Europe House Veles Archives - Europe House

Tag: Europe House Veles

From a Successful Wine Story to New Ideas: How EU Support Drives Local Development

Posted on by Irena Hristov

How does European support contribute to the growth of local businesses? To find out, we took on the Wine Discovery Challenge and, together with students from “Jovche Teslichkov” Secondary School of Economics – Veles, set out to explore Dane Hermes Wine Estate in the heart of the Tikveš wine region, in Negotino.

During this educational visit, organised by Europe House Veles, winery owner Dane Jovanov introduced the students to the winemaking process and the day-to-day operations of the winery.

This family-owned winery is among the local businesses that have received direct support through the IPARD Programme 2021–2027, “European Opportunities for Macedonian Agriculture and Rural Development”, which enables agricultural producers and businesses to invest in modernisation, improve production and expand their capacities.

The visit gave students an opportunity to see first-hand how a family business operates and how EU support can contribute to its growth. But the learning experience did not end there.

Divided into teams, the students were challenged to think like real entrepreneurs: to come up with a new non-alcoholic grape-based product, complete with their own concept, branding and market placement strategy.

The result? Three creative ideas: grape-based body scrub, gummy sweets made from grapes and grape crisps. They showed how a traditional agricultural product can be given new value and purpose when knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking come together.

The visit demonstrated that EU support for local development goes beyond modernising production facilities and financing new investments. It also helps connect education with the business sector, giving young people the opportunity to learn from local producers, develop an entrepreneurial mindset and turn their ideas into potential new products.

 

Coffee with Ambassadors in Veles: Digitalisation, Cybersecurity and FIMI

Posted on by Irena Hristov

A new edition of Coffee with Ambassadors was held yesterday at Europe House Veles, focusing on “Digitalisation, Cybersecurity and FIMI (Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference)”. The event brought together the French Ambassador, H.E. Christophe Le Rigoleur, and the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Paolo Palminteri.

Among the participants were representatives of local institutions, the media, civil society and the business community, as well as young people and teachers. Discussions focused on the impact of digital platforms on public discourse and democracy, media independence, the protection of citizens’ rights online, and the challenges posed by disinformation and cybersecurity threats.

The conversation explored who sets the rules and shapes the content we see, share and read on digital platforms, as well as Europe’s efforts to safeguard citizens’ rights and democratic values in the digital environment. Participants also discussed European regulations governing digital platforms, the relationship between protecting democracy and upholding freedom of speech, and ways to strengthen journalistic integrity at both local and global levels.

Cyberattacks were examined as a security challenge, rather than merely a technical problem. Particular attention was given to foreign information manipulation and disinformation in Europe and the Western Balkans. The discussion addressed how existing divisions and unresolved disputes can be exploited to spread messages that undermine trust and contribute to instability.

Participants also considered what candidate countries can do to protect democracy and the information space even before joining the EU, and what support EU Member States can provide to help them meet these challenges.

At the end of the discussion, participants were invited to reflect on how local institutions, the media, schools, civil society and the business community can help make their communities more resilient to manipulation.

Coffee with Ambassadors is part of Europe House’s activities aimed at creating space for dialogue on European policies, experiences and values, and exploring their practical significance for citizens and local communities across North Macedonia.

 

Silence Won’t Stop Bullying: A Youth Workshop at Europe House Veles

Posted on by Irena Hristov

What does bullying look like from different perspectives? And what happens when we switch roles and put ourselves in someone else’s shoes?

To mark World Mental Health Day, high school students at Europe House Veles explored different roles in bullying situations through an interactive game called “Spectrum of Impact.”

Led by psychologists from Altera Kognicija, students from Kočo Racin Secondary School in Veles analysed different scenarios of peer bullying. They discussed the role of the person who bullies, the pain experienced by the person targeted, and the responsibility of those who witness it.

“What made this session special was the students’ energy, openness and willingness to reflect. They were ready to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and recognise that behind every action is a person, and behind every group dynamic are relationships, influences and choices,” said psychologist Ile Mahlijanov.

We asked the young participants one question: “What lies behind bullying?” Their brief answers reminded us that bullying is not always obvious. An apparently harmless joke, silence or a situation where nobody steps in can conceal someone’s pain, often left unnoticed.

The workshop highlighted that bullying is not only a problem for the person experiencing it. It is a challenge for the whole community. When bystanders stay silent, bullying continues. But one voice of support can be the first step towards change. Instead of standing by, we can choose to recognise bullying, speak up and support those who need help.

The workshop series will continue in the coming period, involving different groups of students and organisations. These sessions will give young people space to discuss important issues, better understand other people’s feelings and perspectives, encourage positive change and help prevent bullying.

We cannot stop bullying if we remain silent. It takes courage, understanding, empathy and solidarity.

The Sweet Side of Our Tradition: Grandmothers’ Recipes Find Their Way to a New Generation

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Plums, figs, quinces and family recipes passed down through generations – slatko, the traditional fruit preserve, is more than just a familiar taste from our childhood. It is a cherished part of our culinary heritage and a symbol of hospitality, a small gesture of welcome for every guest who walks through our door.

We brought this tradition to life at Dvorche, the much-loved back yard of Europe House Veles, where time-honoured recipes met the creativity of a new generation. Together with students from the Secondary School “Kole Nedelkovski” in Veles, we made 100 jars of homemade fruit preserves, discovering once again that the best recipes are about much more than precise measurements. They are about making things together, learning from our elders and picking up those little kitchen secrets that can only be passed on by doing.

Each jar also had a story to tell. Students from the Economics Department of the Municipal Secondary School “Jovche Teslichkov” took on the creative challenge of designing original labels for our jars of sweet preserves. From initial ideas and choice of visual elements to the finished designs, they added their own creative touch to every one of the 100 jars.

The day wrapped up with a tasting shared with loved ones and the sounds of Hot Jazz Orchestra, turning Dvorche into a lively gathering place where generations, familiar flavours and fresh ideas came together.

“Sweet Preserves at Dvorche” was a reminder that tradition is not simply something we inherit. It is something we keep alive, reinvent and pass on by sharing it with others.

 

Sport Is for All! A Place to Participate, Learn and Enjoy – An Inclusive Swimming Session in Veles

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Swimming is more than just a sport. It is an opportunity to learn, gain greater independence and create an environment where everyone can participate and enjoy themselves – including people in our community who live with cerebral palsy.

That is exactly what the inclusive swimming session organized by Europe House Veles was all about. Together with Macedonian Lifeguard – Association for Water and Mountain Safety and Cerebral Association, we turned the City Swimming Pool in Veles into a place where everyone could have fun and feel included. A place where physical challenges took a back seat.

With support from the instructors and conditions adapted to their needs, participants learned basic swimming techniques, how to move safely and confidently in the water, and essential water safety rules – all through hands-on experience and social interaction.

This swimming session was another opportunity to show that sport is for everyone, and that inclusion is something we create together – by ensuring equal opportunities to participate, learn and enjoy the activities that bring us together.

XXIII International Comics Colony “Veles 2026”: Stories That Come to Life Through Drawing, Colour and Different Worldviews

Posted on by Irena Hristov

Veles once again became a stage where stories come to life through drawing, colour and creativity. The XXIII International Comics Colony “Veles 2026” opened at Europe House Veles, bringing together comic artists, illustrators and lovers of the ninth art.

The Salon featured a selection of comics submitted to the traditional international “Golden Comic” competition, along with the announcement of this year’s winning authors and works. This year, the competition attracted 497 comic works from authors from around 30 countries, reaching a record number of submissions and confirming the international interest in this art form.

The variety of styles, ideas and visual languages once again proved just how powerful a few frames can be. From drawing and scriptwriting to colour and experimental expression, each comic offered its own way of storytelling and its own unique perspective.

Europe House Veles once again supported the Colony, organized by the Macedonian Comics Centre – Veles, as well as the young authors who turn their ideas and stories into comics, helping create opportunities for their work to be seen, recognized and further developed.

But the stories did not end with the exhibition. The programme continued with the 8th International Comic Art Colony Veles 2026, bringing together 14 female comic artists from five Balkan countries and creating another space for artistic creation, exchange and connection through comics.

Award-Winning Authors and Works

Main “Golden Comic” Awards

  • First Prize: “Eternal” – Marko Stojanović (script, Serbia), Milorad Vicanović Maza (art, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Aljoša Tomić (colour, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Second Prize: “The Winter of the Arapahos” – Kristian Sekulić (Novi Sad, Serbia)
  • Third Prize: “Love Is Hard Work” – Duda Vukojev (script, Serbia) and Dragan Pavasović (art, Croatia)

Special Awards

  • Best Script: “The World Belongs to All of Us” – Hulya Koluk (Türkiye)
  • Best Drawing: “Daydreaming” – Aleksandar Tanchovski (Skopje, North Macedonia)
  • Best Artistic Expression: “At the Border” – Marko Stojanović (script) and Marko Nikolić (art), Serbia
  • Special Award for Experimental Expression: “Sand in the Throat” – Filipa Sara Popova, Ana Knežević and Marko Trpeski (Skopje, North Macedonia)
  • Best Debut Comic: “Star Mission” – Hristina Krstinovska (Resen, North Macedonia)
  • Best Mentor: Šener Dalipovski (Resen, North Macedonia

 

Congratulations to the award-winning authors, and to all the artists whose work was part of this year’s Salon!

Canvas Conversations: A Summer Evening of Art, Wine and Creativity in Veles

Posted on by Irena Hristov

For the second time, Europe House Veles brought together canvas, colours, local wine and good company for a different kind of summer evening, filled with creativity, conversations and new experiences.

At Canvas Conversations Vol. 2, everyone had the space to create, experiment and find their own artistic expression, whether they were picking up a paintbrush for the first time or already had painting experience. Artist Elena Dimova guided the participants through the painting process, helping them turn their ideas into artworks of their own.

The evening was also enriched by Old School Winery, a small family-run winery from Veles, which presented its two new wines and shared the story behind their creation – another way for local stories to become part of our shared experiences.

But Canvas Conversations wasn’t just about painting or wine tasting. It was an evening for making connections, sharing ideas and creating something together. For those moments when we slow down, try out something new and give ourselves the freedom to express our creative potential.

Because creativity is not reserved only for artists. It is for anyone willing to try, create and enjoy the process.

This evening reminded us that sometimes the most beautiful stories begin with a blank canvas, a glass of wine and good company.

 

Subscribe To our newsletter!