On October 4th, 2023, an online information workshop was held on the topic of: "Vouchers for the education of employed and unemployed persons" within the framework of the European Year of Skills, organized by Europe Direct Karlovac, Europe Direct Koprivnica-Križevci County, Public Institution Regional Development agency of Karlovac County and PORA Regional Development Agency of Koprivnica-Križevci County.

At the very beginning, the Head of the Europe Direct Koprivnica-Križevci County, Marina Šandor Krznarić and the Head of the Europe Direct Karlovac, Martina Mikaš, welcomed all present and thanked the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy for their active participation in this online workshop, attended by 40 participants, representatives of public law bodies, educational institutions and private and civil sector.

Mrs. Irena Bačelić, Head of the Labor Market Sector in the Directorate for Market and Employment of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, presented the system of vouchers for education for employed and unemployed persons, which will last until 2026. She pointed out that these vouchers with an emphasis on green and digital skills are a great opportunity for all employed and unemployed people with the aim of increasing their competence and competitiveness on the labor market. Vouchers are also an opportunity to match the real needs of the labor market with the educational programs provided by adult education institutions.

At the very end of the workshop, participants had questions which Mrs. Bačelić answered and also invited all interested to send their enquiries related to this topic to the e-mail addresses: voucher@mrosp.hr; voucher@hzz.hr.; vaucer@hzz.hr.

Europe Direct Karlovac, Europe Direct Koprivničko-križevačke županije, Javna ustanova Regionalna razvojna agencija Karlovačke županije i PORA Regionalna razvojna agencija Koprivničko-križevačke županije i pozivaju Vas na

on-line informativnu radionicu

na temu: „Vaučeri za obrazovanje zaposlenih i nezaposlenih osoba“

koja će se održati

4. listopada 2023. godine (srijeda)

s početkom u 10,00 sati

putem on-line platforme Microsoft Teams.

Ova kratka on-line informativna radionica održat će se povodom obilježavanja Europske godine vještina, a sustav vaučera i dostupne programe u okviru istih svim zainteresiranima predstavit će gospođa Irena Bačelić, načelnica Sektora za tržište rada u Upravi za tržište i zapošljavanje Ministarstva rada, mirovinskog sustava, obitelji i socijalne politike.

Iskoristite mogućnosti koje Vam se pružaju, informirajte se i budite konkurentniji na tržištu rada.

Svoje sudjelovanje na on-line informativnoj radionici možete potvrditi najkasnije do 03. listopada 2023. godine do 12,00 sati putem sljedeće poveznice.

Svake godine od 23. do 30. rujna Europskim tjednom sporta promiče se aktivniji i zdraviji način života milijunima ljudi u Europi i izvan nje. Inicijativom se sportskim organizacijama, poduzećima i stručnjacima omogućuje da razviju strategije za sudjelovanje u aktivnostima povezanima sa sportom, a sudionicima da proslave sport u svojim zajednicama.

Prioriteti i posebne poruke Europskog tjedna sporta 2023. usmjereni su na sudjelovanje, uključenost i inovacije. Ta tri stupa odražavaju važne stupove sporta, kao i suvremene promjene i smjerove prema kojima se naša društva kreću.

Povjerenica za inovacije, istraživanje, kulturu, obrazovanje i mlade Iliana Ivanova izjavila je: Fizička aktivnost, bilo da je riječ o plivanju, šetnji, aktivnoj pauzi za ručak ili nekim vježbama na kraju dana, može znatno doprinijeti našem zdravlju i dobrobiti. Ove ćemo godine s 9. izdanjem Europskog tjedna sporta nadovezati se na uspjeh i rad prethodnih izdanja kako bismo osigurali da se strast za sportom može prenijeti još većem broju građana.

Europski tjedan sporta od 2015. pomaže u borbi protiv neaktivnosti poticanjem Europljana da prihvate zdrav i aktivan način života. Pozivamo sve, #BeActive, bez obzira na dob, socijalni status ili razinu tjelesne sposobnosti. Europski tjedan sporta 2022. obuhvatio je aktivnosti, natjecanja i izazove u 40 zemalja. Organizirano je 32 000 događanja na kojima se okupilo više od 13 milijuna sudionika diljem i izvan Europe.

Europe Direct Karlovac i Javna ustanova Regionalna razvojna agencija Karlovačke županije i ove godine su se uključili u obilježavanje Europskog tjedna sporta sloganom #BeActiveWithDanijela.

Želimo što veću aktivnost i to ne samo u ovom tjednu nego da bude svaki dan bez obzira na vrijeme. Ništa nas u tome ne smije omesti jer naš cilj je veća aktivnost, a samim tim i bolje zdravlje, koncentracija, međusobni odnosi tako da svakako trebamo to poticati, rekla je ravnateljica JURRA-e Sandra Cindrić.

Danijela Čavrak je fitness instruktorica koja radi funkcionalni trening kojim se poboljšava funkcionalnost i pokretljivost, snaga te izdržljivost u svakodnevnom životu.

Jučerašnji sat tjelesnog za 2. razred Ekonomsko-turističke škole Karlovac je bio malo drugačiji nego inače. Umjesto redovnog sata tjelesnog, pridružili su nam se na Vunskom polju te su zajedno sa Danijelom i njenom odličnom ekipom vježbali i plesali. Također su nam se pridružila i mališani iz grupe „Sovice“ vrtića Grabrik.

Bilo nam je jako zabavno i veselo u što se možete uvjeriti u videu.

The European Mobility Week is a campaign of the European Commission with the aim of improving the quality of life of citizens in urban areas by promoting alternative and innovative urban transport solutions. It is celebrated every year from September 16 to 22, and this year's theme was about saving fuel and energy in general and was carried out under the slogan "Let's move better - save energy!" The goal is to encourage citizens to walk, cycle and use alternative transport solutions affect the reduction of energy consumption, the reduction of environmental pollution, but also the improvement of living conditions and health.

 

We celebrated the EU mobility week on September 20 in cooperation with the City of Karlovac, the City Library "Ivan Goran Kovačić" Karlovac, the Traffic Police of the city of Karlovac, and Aquatika - Freshwater Aquarium Karlovac, which began with the closure of Radićeva Street from the rotor on Rakovac to the intersection with Elementary School Dragojla Jarnević from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., by cycling the Cycle Librarian from the City Library I. G. Kovačić to Aquatika. Then an exhibition of children's works on the topic of mobility in traffic was viewed in Aquatica, and the thematic guidelines for 2023 were displayed at the info stand of Europe directa, i.e. quick guides with the theme "Let's save energy" which were distributed to everyone, after which a lecture was held for 4th grade students Braća Seljan Elementary School on traffic safety in cooperation with the Karlovac Traffic Police. In order to check how carefully they listened to the lecture, a quiz followed and the best three teams won valuable gifts provided by Europe direct Karlovac.

The European Mobility Week ends with the European Car Free Day, which is celebrated on September 22.

The climate changes we are witnessing, the need to save energy, the hectic pace of life and health care are our daily routine. Let's not just wait for the European Mobility Week to take part in the activities and think about how each of us can get involved and make small steps to reduce environmental pollution and improve living conditions and health.

 

„It is the moment to show to the young generation that we can build a continent where you can be who you are, love who you want, and aim as high as you want. A continent reconciled with nature and leading the way on new technologies. A continent that is united in freedom and peace. This is Europe’s moment to once again answer the call of history.“

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

 

In her State of the Union address on 13 September 2023, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen outlined the main priorities and flagship initiatives for the year to come, building on the European Union's successes and achievements of the past years.

Proposed initiatives

1. A European Green Deal

 

• • European Wind Power Package
• • 2040 climate target
• • Initiative for water resilience

 

 

A Europe fit for the digital age

 

• • EU Space Law
• • Strategy on Space Data Economy
• • Initiative to open up European supercomputer capacity to ethical and responsible AI start-ups start-up poduzećima u području umjetne inteligencije

 

 

An economy that works for people

• • EU Biotech and Biomanufacturing Initiative
• • Follow up to the Val Duchesse Summit
• • Advanced Materials for industrial leadership
• • Initiative on rules on the European Works Council

A stronger Europe in the world

• • Strengthen partnership with Africa
• • European Defence industrial strategy

 

 

Promoting our European way of life

• • Extension of Temporary Protection for people fleeing Ukraine
• • Action Plan on anti-drug trafficking, including European Ports Alliance
• • Action Plan on anti-drug trafficking, including European Ports Alliance
• Joint European degree

 

A new push for European democracy

• • Communication on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews
• • Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems

 

 

 

Letter of Intent

President von der Leyen also sent a Letter of Intent to Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council. In it, she details the actions the Commission intends to take in the following year by means of legislation and other initiatives.

 

For more informations: https://state-of-the-union.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Today, on 08 September 2023, ahead of President von der Leyen’s State of the Union address on 13 September 2023, the Commission published an overview of the work and achievements of  the past year.

 

This comprehensive publication describes the EU’s actions in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and our efforts to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, as well as progress on other political priorities of the Commission.

It outlines the actions taken by the Commission to strengthen the EU’s prosperity and resilience through NextGenerationEU and RePowerEU to accelerate the implementation of the European Green Deal and deliver on Europe’s Digital Decade.

It also provides an overview of the EU’s engagement with partners around the world, in particular the trade agenda, as well as initiatives taken to strengthen the pillars of European democracy and build a Union of Equality.

All updates on the 2023 State of the Union address are available on the dedicated SOTEU  website. -a.

Today, the Commission has selected 159 projects to be funded under the Erasmus+ “Capacity Building in Higher Education” actionHR, which supports the modernisation and quality of higher education in countries around the world. These projects will contribute to the overall objective of strengthening international cooperation in the field of higher education, improving education systems and enhancing growth and prosperity in the world.

Through projects selected this year, 2500 higher education stakeholders from almost 130 countries (including EU Member States) will work together to modernise and internationalise higher education. A total 2023 budget of EUR 115.3 million will be used, for example, for the professionalisation of mathematics teaching in Central Africa, university studies in equality and equality law for vulnerable groups in Latin America, study programmes for a sustainable blue economy in the Southern Mediterranean and programmes to foster profound changes in health education in Southeast Asia.

This year, the EU also committed an additional EUR 5 million to Ukraine to finance a large-scale project under the Erasmus+ programme. The DigiUni project, which will last four years, will create a digital platform for Ukrainian universities, which will particularly benefit students who have had to flee the country or have been internally displaced. It will allow students enrolled in Ukrainian higher education institutions to continue their education in Ukrainian language and according to the Ukrainian curriculum.

The Erasmus+ capacity building initiative in higher education is part of activities that foster student and staff exchanges and support cooperation in the field of education between Europe and the rest of the world.

More information is available here https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_4007..

Civil society organisations, individuals and private companies can now apply their non-profit projects for the EESC Prize to support the mental well-being of Europeans.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) as launched its 14th Civil Society Prize.By choosing mental health as this year's theme, the EESC will reward creative and innovative non-profit projects that help individuals with mental health conditions and create a supportive environment for their mental well-being, whether on an individual level or as a collective effort.

will be awarded to a maximum of five winners. A total of EUR 50 000.

The deadline for entries is 10 a.m. (Brussels time) on 30 September 2023.

The award ceremony is likely to take place during the EESC Civil Society Week in spring 2024.

The aim of the EESC's flagship Civil Society Prize is to raise awareness of civil society's outstanding contribution to creating a European identity and citizenship and to promoting the common values that bolster European integration. Each year, the prize focuses on a different theme particularly relevant to the EU.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Applications can be submitted by all civil society organisations officially registered within the European Union and acting at local, regional, national or European level. The prize is also open to individuals who reside in the EU, as well as to companies registered or operating within the EU, provided that their projects are strictly not-for-profit.

All eligible initiatives and projects have to be carried out in the EU. They must have already been implemented or still be ongoing. Those which are planned but which have not begun implementation by 30 September 2023 will be excluded.

The full description of requirements and the online application form are available on our webpage..

WHICH PROJECT THEMES ARE ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, the entries must cover at least one of the issues listed in the eligibility criteria published in the Rules governing the 14th EESC Civil Society Prizeavailable on the EESC's dedicated webpage. web page.

Among other things, projects can focus on preventing and combating psychosocial risks at work and promoting supportive workplace cultures, reaching out to people at risk of mental health problems, providing crisis intervention and ensuring person-centred services for mental health.

They can also address the mental health needs of disadvantaged groups and ageing populations or promote mental well-being in children and adolescents, by tackling issues such as substance use and abuse, cyberaddiction, youth violence and bullying.

Projects focused on community work such as empowering local communities, creating networks for community involvement and establishing a supportive environment for mental health will also be eligible. Improving mental health literacy and combating the stigma which often deters people from seeking help are also acceptable as entry themes.

The EESC hopes its prize will honour and showcase the non-state efforts made so far to help people battling with mental health issues. It also aims to encourage ongoing projects and inspire new ones, thus highlighting the contribution such projects can make to curbing the explosion of this silent epidemic in the EU.

To apply, click  here..

MORE ABOUT THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S PRIZE

During and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe saw an unprecedented spike in mental health conditions and disorders. Anxiety and depression were particularly prevalent among the elderly and vulnerable groups, and most of all among young people, with figures showing that the rate of depressive symptoms more than doubled among those aged 18 to 29 in several European countries.

The heavy impact of mental health issues on the EU population, with roughly 4% of annual deaths attributed to mental health and behavioural disorders and the direct and indirect costs of mental health problems accounting for almost 4% of GDP, pushed mental health to the top of the EU's political agenda.

The EESC has also put mental health at the centre of its work. It has called for binding legislation to prevent psychosocial risks at work and is advocating for stepping up EU and national measures for promoting mental health.

By dedicating its 2023 prize to this all-important topic, the EESC wants to recognise the crucial role played by civil society in mental health treatment and prevention. Civil society fills gaps in the public health system, catering to the unique needs of vulnerable groups. Through its close connection with local communities, it provides frontline assistance both formally and informally, reaching populations that are often overlooked.

PREVIOUS CIVIL SOCIETY PRIZES

In 2022, the EESC exceptionally awarded a prize for two themes: youth and Ukraine. In 2021, the prize honoured climate projects promoting a just transition. In 2020, the EESC replaced its Civil Society Prize with a one-off Civil Solidarity Prize dedicated to the fight against COVID-19. Other topics in the past have included gender equality and women's empowerment, European identities and cultural heritage, and migration.

Civil society organisations, individuals and private companies can now apply their non-profit projects for the EESC Prize to support the mental well-being of Europeans.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) launched the 14th edition of its Civil Society Prize. In order to reward creative and innovative non-profit projects that help people with mental illnesses and create an environment conducive to their mental well-being, either on an individual level or as part of a joint effort, the EESC has chosen mental health as this year’s theme.

A maximum of five winners will be selected to receive prizes of a total value of A total of EUR 50 000.

The closing date for applications is 30 September 2023, 10 a.m. (Brussels time).

The award ceremony is likely to take place during the EESC Civil Society Week in spring 2024.

The aim of the EESC's flagship Civil Society Prize is to raise awareness of civil society's outstanding contribution to creating a European identity and citizenship and to promoting the common values that bolster European integration. Each year, the prize focuses on a different theme particularly relevant to the EU.

 WHO CAN APPLY?

Applications can be submitted by all civil society organisations officially registered within the European Union and acting at local, regional, national or European level. The prize is also open to individuals who reside in the EU, as well as to companies registered or operating within the EU, provided that their projects are strictly not-for-profit.

All eligible initiatives and projects have to be carried out in the EU. They must have already been implemented or still be ongoing. Those which are planned but which have not begun implementation by 30 September 2023 will be excluded.

The full description of requirements and the online application form available on our webpage..

 WHICH PROJECT THEMES ARE ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, the entries must cover at least one of the issues listed in the eligibility criteria published in the Rules governing the 14th EESC Civil Society Prizeavailable on the EESC's dedicated webpage. web page.

Among other things, projects can focus on preventing and combating psychosocial risks at work and promoting supportive workplace cultures, reaching out to people at risk of mental health problems, providing crisis intervention and ensuring person-centred services for mental health.

They can also address the mental health needs of disadvantaged groups and ageing populations or promote mental well-being in children and adolescents, by tackling issues such as substance use and abuse, cyberaddiction, youth violence and bullying.

Projects focused on community work such as empowering local communities, creating networks for community involvement and establishing a supportive environment for mental health will also be eligible. Improving mental health literacy and combating the stigma which often deters people from seeking help are also acceptable as entry themes.

The EESC hopes its prize will honour and showcase the non-state efforts made so far to help people battling with mental health issues. It also aims to encourage ongoing projects and inspire new ones, thus highlighting the contribution such projects can make to curbing the explosion of this silent epidemic in the EU.

 To apply, click  here..

 MORE ABOUT THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S PRIZE

During and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe saw an unprecedented spike in mental health conditions and disorders. Anxiety and depression were particularly prevalent among the elderly and vulnerable groups, and most of all among young people, with figures showing that the rate of depressive symptoms more than doubled among those aged 18 to 29 in several European countries.

The heavy impact of mental health issues on the EU population, with roughly 4% of annual deaths attributed to mental health and behavioural disorders and the direct and indirect costs of mental health problems accounting for almost 4% of GDP, pushed mental health to the top of the EU's political agenda.

The EESC has also put mental health at the centre of its work. It has called for binding legislation to prevent psychosocial risks at work and is advocating for stepping up EU and national measures for promoting mental health.

By dedicating its 2023 prize to this all-important topic, the EESC wants to recognise the crucial role played by civil society in mental health treatment and prevention. Civil society fills gaps in the public health system, catering to the unique needs of vulnerable groups. Through its close connection with local communities, it provides frontline assistance both formally and informally, reaching populations that are often overlooked.

 

PREVIOUS CIVIL SOCIETY PRIZES

In 2022, the EESC exceptionally awarded a prize for two themes: youth and Ukraine. In 2021, the prize honoured climate projects promoting a just transition. In 2020, the EESC replaced its Civil Society Prize with a one-off Civil Solidarity Prize dedicated to the fight against COVID-19. Other topics in the past have included gender equality and women's empowerment, European identities and cultural heritage, and migration.

Contact for further information:

EESC Press Unit – Laura Lui
+ 32 (0)2 546 91 89

Europe Direct Karlovac and the Public Institution Regional Development Agency of Karlovac County in cooperation with numerous partners organised a series of events to mark the 10th anniversary of Croatia’s membership in the European Union and the 10th birthday of Europe Direct Karlovac. Europe Direct Karlovac started operating on 29 October 2013 as the first in Croatia and 500th in the European Union.

Here’s an overview of how we marked the big ten.

The celebrations started on 1st July and we joined the programme on the invitation of the organisers, the ‘ANNO’93’ association in Vienna, which brings together the Croatians there. The celebration of the 10 years of the Republic of Croatia in the European Union took place at the Yurovski Brod – Metlika border crossing point with two former Prime Ministers of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia, Jadranke Kosor and Borut Pahor.

On July 6th in cooperation with our long-standing partners, Kinoklub Karlovac and Carpe DiEM, we participated in the ArtiKA Good Amusement Festival, which included various workshops, IKS Petrinja’s ‘Budi cool – Volontiraj!“ children’s exhibition and the ‘Writers to the City’ of members of the Bookshop Karlovac. 18 teams took part in the KA quiz by Dražen Cukina, with questions about the city of Karlovac and the European Union, and we secured prizes for the first three places with Carpe DiEM. The quiz and the award ceremony to the winners were followed by a screening of the European film ‘Night Travellers’.

The ceremonial celebration of ten years of Croatian membership in the European Union and the tenth birthday of Europe Direct Karlovac was held in the Aquatika – Freshwater Aquarium Karlovac on 10 July. We have prepared the exhibition “10 projects of KŽ for 10 years of the Republic of Croatia in the EU”, where we presented 10 successfully implemented projects from the territory of Karlovac County financed by EU funds. The projects that were part of the exhibition are: Meeting with the river, Water secrets Slunja, Atrium of Knowledge, STREAM – Strategic Development of flood management, Nikola Tesla Entrepreneurial Center, Promoting sustainable development of the Significant Landscape of Barac Caves, Grain Trade Route/Wineway, Kupa-Sava, Visitor Center Ivana’s fairytale house, Sweetwater Aquarium and River Museum – Kaquarium, RCK – profession and RCK – career. With selected projects we wanted to remind our guests and fellow citizens of the importance and benefits of membership in the European Union. Also, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Ireland, we have set up an exhibition “50 Years of Ireland in the EU” in order to introduce our fellow citizens to the rich history of Ireland, which could be seen from 7-12 July at the Aquatika Green Library.

Marijana Tomičić and Eva Maria Sobotik Pavan told us about the very beginnings of Europe Direct, who brought him to Karlovac. About the present and the importance of Europe direct Karlovac for the future, as well as the benefits of membership in the European Union, their thoughts were conveyed to us by the Director of JURRA dr.sc. Vilko Klasan, Mayor of Karlovac Damir Mandić and Mayor of Karlovac County Martina Furdek Hajdin. After visiting the exhibition we continued to socialise with longtime partners and associates and representatives of local media. We would like to once again thank all our partners and look forward to future cooperation and to address the challenges ahead.

The great final of marking the great 10 years was the fabulous concert of Matija Cveka & The Funkensteins at the Music Pavilion as part of the "Zvjezdano ljeto" in Karlovac, which delighted many audiences. The concert was a gift to our fellow citizens and their guests, so we celebrated together our 10th and 444th birthday of Karlovac City.