is one of the things she loves most about her job. “This is the core of the programme I work for: exposing wrongdoings and malpractices of governments, state officials and other mighty public figures or international bodies is extremely important – and that is exactly what investigative journalism is,” she tells us.

This August, BIRN will host the 11th Summer School of Investigative Reporting. From 23-30 August, top journalists and editors will come together for a week-long training programme in the picturesque Croatian coastal village of Mlini. Nikolic, who is among those responsible for the School’s organisation, tells more about it.

Ever since the first edition in 2010, BIRN has trained more than 300 journalists from the region and internationally in open-source techniques, financial forensics, data journalism etc.; and has provided them with financial, editorial, mentorship and editorial support.

Following each Summer School, the participating journalists produce their investigations. Over the years, a good number of hard-hitting stories have been published and also republished by a growing number of regional and international media outlets.

“Our Summer School really helps journalists in the region and beyond, enabling and encouraging them to do complex investigations of public interest, no matter what obstacles and challenges they might come across on the way,” Nikolic says.

This year, BIRN is pairing up with the journalists and trainers from Lighthouse Reports, an award-winning non-profit based in the Netherlands and known for its cross-border investigation projects.

“In the afternoon sessions, selected journalists will be divided into three groups. Each group will have its lead trainers from BIRN and Lighthouse Reports and will work on specific investigations into topics such as arms, surveillance, agriculture and waste,” Nikolic explains, and adds: “These four tracks are currently of utmost importance at a global level, which is why we decided to include them in this Summer School.”

Asked why should journalists apply for a place in this Summer School, she responds: “In the regions where journalists generally lack access to training opportunities and financial support, and where their professional journalistic and investigative reporting skills are poor, BIRN Summer School is undoubtedly of great importance. Throughout all these years, the Summer School has managed to become a unique event in this part of the world, and has also become the leading platform for journalists to expand their investigative skills.

“They should definitely apply if they are eager to learn – and apply – something new and innovative; if they would like to work within cross-border teams, with experienced and award-winning editors and trainers; and last but not least, if they are looking for excellent networking opportunities. If ‘yes’ is the answer to all these questions, then the Summer School is the right place for you,” she stresses.

Join us at this year’s Summer School of Investigative Reporting in Croatia. You’ll learn from the best in the business and get financial support to produce a cross-border investigation.

Former participants are also eligible to apply.

Read more here.