Članak Stalled Dialogue and Rising Tensions in Kosovo*–Serbia Relations se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Western Balkan PAR Monitor: PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 2024/2025 se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The paper explores the possibility and extent of participation of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) in the work of comitology during the pre-accession period, assessing the degree to which this form of early institutional integration is utilised. The research examined meeting summaries, rules of procedure, and relevant directives or regulations of all active EU committees – available at the Comitology Register.[2] For a committee to be classified as active, it had to have convened at least once since 2022. The research was conducted up until the end of January 2025, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the most recent developments. Additionally, findings were compared with an analysis conducted on the state of comitology participation in 2023 to identify trends and potential shifts in committee participation. However, the research faced certain constraints, particularly the absence of publicly available rules of procedure or meeting summaries for some committees, which limited the scope of analysis in specific cases. To overcome these, four interviews were conducted with stakeholders from the EU and WB who directly took part in the work of the committes to gain firsthand insight into the work of the committees. The findings support the thesis that participation in EU committees remains an underutilised mechanism for early institutional engagement of the WB6. Strengthening involvement in these structures could serve as a valuable instrument for fostering deeper integration and preparing candidate countries for the complexities of EU decision-making.

[1] European Commission. Comitology. https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/adopting-eu-law/implementing-and-delegated-acts/comitology_en

[2] European Commission’s Comitology Register: https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/comitology-register/screen/committees?lang=en

Članak The EU’s Comitology: An Opportunity for Early Institutional Integration of the Western Balkans se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Polish Presidency of the EU Council se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The main objective of the project is to increase transparency, promote inclusive dialogue, and strengthen participatory processes in the implementation of reform agendas, as well as to monitor infrastructure projects carried out under the EU Growth Plan.

The project is implemented by the following organisations:

• European Policy Institute (EPI), MK – Project Coordinator
• European Policy Centre (CEP), RS
• Institute Alternativa (IA), ME
• Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), AL
• Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), XK
• Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI), BA

Contact: Teodora Kecman, Project Manager (teodora.kecman@cep.org.rs)

Članak WB Reform and Growth Monitor se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak Unpacking the 2024 Enlargement Package – A New Momentum or Business as Usual? se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Amidst these challenges, the European Policy Centre (CEP – Belgrade) and Le Grand Continent organised a closed discussion titled “Political Priorities of Serbia and the Balkans between Trans-Atlantic, Sino-American, and EU-China Relations in Times of Global Changes.” The event was held under the Chatham House rule and gathered over 20 experts from civil society, academia and the private sector who shared their insights, perspectives, and opinions on the pressing issues facing Serbia. The discussion was divided into two panels, with the first one focusing on offering an outlook on Serbia’s internal situation in the context of its EU accession process, while the second focused on the country’s foreign policy amidst shifting global dynamics. This paper presents a summary of the discussions and offers important insights publicly while respecting the Chatham House rule and protecting participants’ names and affiliations.

Članak Political Priorities of Serbia: Between Trans-Atlantic, Sino-American, and EU-China Relations se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The Western Balkan countries (WB6) have long been entangled in a protracted stalemate in their quest for European Union membership. However, recent geopolitical shifts caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine have thrust the enlargement process back on the EU’s agenda as one of the Union’s highest priorities, injecting new vigour into the process.

In the Spring of 2024, the European Parliament and the Council adopted the Regulation establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans. This milestone also marked the official acceptance of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (Growth Plan), a strategic initiative presented in the fall of 2023 aimed at revitalising the enlargement process and reducing the economic disparity between the WB6 and the EU. Among other things, it proposed incentives in the form of early integration into the single market by providing access to various EU initiatives such as programmes, agencies, joint alliances, and more. It was done with the aim to facilitate more opportunities for closer association with the EU’s single market already during the pre-accession period.

Building upon the Model for Staged Accession to the EU, which underscores the need to provide increased incentives linked to the level of accomplished reforms, this paper aims to assess whether and to what extent the Growth Plan’s initiatives can serve as viable incentives for the WB6 governments to implement necessary reforms. The underlying thesis posits that while the proposed incentives add value to the accession journey, they fall short of serving as compelling motivators for the WB6 to enact reforms, particularly considering their accessibility prior to the formulation of the Growth Plan.

Therefore, their effectiveness depends on the successful implementation of other Growth Plan components, particularly increased and conditional funding, and the introduction of institutional participation as an additional incentive.

Članak The New Growth Plan se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

With farmers dealing with a wide range of challenges, from rising costs and impacts felt from the war in Ukraine, it is clear that European policymakers are struggling to address farmer’s needs. This brings into question the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – traditionally known as one of the earliest and most significant aspects of European integration. Launched in 1962, the CAP sought to support farmers, improve agricultural productivity, and safeguard Europe’s food supply. Currently, the CAP has a budget of over €380 billion, which still represents almost a quarter of the total EU budget. It is fair to say that the CAP has transformed Europe and its agricultural sector. Having said this, the recent protests pose questions about whether the measures the EU takes within the context of this central policy area, from income support and market interventions to rural development measures, are enough. It is also important to explore how WB countries navigate the challenges presented by their agricultural sectors, particularly in relation to the CAP, and what role the EU plays in assisting these countries in aligning their agricultural policies with EU standards. As this new crisis will put Europe’s problem-solving capabilities to the test, it will be of paramount importance to see how the EU manages to juggle extensive internal protests with a new push for further enlargement.

Članak Europe’s farmers taking to the streets: What will come of the recent disruptions? se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.