The working groups whose work is coordinated by CEP are:

• Working group for Negotiation Chapter 1 (Free movement of goods)
• Working group for Negotiation Chapter 3 (Right of establishment and freedom to provide services)
• Working group for Negotiation chapters 4 and 9 (Free Movement of Capital and Financial services)
• Working group for Negotiating Chapter 8 (Competition)
• Working group for Negotiation Chapter 28 (Consumer protection and health protection)

Članak Coordination of Working groups within the National Convention se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Under this project, TEN will strengthen cooperation with renowned think tanks from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland, in order to improve the quality of communication on the EU enlargement in the broader framework of the forthcoming re-definition of the EU and its future. Our approach in this project is to advocate not for the plain EU accession but rather for the WB as an entirety that has been going through numerous improvements in the democratic governance and rule of law structures, improvement of the economic governance processes as well as ambitious reform agendas for public administration.

Apart from reaching out to the influential European capitals and engaging with the EU policy scene, TEN will, thanks to the support of this grant, conduct activities to improve our research, communication and advocacy skills. By further increasing our internal capacities, TEN ultimate goal is to make Western Balkan countries substantially involved in the debates and policy solutions pertinent to the future of Europe.

Članak Europeanisation Beyond Process se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

• Eurocréative, Paris
• Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe (ÖFZ)
• Cooperation and Development Institute (CDI), Tirana
• European Policy Institute (EPI), Skopje
• Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri), Paris

Noting that despite strong historical affinities France has not played a leading role in the Western Balkans, and in line with the reengagement of France in European affairs with the goal of boosting strategic autonomy of the Union, Paris took a definite step towards intensifying economic, political, and societal cooperation with the region. To this end, France has, alongside Germany, initiated several projects, expanded the mandate of the French Development Agency, and greenlighted the commencement of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. Moreover, this project aims at promoting long-term stability in the region, boosting academic exchange with universities, and empowering civil society. Additionally, the project explores possibilities for further ramping up the political and economic cooperation between the Western Balkans and France bearing in mind the European future of the region.

The project will be carried out throughout 2021, ahead of the French Presidency of the Council with the expected deliverables:

• An opening event organised in French on 8^th June 2021
• Three online regional events organised in the Western Balkans by July 2021 to discuss key recommendations relative to economic, political, and societal cooperation respectively;
• Based on these events, experts from the region will work on three Policy Papers / Strategic Roadmaps published in English and in French in October 2021;
• Expert’s recommendations will be presented at the three events organised in France in October-December 2021 (on economic, political and societal cooperation respectively).

This project is financed by the Embassy of France in Serbia, French Institute in Serbia, Eurocréative, and Austro-French Centre for Rapprochement in Europe (ÖFZ).

Članak France and the Western Balkans – a Strategic Engagement se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The goal of such support is the greater effectiveness of political and economic institutions in these countries. The plan is to provide this type of support in the next three and a half years (starting in 2020) with the available funds to be determined for each fiscal year. When it comes to Serbia, technical assistance is provided by the company “Tetra Tech” from the United Kingdom, together with the European Policy Centre – CEP, in close cooperation with the British Embassy in Belgrade.

Contact person: Ranka Miljenović, Executive Director (ranka.miljenovic@cep-old.local)

Članak British support to reforms in Serbia se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The first cycle of support lasted three years (starting from 2015), with the available budget determined for each fiscal year. The Special Technical Assistance Mechanism in Serbia is operated by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) UK, together with PwC Serbia and the European Policy Centre (CEP), working closely with the British Embassy in Serbia.

In 2020, the UK Government continued its support to the Eastern Partnership countries and the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and North Macedonia) in implementing the necessary reforms through the Good Governance Fund (GGF). A special pillar of the GGF is technical assistance to reforms for the development of the business environment and economic management, capacity building in public administration, the fight against corruption and judicial reform, public enterprise reform, and strengthening the media and civil society.

The goal of such support is the greater effectiveness of political and economic institutions in these countries. The plan is to provide this type of support in the next three and a half years (starting in 2020), with the available funds to be determined for each fiscal year. When it comes to Serbia, technical assistance is provided by the company “Tetra Tech” from the United Kingdom, together with the European Policy Centre – CEP, in close cooperation with the British Embassy in Belgrade.

Contact: Ranka Miljenović, Executive Director ranka.miljenovic@cep.org.rs

Članak Good Governance Fund – GGF se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The Project was implemented by a coalition of 12 organizations engaged in human rights and the development of democracy, as well as professional judicial associations:

1. Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) (Project Leader)
2. European Policy Centre (CEP);
3. Association of Public Prosecutors and Deputy Public Prosecutors in Serbia;
4. The Network of the Committee for Human Rights in Serbia (CHRIS Network);
5. Judges’ Association of Serbia;
6. Transparency Serbia;
7. Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP);
8. Partners for Democratic Change Serbia (Partners Serbia);
9. Belgrade Centre for Human Rights,
10. Judicial Research Center (CEPRIS);
11. National Parliament Leskovac;
12. Forum of Judges of Serbia.

One of the three main goals that the project aimed to achieve is to establish proactive relationship between the representatives of the judiciary and the citizens and their better acquaintance with the system itself, which would help citizens to better meet and understand their rights, as well as how to reach them. The project aimed to establish this type of relationship through several channels of communication with citizens, which have been adapted to the different social structure of the population, age and education level. This included communication through a digital platform, digital media and blog posts, as well as through local councils in 15 cities and municipalities in Serbia. Led by the spirit of developed democracies, the project wanted to adopt the principle of open dialogue between citizens and the judiciary, and to encourage their greater engagement in local communities. The task of the project was to help citizens to understand their rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, and also to inform citizens how the judicial system works and how judges and prosecutors make fair and rational decisions.

The second goal of the project involved organisations to work on researching and detecting the primary needs of citizens in their everyday practice with the judiciary in Serbia. This activity tried to understand and investigate citizens’ reasons for low level of trust in the judicial system, widely monitoring citizens’ experiences in meeting with the judiciary. As a result of this activity, the coalition on the project created three comprehensive reports that serve as a mean of further public policies formulation that support citizens’ needs.

The last goal of the project was to raise the accountability and integrity of judicial institutions. The project aimed to work with judicial and civil society stakeholders to enhance the integrity and accountability of judicial institutions through an improved methodology of integrity plans and an open procedure for appeals and free citizens’ complaints, making them more transparent, more accessible and engaging citizens themselves.

Contact person: Jovana Knežević, Project Manager (jovana.knezevic@cep.org.rs)

Publications published within the project:

The Report on Monitoring the State in the Judiciary for 2020 (SRB)

The Report on Monitoring the State in the Judiciary for 2021 (SRB)

The Report on Monitoring the State in the Judiciary for 2022 (SRB)

Events held within the project:

Presentation of the Report on the State of the Judiciary for 2021 (SRB)

What is holding back judicial reform? (SRB)

The Report on Monitoring the State in the Judiciary for 2022 (SRB)

Članak Constituencies for Judicial Reform in Serbia se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Under the new name, Western Balkan Civil Society Empowerment for a Reformed Public Administration, the WeBER 2.0 design relies on the results of WeBER and published PAR Monitor reports. WeBER 2.0 continues the intervention logic developed and proven effective in the first project, namely that the creation of regional and local pressure and demand for PAR compliant with EU requirements/principles is the best (and perhaps only) way to ensure long-term effectiveness of the EU’s conditionality in this area and keep these reforms on track even beyond the point of achievement of EU membership by the WB countries.

The impact that WeBER 2.0 intends to create is an empowered civil society, armed with knowledge, skills and tools to monitor PAR and hold their national and local governments to account for the quality of policies they develop, services they provide and the overall management of the state and local governments and administrations.

Find more about the Project here: www.par-monitor.org 

Članak WeBER 2.0 se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The project was funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), whereas the coordination was done with KAS Office responsible for Serbia and Montenegro.

Članak Serbia at the Crossroads between the West and the East se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.