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

Together with Luisa Chiodi of the Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa and Miloš Đorđević from Transparency International Serbia, the discussion examines the EU’s Reform and Growth Facility, the risks of “box-ticking” reforms, public procurement transparency, and the state of anti-corruption efforts in Serbia and the wider region.

The episode reflects on political will, institutional independence, civil society pressure, and citizen movements as key drivers of sustainable rule-of-law reforms on the path toward EU membership.

Članak Fighting Corruption in the Western Balkans as part of the EU’s Enlargement Reprioritisation se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Članak The dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Western Balkan Enablers for Reforming Public Administrations – WeBER 3.0 project is the third consecutive EU-funded grant of the largest civil society-led initiative for monitoring public administration reform (PAR) in the Western Balkans. WeBER 3.0 reinforces participatory democracy by enabling CSOs to actively engage and inclusively monitor PAR outcomes across the WB, advocating for the reforms’ consistency with EU requirements.

WeBER 3.0 is implemented by six non-governmental organisations, one per each Western Balkan countries. The Centre for Public Administration Research (KDZ) Vienna is a EU-level based partner of the project. The project is supported by the European Commission and Austrian Development Agency – ADA

This conversation was recorded in Skopje, North Macedonia, in November 2024, as a fourth episode of the TEN TV Show.

Članak Shaping governance for EU membership: Key SIGMA/OECD takeaways for the Western Balkans se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

This conversation sheds light on the complex landscape of reform efforts and the role of research in assessing public sector performance in North Macedonia and across the Western Balkans.

For more information about Dimitar’s institution, the Center for Change Management, please visit: www.cup.org.mk

His report, as well as the others reports, will soon be published on www.par-monitor.org

Članak Transparency in action: How North Macedonia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Policy measures up se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

1. Growth Slowdown & Socioeconomic Divergence: While the Western Balkans experienced solid growth in the early 2000s, the region has struggled to maintain momentum post-2008. Nicola highlights the “golden period” between 2000 and 2008 but warns that without significant reforms, convergence with the EU could stretch as far as 2093 in a pessimistic scenario.

2. Governance Deficit: Poor governance remains a significant roadblock. Nicola emphasizes that countries in the region must focus on improving the rule of law, combating corruption, and increasing government accountability to accelerate growth and reduce the trust gap with their citizens.

3. The Role of State-Owned Enterprises: The discussion provides a key insight into the incomplete transition to market economies in the region. Many state-owned enterprises (SOEs) still dominate critical sectors like energy, limiting the private sector’s potential to drive growth. Privatization and the introduction of market competition are seen as crucial steps forward.

4. Digital Transition & Innovation as Key Catalysts: Excitingly, digital transformation can help bridge the institutional and governance gaps. Serbia has become a leader in digital innovation, spearheading initiatives in AI, biotech, and IT services. The region can leverage this momentum to modernize public services, increase transparency, and reduce bureaucracy.

5. Youth, Women & Brain Drain: Nicola calls for urgent reforms to integrate young people and women into the workforce. Improving educational curricula and fostering labour market flexibility will prevent further brain drain and ensure that economic benefits are more inclusive.

Looking forward, both experts agree that focusing on second-generation reforms is vital: deepening financial markets, boosting regional trade and connectivity, investing in human capital, and addressing the urgent need for green transition and sustainable development.

While challenges persist, especially in governance and institutional reforms, there is hope that with the right policies and an embrace of digital transformation, the region can achieve sustained growth and converge with the EU in the coming decades.

Find out more – www.par-monitor.org

Članak Bridging the Gap: Convergence strategies for Western Balkans’ EU future se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Sa njim razgovaramo o razlozima njegovog povratka i razlikama između života i rada u Srbiji i u SAD-u, zašto se i kada odlučio za budućnost ovde, kao i šta bi savetovao mladima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje.

U serijalu „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo.

Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

Članak Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije: Vladan Čokić se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.