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.

CEP was recognised by a prominent independent research institute in the field of water management from the Netherlands, Deltares, in partnership with the International Cooperation Agency of the Association of the Netherlands Municipalities, VNG International, and the “Jaroslav Cerni” Water Institute, as an important policy-relevant partner to complete the assignment Local DRR plans and local protection and rescue plans for local self-government
units in Serbia realised with financial support from the EU in the framework of the EU-WB/GFDRR Western Balkans Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Program and managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. The assignment took place from October 2021 until May 2022. The objectives of the assignment were to assess the current Disaster Risk Assessment, Local Disaster Risk Management Plans and Local Protection and Rescue Plans of the LSGs, with a focus on floods and flood vulnerabilities of LSGs in order to prioritize capacity-building actions in those self-governments, and to prepare recommendations on improving these local plans.

After successful contribution to the assignment above, Deltares engaged the “Jaroslav Cerni” Water Institute and CEP in another assignment within the framework of the EU-WB/GFDRR Western Balkans Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Program, Capacity building to improve the identification, prioritization, and preparation of new flood risk reduction investments in Serbia. The assignment took place from December 2021 until May 2022. The objectives of the assignment were to produce recommendations for identifying priority investments resulting in the draft methodology for prioritising risk reduction measures, develop a catalogue of structural and non-structural interventions, and enhance the capacities of the Republic Water Directorate and Public Water Management Companies to apply the methodology and the catalogue.

Članak Environment Protection: Improving the Disaster Risk Reduction Management with focus on Floods Management 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.

Through its enlargement policies, the EU tries to foster democratisation in the Western Balkan region. Now that further reforms in a number of countries only progress slowly or seem even deadlocked, more and more attention is being paid to the negative side-effects of EU policies. The literature on EU enlargement notes that, in spite of their democratic objectives, EU strategies and policies unintentionally contribute to the formation of so-called stabilitocracies in the region: countries with obvious democratic shortcomings that at the same time claim to provide pro-EU stability.

The research project focuseed on the six countries of the Western Balkans. For each country, it assessed how flaws in the EU’s enlargement policies as identified in the literature play out in practice by offering a reflection on the applicability of the theoretical framework for the specific country, underpinned by an assessment of a number of case studies.

The project will be carried out throughout 2021 and will culminate in a report in English with six contributions from TEN partners, one for each country of the Western Balkan Six.

This project is financed by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Project Coordinator: European Policy Centre – CEP, Belgrade
Contact person: Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher, strahinja.subotic@cep.org.rs

Članak The EU as a promoter of democracy or ‘stabilitocracy’ in the Western Balkans? se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

It will support further development of the CEFTA areas, by providing policy advice, enhancing civil society interaction, and raising awareness of CEFTA. Hereby, CEP is tasked to organise a competition of policy papers on a number of topics relevant for the CEFTA, intending to encourage production of the policy research/policy analysis including opinions and recommendations for improving policies in CEFTA. With the aim to advance the discussion by engaging the researchers on CEFTA related topics, CEP will organise online thematic panel discussions on the topics that CEFTA promotes and a workshop to promote the policy papers produced under this contract.

Članak Cooperation with Civil Society – competition for innovative policy research proposals se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The project directly supported 40 local CSOs and had the aim to strengthen their capacities and to provide mentoring support in the field of application of a comprehensive methodology and tools for monitoring the fact-based public administration reform, which the project had developed. PAR monitoring itself was conducted in 17 local governments (12 from central Serbia, 4 from Vojvodina and the City of Belgrade).

Project activities were grouped into four work packages:

1) WP 1 was included in the activities related to the development of a methodology for monitoring public administration reform at the local level and tools needed for its implementation, involving all relevant actors from the civil sector at the local level, as well as representatives of MDULS and SCTM.

2) WP2 have included capacity building of local CSOs for the application of the developed methodology, as well as monitoring of public administration reform in 17 local governments, which included preparation and publication of 17 individual monitoring reports and one comparative PAR monitoring report in all 17 LGUs.

3) WP3 was focused on regular CSO consultation sessions and advocacy plans and their implementation through public events and closed-door meetings.

4) WP 4 was included in a campaign (street actions and online) which was intended for all citizens in Serbia, was focused on issues of public administration reform at the local level, as well as an open call for citizens ‘contribution to the campaign and the development of the “Book of Citizens’ Experiences”.

The project was funded by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia within the Civil Society and Media Support Program, which aimed to strengthen participatory democracies and the EU integration process by empowering civil society to actively participate in decision-making. The project was co-financed by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.

Here you can find the information about publications and events produced during the project (in Serbian).

Contact: Branko Birač, Project Manager – branko.birac@cep.org.rs

Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

Članak Public Administration Monitoring for Better Local Governance se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

• Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) from Bulgaria (Project Coordinator)
• Romanian Academic Society from Romania
• Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis”, Skopje from North Macedonia
• Civic Association “Why not” from Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Center for Democratic Transition from Montenegro
• Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER) from Albania
• Government Transparency Institute (GTI) from Hungary
• Institute of Public Finance from Croatia
• State Commission for Prevention of Corruption from North Macedonia
• Regional Anti-corruption Initiative Secretariat (RAI)
• Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
• Chr. Michelsen Institute.

The project’s overall objective was to deliver shared anti-corruption solutions to increase the accountability of state institutions and strengthen civil society and the rule of law in Southeast Europe (SEE). Such was be achieved through capacity building on implementing innovative research instruments of European social research which were selected as examples of best practice. Moreover, the objective was attained through established a knowledge-sharing public-private partnership between civil society and public sector actors in nine beneficiary countries. The action aimed to close anti-corruption policy implementation and public procurement gaps across SEE which will further amplify the impact of the planned increase in EU infrastructure support until 2025. It pulled together resources of the largest grassroot civil society anticorruption network – Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI), the abovementioned international expert organisations and the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption of North Macedonia, and the anti-corruption resource centre U4.

Partners implemented Monitoring Anticorruption Policy Implementation (MACPI) instrument which resulted in analysis, i.e., technical reports for the management of analysed public bodies, complemented by desktop research and consultations. In addition, Opentender.eu was updated for large-scale public procurement analysis, including new corruption risk indicators, and implemented annually in nine countries. Finally, three Annual SEE Good Governance Reports, included the key MACPI and Opentender findings, were discussed at Policy Forums. A comprehensive communication and engagement strategy reinforced the project’s impact. Partners developed specific advocacy ideas and messages and put them forward in a public-private format.

The project was a unique opportunity to jump-start public-private action and mainstream the best EU practices and shared anti-corruption policy solutions that helped reduce social and economic disparities in the EEA.

Contact person: Andrija Mladenović, Project Coordinator – andrija.mladenovic@cep.org.rs

Publications published within the project:

Unveiling Challenges in Serbian Public Procurement – A Call for Change

Rolling Back State Capture in Southeast Europe – Implementing Effective Instruments for Asset Declaration and Politically Exposed Companies

A Game of Hide and Seek – Asset Declarations for Public Officials

State Capture Assessment Diagnostics at Sectoral Level: Training manual

Blogs published within the project:

Asset Declaration in South East Europe – an (In)sufficiently Successful Instrument for Corruption Prevention (SRB)

Where Are the Continued Public Procurement Deficiencies Leading Serbia?

Public Procurement: A Brake or a Step Forward in the European Integration of Serbia

Events held within the project:

Implementing Shared Anti-Corruption аnd Good Governance Solutions in Southeast Europe: Innovative Practices and Public–Private Partnership

First Annual Summer School: Methodologies for monitoring anticorruption policies, state capture and public procurement integrity

Tackling State Capture in Southeast Europe: Delivering on the European Rule of Law Promise

Follow the Money: Tracking Illicit Financial Flows and Countering of Sanctions’ Evasion Schemes

Članak Implementing shared anti-corruption and good governance solutions in Southeast Europe se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

In addition, the main goal is to contribute to an efficient, professional, transparent, and service oriented Public Administration, increasing the level of harmonization among the different levels of government; to improve capacity of public administration to achieve better administration capable to implement the EU integration requirements in the area of human resources management.

Članak Strengthening Human Resources Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.