Western Balkan countries are benefitting by a number of institution - building activities supported by various donors, either EU or other international organizations on a national or multinational level. One of this institution capacity building activities is provided through the current technical assistance Project “Regional action on animal disease eradication in the Western Balkans (ADEWB)”. The ADEWB Project is working, among others, on establishing cooperation with the currently ongoing projects implemented in each Western Balkan country or with those ongoing projects in Western Balkans on the regional level in order to avoid duplication of activities and substantially any burden (work and resources) for the Western Balkan countries, to optimize and rationalize ongoing technical support provided to Western Balkan countries and their resources, and possibly achieve better results in improving animal health situation in the region. The intervention area covered by the ADEWB Project during its lifetime period (1 January 2020 - 01 January 2022) is related to other 12 projects. Eight projects are related to the implementation on the national level only, and four are implemented on regional level. Communication, cooperation and collaboration with stakeholders are horizontal activities that play a vital role in the project’s implementation. Communication has the ambition of creating a positive environment to promote collaboration and cooperation for project activities. Detailed assessment of the current cooperation activities and process of exchange of information between veterinary services/competent authorities of the beneficiary countries, including reporting to relevant international organizations (EU, OIE, EFSA, rabies bulletin, etc.), and proposing platform with recommendations and tools for an improved communication and collaboration between veterinary services, will be done under the ADEWB project Activity A2.4 - Establish a system of transparent communication between the veterinary services in the Western Balkans regarding early notification and real-time information on the status of the potential transboundary disease outbreaks. There is a need of a clear chain of communication, and A2.5 - Draft recommendations for an enhanced regional multi-country cooperation. Activities A2.4 and A2.5 are commenced in April 2021 and planned to be finished by the end of June 2021. The recommendations on enhanced communication shall extend to all relevant veterinary fields. Initially, priority areas will be identified and will at least include transboundary animal disease control (in particular transparent communication and exchange of information) and laboratory services. Recommendations from the beneficiary countries on the priority areas will also be considered and presented.

Agriconsulting Europe S.A. (AESA) - and IZSLER (Istituto zooprofilattico sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna) have joined forces to build the capacity in the veterinary authorities to make the countries ready for accession to the EU by achieving the same animal health status as the EU member countries. The Consortium composition is particularly appropriate to the purpose of the project as it combines solid organizations in the sector, complementary management, technical and institutional experiences of partners that will enable an efficient implementation and a sustainable impact of proposed interventions. www.agriconsultingeurope.be

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