Activities 2010
Visioning Workshop Municipality of Graçanica, 25.-29.11.2010 in Ohrid, Macedonia
During 5 days of work in the Macedonian city of Ohrid members of the administration and civil society of the municipalitiy of Graçanica elaborated visions of the development of their municipality. In the beginning the participants shared their memories with special meanings for themselves and the community in Graçanica. They continued with discussing problems in Graçanica and visions for the short-, mid- and long-term development. To go deeper into details four groups were gathered that worked on social services and housing development, infrastructural development, economic and environmental development as well as on the cultural heritage of their municipality. The groups discussed about the issues, found ideas and visions and later this was translated into the maps. On the last day each group gave presentation about their topics and introduced their maps to the participants to discuss their visions and create a vision for the comprehensive development of Graçanica.
Among the most important issues raised were; bypass/transit road connecting Prishtina with Gjilan/Gnjilane to deal with the existing traffic problems around the protected zone and center of Gracanica. Furthermore, other issues such as social housing, the sewage system, recreation zones and the ruins of the Roman city of Ulpiana (covered by agricultural fields next to the city) and the future economic development of the Graçanica Muinicipality.
Next step is to organize an event in order to communicate and discuss the results of the workshop in front of the wider audience in the municipality.
The workshop was conducted by UN-HABITAT and Cultural Heritage without Borders and supported by FES Bureau Prishtina.
Conference: "Visa Liberalization Process for Kosovo Citizens - Are We Close to the EU Perspective?", 26.10.2010 in Prishtina
On October 26th the FES Bureau Prishtina organized a conference on visa liberalization in cooperation with Deutsche Welle and Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) at Grand Hotel in Prishtina. Participants and a panel of high-ranking representatives of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo discussed the developments regarding visa liberalization for entering the European Union and elaborated proposals how to resolve the unsatisfying status quo.
Study & Conference: "Public Diplomacy for Kosovo - Results and Challenges Ahead", 20.10.2010 in Prishtina
The Prishtina Office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung organized a conference on Public Diplomacy of Kosovo, analysing the status quo, challenges and options, to support the debate about Kosovo's Public Diplomacy efforts. Kosovo’s primary foreign policy aim remains straight forward, but it is not an easy one: to get known and accepted worldwide. But why should a country in Africa or South America be concerned about Europe’s youngest country? The end of Kosovos international limbo highly depends on its worldwide standing and therefore its Public Diplomacy should be one of the country's priorities. As a matter of fact, many other countries simply do not have Kosovo on their radar.
Despite the political situation of uncertainty following the withdrawal of LDK from government, the conference was attended by many experts, government officials, diplomats and civil society representatives. The event took place in the Kosovo National Museum.
To get into the debate Martin Waehlisch presented the FES study Public Diplomacy of Kosovo – Status Quo, Challenges and Options, worked out by him and Behar Xharra. The study reviews theory and Kosovan affords of public diplomacy, resumes counter campaigns and critique, introduces other cases of public diplomacy and works out some options for a more comprehensive public diplomacy of Kosovo. Following the actual public diplomacy of Kosovo was debated by the panel consisting of Beate Martin and Besa Luzha from FES, Martin Waehlisch, Vlora Çitaku, minister for foreign affais, Christian Klein, deputy ambassador of Germany and the participants. Critique and proposals focused on the missing linking up between Governmental public diplomacy affords and the potential of the Kosovan civil society in lobbying for their country.
Following the conference the Prishtina Office of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung invited the participants to a reception celebrating 10 years of FES engagement in Kosovo.
Roundtable: "Social Dialogue in Kosovo - Results and Challenges", 29.09.2010 in Prishtina
CPMS (Center for Management and Policy Studies) and BSPK, with the support and cooperation by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung-Prishtina Office organized a roundtable on the subject:“Social Dialogue in Kosovo-Results and Challenges".The roundtable held on 29.09.2010 in Hotel Grand Prishtina aimed to discuss the results and challenges of the tripartid dialogue and its functionality by bringing together all the stakeholders and attempting to overcome the acutal deadlock that prevents the normal function of the Tripartid Social Dialogue.
The Roundtable was organized also as a contribution to the European Day of Action marked today in Brussels and many European Countries with Euro-demonstrations under the motto: "No to austerity – Priority for jobs and growth! "
The participants in the roundtable agreed that it is out of vital importance to start the dialogue as soon as possible for the most important issues that will have a direct impact on the daily lifes of every Kosovo citizen.
German MPs meet Head of Social Democratic Party in Kosovo, 28.07.2010 in Prishtina
In July 2010, members of the German Parliament (Bundestag) visited Prishtina. Among other official meetings they also spoke to the representatives of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Kosovo and the Head of the Social Democratic Party in Kosovo (PSD), Agim Ceku (former Prime Minister of Kosovo). Rainer Arnold, MdB, spokesmen of the working group on security policy issues within the social democratic parliamentary group together with Karin Evers-Meyer,MdB and Ulrike Fleischer were briefed by Mr. Ceku on the current political state of affairs in Kosovo after the ICJ ruling.
Agim Ceku, in his capacity as a former General, Commander of KPC (Kosovo Protection Corps) and expert on security issues elaborated the situation of Kosovo Serbs in Kosovo and the security situation in Northern Kosovo in line with the new developments after the ICJ ruling. They also discussed about the good experience of the German troups as part of KFOR. Agim Ceku emphasized the importance of German troops continuing to be present in Kosovo: “The German troops within KFOR not only provide a stable security environment in Kosovo, they are also very much respected in Kosovo’s population for having built up people’s confidence in KFOR.
Roundtable: "Kosovo Public Diplomacy", 12.06.2010 and 29.06.2010 in Prishtina
Everybody in Kosovo knows the “Kosovo-the Young Europeans” Campaign. But not everybody knows that this campaign is an example of Public Diplomacy. Two roundtables (on June,12 and one June 29) were organized to get the feedback of different target groups on the pre-eliminary results of the forthcoming FES study on the topic.
The study will present not only the weaknesses and strengths of the “Young Europeans” Campaign, but also introduce case studies of public diplomacy and nation branding from other countries.
The roundtable “Kosovo Public Diplomacy”, in Prishtina, June 29th was a platform for discussing the definition of the term and then different examples of Public Diplomacy were discussed. The German Ambassador in Kosovo, Hans-Dieter Steinbach and Andy Mc Guffie, former British diplomacy staff, presented the German and British experiences of public diplomacy followed by a lively discussion of the participants on different ideas of improving Kosovo’s image in the international public.
Consultations with Trade Unions, MPs and Civil society on the Draft Labour Law-Article on the Matternity Leave, July 2010
On the FES & GTRC initiative further consultations were conducted during July 2010. The various stakeholders such as the representatives of Trade Unions (BSPK, KLS and Women Network),Members of Parliamentary Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, experts and representatives of the Civils Society discussed more concretely the issue of the Matternity Leave and offered a consensus based proposal drafted the ammandement sent to the Parliamentary Committee as a proposal for changing the article 48 of the Drat Labour Law.
Conference: "The Regulation of Labour Relations in Kosovo- the Law and its Implementation", 28.06.2010
In the Conference the new study of the Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP) was presented. A summary of the status quo of labour relations was given and remaining problems identified. In the Conference it was stated that the most debatable points which require amendments are those which cover maternity leave, the implementation of labour contracts, annual vacations, medical leave, hours of work, overtime work, probation periods, the hiring of interns, etc.
Conference: "Activating Resources for Sustainable Development of Kosovo", 14.05.2010
Staged on the occasion of the Riinvest Institute’s 15th anniversary, the conference treated the current economic situation in Kosovo and discussed recommendations for activating economic growth in Kosovo. A range of international and local researchers in the field, as well as politicians and representatives from banks and economic consultants evaluated the present challenges to Kosovo’s economy.In presenting their research findings and papers, the speakers elaborated on a comprehensive list of determinants and factors contributing to economic growth: the role of industrial policy and good governance in state institutions was also discussed as the contribution of the agriculture, tourism and finance sector. With recursion to the developments in other countries, such as New Zealand, Turkey or Albania, the speakers recommended different policies for activating resources in Kosovo.
Forum Environment: "Emerging role of energy efficiency polities in adressing environmental objectives", 26.03.2010
"Renewable energies are costly at first sight, but more sustainable for future generations" this was the consensus of the debate which featured participants from the political scene as well as from research institutes. Underinvestment, the lack of reserve capacities, frequent power cuts during winter season and peak hours represent the critical state of the energy sector in Kosovo. Kosovo relies on lignite as the primary source of energy while the majority of the households consume oil, fuel wood and electric energy for heating and cooking.
Mahir Yagcilar, the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning stressed the importance of a balance between energy production and environment protection. Kosovo is eager to increase its energy efficiency and the share of renewable energies. First steps have been taken, such as the wind engines outside of Prishtina or some solar cell projects.
Conference: "Social Democracy – The Middle: Conceptualization and Implications on Kosovo Society", 09.02.2010
The Conference on Social Democracy analyzed the situation of the social democratic idea and its influence in party politics in Kosovo and the region. Around 150 guests – including representatives of social democratic forces in Kosovo (such as PSDK and ORA), analysts, civil society leaders, and special guests from the region – participated in the sessions of the conference.
The conference brought together representatives from social democratic movements from Croatia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. But also local representatives of center left parties analyzed the political landscape of Kosovo and the place of their parties in Kosovo’s political life.