If the EU does not count the Balkan countries among the stakeholders who should participate, in some form, in the upcoming Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), then one has to wonder whether the Union is still serious about the European perspective of the region.

The EU should allow political leaders and citizens from the Balkan countries to join the activities and discussions held in the context of the CoFoE on a consultative basis, along the representative and citizens’ dimensions of the process, respectively. In doing so, the EU would build on the precedent of the European Convention of the early 2000s.

The EU has nothing to lose and everything to win by deepening and refining its relationship with the Balkan countries, by allowing the region to feel included in its plans for the future of the EU. The Union would use the interdependence with the Balkans to good advantage, strengthening natural alliances with its neighbours and consolidating its political vicinity. Deliberating over joint responses to specific common challenges addressed by the Conference would help the Balkan countries continue to build experience and know-how in preparation for their eventual EU membership. Allowing the Balkans to witness and contribute to this initiative would also foster a sense of togetherness and partnership that has been lacking from the long, drawn-out formal accession process. More, rather than less, EU-Balkans cooperation and coordination will build trust and loyalty.

In the end, even without a formal invitation to accompany the CoFoE process, the Balkan countries should organise themselves at the political and societal levels to follow the Conference and mirror its activities with similar initiatives. The Regional Cooperation Council could help organise and coordinate a network of Balkan politicians tasked by their governments to follow and participate in the Conference. In parallel, civil society networks in the region should build on their already existing cooperation and look for funds to organise ‘Balkan Citizens’ Consultations’, which can accompany the CoFoE process as it unfolds. Such a broad mobilisation would prove the Balkan countries’ strong will to approach the EU and a certain dose of political maturity.

But the Union should know better than to just wait to be impressed by the Balkans. The EU is one CoFoE invitation away from leaping forward into the future, together with its strong partners and closest neighbours, as Commission President von der Leyen referred to the Balkans in her State of the Union address.

This discussion paper is developed in cooperation with the Brussels-based think tank European Policy Centre (EPC), and is thus also published at epc.eu.

This discussion paper is available only in English.

Članak The Conference on the Future of Europe: Is the EU still serious about the Balkans? se pojavljuje prvo na Centar za evropske politike.

U ovom sižeu politike, Milena Lazarević i Korina Stratulat ispituju proces uključivanja civilnog društva u proces sektora reforme javne uprave (RJU) koji vodi ka pridruživanju zemlje Evropskoj uniji. Komisija traži saradnika u civilnom društvu na Balkanu, što pokazuje raskid s nasleđem prethodnih pristupanja, u kojem su vlade bile jedini pouzdani sagovornici Brisela. Da bi se izbeglo (ili makar umanjilo) potencijalno nazadovanje u reformama, kao što se dogodilo u više zemalja centralne i istočne Evrope nakon njihovog pristupanja EU, Komisija sada mudro ulaže u politiku pritiska „odozdo“ prema balkanskim pretendentima za članstvo.

Autorke takođe izvlače pouke iz nedavnih koraka koji su preduzeti kako bi se obezbedio transparentniji, formalniji i strukturisaniji dijalog sa civilnim društvom u svim zemljama regiona, kao i kako bi se unapredile veštine, znanje i umeće organizacija civilnog društva (OCD) u oblasti RJU.

U tu svrhu, one preporučuju da, za svaku balkansku državu koja želi da postane članica, Evropska komisija treba:

• Postigne dogovor sa vodećim organima zaduženim za RJU u svakoj balkanskoj državi o ujednačenoj praksi objavljivanja dnevnog reda i zapisnika sa svake sednice posebnih grupa za RJU.
• Donese odluku o zajedničkom, strukturiranom pristupu organizovanju pripremnih konsultacija sa civilnim društvom pre svakog sastanka posebnih grupa za RJU.
• Preporuči da vlade zemalja koje žele da pristupe EU objavljuju sve izveštaje koji nastaju u okviru oblasti RJU (kako one koje sačinjavaju misije/stručnjaci EU, tako i one koje pripremaju nacionalne institucije) kako bi se povećala odgovornost i podstakla debata na nacionalnom nivou.

Ovaj siže politike je prvobitno objavio Evropski centar za javnu politiku (European Policy Centre – EPC), u okviru saradnje sa Think for Europe mrežom (Think for Europe Nework – TEN), u okviru WeBER projekta.

Članak Proširenje na Balkan i politika građanskog pritiska se pojavljuje prvo na Centar za evropske politike.