Life on the external borders of the EU seems more challenging than life within its borders and standards for being a successful woman in WB therefore appear to be more demanding. Nevertheless, the EU-funded cooperation projects implemented so far within WBs and on the EU external borders have supported women’s sense of self-worth; their right to make choices; their right to have access to opportunities; their right to have power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home; and their ability to influence the direction of social change to create more social and economic order, nationally and internationally.
But not only that! Access to Interreg and IPA CBC resources revealed the ability of women to empower and support different sectors with their actions and to respond to the requirements of today’s societies and their emerging needs.
In our workshop, we tried to show how the empowered women of the Western Balkans were able to understand the societies they live in, recognise the needs of the people that they are surrounded by, transform their everyday activities into income-earning ones, assist the weak and demonstrate strong leadership, not only in times of peace but also in times of crisis. Interreg and IPA CBC projects have brought our attention to women who are capable of sensing the emerging needs and providing an immediate response to them, ranging from everyday needs of the population, supporting businesses or youth, addressing needs of the disadvantaged population, as well as addressing emerging health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic
The following projects were presented:
STRONGER – Stronger Together – Product Development and Internationalization Interreg-IPA CBC Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro
Microenterprise development project for women in the cross-border area IPA II CBC Programme North Macedonia – Albania
WELCOME – WatEr LandsCapes sustainability thrOugh reuse of Marine litter Interreg-IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro
Skilled women’s workforce for better future – IPA II CBC Programme Serbia – Montenegro
Speakers:
Mirela Brechelmacher, Director, Centre for Development of Brod – Posavina County, Croatia
Jasna Pajkovska, Project manager, Center for Change Management, North Macedonia
Doris De Vito, Project Coordinator, CoNISMa – Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Italy
Dijana Knezevic, Project Coordinator, Public Institution Home for elderly “Bijelo Polje”, Montenegro
For more information on this event check euregionsweek2020