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PARTNERS IN REFORMSSelection of EU-funded projects

Additional information on the European Union is available on www.ec.europa.eu

Delegation of the European UnionMito Hadzivasilev Jasmin 52v, 1000 SkopjeTel.: +389 2 3248 500Fax: +389 2 3248 501E-mail: [email protected]://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/the_former_yugoslav_republic_of_macedonia/index_en.htm

The EU bus travelled to 10 villages across the country, as part of the info campaign “The EU in Close-up”Photo by Maja Zlatevska

Dear readers,

This second edition of Partners in Reforms publication has been prepared on the occasion of the 2012 photography exhibit showcasing images of EU-funded projects implemented in the country. The exhibition, organised in close cooperation with the Secretariat for European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, documents just a portion of the projects carried out in the country.

Since introduction of IPA, more than 400 projects were completed or are being implemented. Between 1992 and introduction of IPA in 2007, the financial aid totalled at over 800 million EUR.

European Union financial cooperation aims to help the country implement the necessary reforms in order to achieve EU membership. The funds allocated for the period 2007-2013, through the five components of IPA, amount to 622.5 million EUR. Additionally, the country has also access to the IPA Multi-Beneficiary Programme and the Programmes of the European Union.

The selection of projects illustrates the wide range of EU support, from large infrastructural and environmental projects to small grants for NGOs, grants that supported research and innovation, judiciary reforms, protection of the welfare of people and animals, culture exchange, support provided to small and medium enterprises, etc. Each project or area of activity is accompanied by brief information including what has been achieved.

We hope that with this publication, you will gain a better understanding of the assistance provided by the European Union and how this cooperation will contribute to improving the economic, administrative, educational and social development of the country as it continues on its path towards the European Union.

Aivo OravHead of Delegation of the European Union

EU SUPPORTS PREPARATIONS FOR ACCESSION IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Duration: 2007-2013

Budget: 8.7 million EUR

Facts & Figures:•Support to create a national land parcel identification system

(LPIS);

•Financial support to farmers and rural businesses wishing to invest in their enterprises;

•50% grant aid support to investments by farmers, food processors, and rural businesses;

•Support to encourage sustainable environmental management of agricultural land;

•Support to prepare for implementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after accession.

AIR QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES STRENGHTENED

Duration: September 2010-October 2012


Facts & Figures:•Air quality and emission legislation further developed to be in

compliance with the EU Acquis;•2 air quality monitoring stations, 3 automatic meteorological

stations, 1 advanced meteorological station and an Integrated Ambient Air Quality Management System provided;

•First local level plan for reduction of pollution and improvement of air quality developed for Municipality of Bitola;

•Quality of air quality management improved through development of quality control and assurance procedures for air quality measurements, calibration laboratory and data management;

• Internet portal for the real time air quality information developed: http://airquality.moepp.gov.mk

•Capacity building of central and local administration.

EU FUNDS TO VITAL TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Duration: 2007 - 2011


Facts & Figures:•Construction of 28,2 km of new motorway Demir Kapija-Smokvica

(Corridor X), including two double tube tunnels, six bridges and several over and under passes;

• Rehabilitation and upgrading of the Skopje Railway Station to EU best practices;

• Renewal with reconstruction of the Bitola-Kremenica railway line;• Preparation of project studies, design documentation and/or

tender documentation for:• railway sections along the Corridor X including branch Xd;•development of strategic multimodal transport nodes; • railway stations along Pan-European Corridor X including branch

Xd; •new railway section between Kichevo and the border with the

Republic of Albania as part of Corridor VIII and supervision of construction works;

• Preparation of study and provision of Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) and European Train Control System (ETCS level 1) along the Corridor X from Tabanovce to Gevgelija.

MOZAIK – A MODEL FOR MULTICULTURAL EDUCATIONEuropean Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

Duration: January 2012 - March 2013

Budget: 100,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:Mozaik is a multicultural bi-lingual pre-school programme created in 1998 by “Search for Common Ground”. To educators, parents, and children, it offers a new and alternative approach in the process of children’s socialization. It is an innovative educational model, focused on children from three to six years of age that also has a wider impact on the kindergarten staff, parents and the wider community. •13 Mozaik groups in 9 multiethnic municipalities;•44 primary school teachers of 1-3rd grade trained for Mozaik –

model for communication with children;•30 pre-school teachers trained in Mozaik – model for Ensuring

cooperation with children; •33 alumni (15-18 years old) became “Mozaik Ambassadors”.

IPA TRAINING AND SUPPORT FACILITY

Duration: June 2010 - June 2012

Budget: 1 million EUR

Facts & Figures:•Setting-up of a fully operational Training Centre of the

Secretariat for European Affairs on Instrument for Pre-Accession;

•Team of 23 IPA Trainers created; • IPA trainers benefitted from 40 seminars; •Development of 4 training packages through 13 different

comprehensive training programmes on management of IPA; •Seventy five seminars organised for: 70 central administration

bodies, 8 centres for regional development, 78 municipalities and over 80 civil society and business organisations;

•Over 1000 participants trained on 13 IPA modules: EU policies, project preparation and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, regional development and human resources.

PROTECTING THE CHARM OF SKOPJE’S OLD CITY

Duration: December 2010 - April 2011

Budget: 120,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:•The Skopje Old Bazaar is the largest bazaar in the Western

Balkans and a protected national landmark.•Hydraulic bollards at 8 entrances in the Old Skopje Bazaar

installed;•The old stone paving is no longer threatened by heavy

circulation.•The history and beauty of the Old Bazaar are protected.•The old town streets are safer to pedestrians.

TOLERANCE, DIALOGUE, COOPERATIONEuropean Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights

Duration: December 2010 - December 2011

Budget: 150,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:

The project aimed to create awareness among the population for religious tolerance as well as contributing to the democratisation process of the country by promoting freedom of expression, inter-religious dialogue and religious pluralism through capacity build-ing for media and religious representatives. • 4 trainings for journalists and editors on reporting and editing

religious issues;• 8 trainings for religious spokespersons representing religious

communities on national level and religious representatives on local level;

• 4 workshops jointly organised for journalists and religious spokes-persons on management, communication and representation skills;

• 14 exchange visits of one religious community to a religious build-ing of another community;

•Conference for leaders of religious communities organised;•Awareness raising campaign showing positive examples of differ-

ent religious communities’ interaction.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE YOUTH CULTURAL CENTRE IN SKOPJE

Duration: February 2011 – September 2011

Budget: 550,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:•Main hall reconstructed;•Facade and the roof refurbished;•Windows and doors replaced;•Sanitary facilities renovated.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT: INVESTING IN PEOPLE

Duration: 2007 - 2011


Facts & Figures:•Support to the employment of young people, long-term unem-

ployed and women: internships for young people, training in general skills and skills demanded on the labour market;

• Investing in human capital by supporting the improvement of education and training system and seeking to ensure a better match between education and labour market needs;

•Further improvement of the efficiency and quality of social ser-vices by facilitating the integration of vulnerable groups in the labour market;

•Development of skills of more than 500 professionals and stake-holders (employment centres, centres for social work, day care centres, sheltered enterprises, NGOs, etc.) through 8 modules training programme;

•Establishment of inter-institutional cooperation for labour mar-ket integration in all Municipalities.

ASSISTING THE PARLIAMENT - OBTAINING A BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE EU ACCESSION PROCESSES

Duration: January 2011 - July 2012

Budget: 600,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:• Improved knowledge and skills of the Parliamentary staff on

their role in the EU accession processes;•More than 30 seminars organised for 115 Parliament staff

members;•A Consolidated Training Manual prepared;•Two study visits to the Hungarian and Latvian Parliaments

organised for 23 Parliament staff members and the Secretary General;

•Analysis and recommendations on various aspects of Parliament’s work delivered in 8 reports.

COOPERATION ACROSS FRONTIERSCross-Border Cooperation Programme with Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/1999)

Duration: 2007 - 2013


Facts & Figures:

To date 103 contracts signed totalling to app. 11 million EUR, aiming to achieve: •Economic development with an emphasis on tourism related

areas; •Sustainable environmental development with an emphasis on

protection, promotion and management of natural resources and ecosystems;

•Social cohesion and cultural exchange through people-to-people and institution-to-institution actions.

7TH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME: FUNDING RESEARCH IN EUROPE

Duration: 2007 - 2013

Budget: 53.2 billion EUR

Facts & Figures:•To date, 86 projects funded under the 7th Framework

programme;•Supply of equipment provided for 7 laboratories; •Numerous universities, research centres, institutes, small to

medium-sized enterprises, laboratories, etc. are participants in the Programme.

RENOVATION OF POLICE STATIONS FOR BORDER SURVEILLANCE: POPOVA SHAPKA, CHASHKA, GOSHINCE AND LABUNISHTA

Duration: March 2011 - September 2011

Budget: 500,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:• Installation of new flooring, doors and windows, toilet

appliances, etc. •External and internal wall, roof and ceiling cladding improved

with thermal insulation; •Reconstruction of access road, construction of steel structure

carport together with automatic barrier installed;•Electrical installation redesigned and implemented, including

solar power lighting;• Installation of new heating system; plumbing and sewerage

system replaced; •New fire fighting installation was introduced in and out of the

building.

WHAT DOES THE EU DO FOR SMALL BUSINESSES?

Duration: 2002 - 2012


Facts & Figures:•European Union supports the Business Advisory Services (BAS)

Programme with 2.4 million EUR over 10 years supporting 242 projects;

•Under 2008 IPA funding, 1 million EUR is allocated to BAS 2011-2013;

•From January 2011 until today, BAS assisted 96 enterprises;•The food and beverages industry accounts for 27% of total

assisted enterprises; Metals, machinery and equipment industry: 13%; IT industry: 12%; textile industry 8%, etc.

•Enterprises supported are located in: Skopje 54%; other cities 34% and 12% in rural areas;

•The average size of enterprises supported is 30 employees; 80% of supported companies have less than 50 employees and only 1 company has more than 200 employees.

SUPPLY OF RABIES VACCINES

Duration: 2011 - 2016


Facts & Figures:•Five year programme: two vaccination campaigns per year, in

spring and autumn; •Aerial distribution of the vaccine baits;•500,000 vaccine baits dropped per campaign with the vaccine

bait density of 20 baits per 1 km2;•System for rabies monitoring and surveillance established; •Rabies diagnostic capacity of the National Laboratory at the

Veterinary Faculty strengthened;•Vaccination is part of the EU regional Western Balkans

programme for eradication of rabies and Classical Swine Fever.

EU SUPPORTS JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORMS

Duration: April 2010 - April 2012

Budget: 700,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:•The National Strategy on Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency

prepared;•Comprehensive revision and improvement of legal framework

carried out;•Along with justice for children monitoring system and a tailor

made mentoring programme established;•Modern policy monitoring indicators developed; •High quality trainings and international advice on modern

juvenile justice systems organised; •Numerous manuals and guidelines for practitioners and policy

makers prepared.

COMMUNICATING THE EUROPEAN UNION

Duration: 2007 - 2011


Facts & Figures:•EU InfoCentre hosted nearly 550 events attended by over 25.000

participants, welcomed 8.000 walk-in-visitors and answered to over 1.700 information queries;

•Over 200 other events - “Jean Monnet” Award for best journal-istic materials, Europe Day celebrations, European Film Festival CinEd@ys, Skopje Marathon, children’s theatre plays based on EU publications and other, involved tens of thousands of direct participants;

•Over 64 titles of leaflets, brochures and other information out-lets produced in local languages and over 200.000 publications distributed nationwide;

•The EU Info Network: 13 EU Info Points in 12 municipalities and 3 EUi-s at the universities in Skopje, Tetovo and Bitola, organised over 90 events and distributed nearly 50.000 publications.

• Several TV programme series produced and broadcast nationally – EUROZOOM, EUROFOCUS, My friend Boo (cartoons for children), The NuclEUs of a Change, Hello Europe Quiz.

MODERN CUSTOMS FOR QUALITY SERVICES

Duration: August 2009 - January 2011


Facts & Figures:•Effective customs control systems and the border posts

implemented;•Legal passage of passengers and goods facilitated;•Revenue collection and public security ensured;•Strengthening of Customs Administration’s capacity to fight

against fraud and corruption;•Provision of 7 vehicles for transport of customs sniffer dogs;•Purchase of 6 detectors for narcotics and explosives.

BRINGING EUROPEAN COMMON CULTURAL HERITAGE TO THE FORECulture Programme of the European Union

Duration: 2007 - 2013


Facts & Figures:•With a total budget of 400 million EUR for 2007 – 2013 the Pro-

gramme allows to co-finance around 300 different cultural actions per year.

• The programme mainly promotes trans-national mobility of cul-tural players; trans-national circulation of artistic and cultural works and products; intercultural dialogue and exchanges.

• The publishing houses: e.g. Ili-Ili, Templum, Blesok, Kaprikornus, Tri, EuroBalkan, Profundum, Vermilion, Begemot, Magor…; Festivals: e.g. Skopje Jazz Festival, Taxirat, LOKOMOTIVA… Cultural opera-tors: e.g. The National Museum, the Youth Cultural Centre-Skopje, The Museum of Bitola, The Popular Theatre – Bitola, The Art Media, The State Music School-Bitola, Kontrapunkt, Art Center Multime-dia, Public Room, Slou Fud Vodno, PEN Centar, NGO Elementi-Bitola, KOR-Coalition for sustainable development, Interkultura, Association for Youth International Cooperation, etc. supported.

RECONSTRUCTION OF CITY THEATRE BUILDING IN GEVGELIJA

Duration: November 2010 – November 2011

Budget: 500,000 EUR

Facts & Figures:• Interior and the facade of the Theatre refurbished;•New electrical, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning

(HVAC) systems installed;•Water supply and sanitation systems reconstructed; •Doors and windows replaced.

PARTNERS IN REFORMS

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