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    If you get tired of reading, then have a listen to our podcast. European Talks podcast is a short form conversation that aims to untangle difficult questions on various topics related to Serbia’s relations with the EU and its member states, by talking to experts, diplomats, and other relevant actors. Whether you are a researcher, a politician, or just genuinely curious about the topic, European Talks podcast will provide you with valuable ideas, answers as well as new questions.

    Enlargement stuck in a rut? Staged accession model as a solution

    26.10.2021.
    Milena Lazarević, Steven Blocksman
    Srđan Majstorović

    Today’s episode of European Talks discusses the issue of the EU enlargement impasse and how it is being dealt with. With the rising skepticism regarding enlargement and slow reforms in candidate countries, Srđan Majstorović, Chairman of CEP Governing Board, Steven Blockmans, Director of Research at CEPS, and Milena Lazarević, CEP Programme Director, talk about “thinking out of the conventional enlargement toolbox” when it comes to this process. Blockmans and Lazarević present their ideas on how to overcome this impasse with a staged accession model. Find the paper here: https://cep.org.rs/en/publications/a-template-for-staged-accession-to-the-eu/ 

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    Corrosive Capital, Environment & External Actors: Assessing the Western Balkans

    04.03.2021.
    Tena Prelec
    Strahinja Subotic

    The issues of corruption, the rise of external actors, and environmental neglect are becoming increasingly present in the Western Balkans. We are joined by Tena Prelec, a research fellow at Oxford University, a research associate at the LSE, and a member of BiEPAG, with whom we talk about whether and how all of these issues are interconnected.
     

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    Armenia and Azerbaijan: From Conflict to Ceasefire

    28.12.2021.
    Anar Jahangirli, Benjamin Poghosyan
    Strahinja Subotic

    After a six-week-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a ceasefire deal has been agreed upon and came into effect on 10 November 2020. This podcast aims to shed light on whether and how peace can be sustained in the next years, as well as to explore the potential of the EU's post-conflict efforts. Discussants: Benyamin Poghosyan - Chairman of the Centre for Political and Economic Strategic Studies in Yerevan - Former director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the Armenian Ministry of Defence - Graduated at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Anar Jahangirli - Consultant in public affairs and communication - Former diplomat from Azerbaijan, with the focus on NK - Graduated at Harvard

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    Imperatives for the Biden Administration: What can the US, the World, and Serbia Expect?

    20.11.2020.
    John Allen
    Strahinja Subotić

    Our guest was Mr John Allen, a retired four-star general and the President of the Brookings Institution, one of the most influential think tanks in the world. Although the outgoing President Trump continues to claim that the US elections were rigged, President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take his position in the White House, with the aim to diminish divisions in the US. As the world and Europe have high hopes for the Biden administration, we discussed what can be expected in the next four years.  
     

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    Work-life balance in the EU – Benefits of becoming a member state

    21.10.2020.
    Katarina Ivanković Knežević
    Sena Marić

    Following the European Commission’s 2017 Proposal for a Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers, the new EU Work-life Balance Directive was passed by the European Parliament in April 2019. The aim of this Directive is to “improve families’” access to family leave and flexible work arrangements’, and ultimately “contribute to an increase in women’s employment and families’ economic stability.” Moreover, it introduces a set of legislative and non-legislative measures, i.e. policy measures, designed to modernise the existing EU frameworks in the work-life balance area. How much more funds will the countries of the Western Balkans receive, once they become members, having in mind that our closest neighbour, Croatia, receives 10 times more from the EU for this area? We talked with Ms Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in the European Commission, former State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Pensions of Croatia.
     

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    Armenia and Azerbaijan at the same table: an attempt to approach opposing positions

    02.10.2020.
    Benyamin Poghosyan, Anar Jahangirli
    Strahinja Subotić

    A conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno Karabakh, a territory which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but de facto ruled by the Armenian majority living there, re-erupted a couple of days ago. In order to get the full picture of what is happening on the ground, and to see what can Europe to prevent the conflict from escalating, we have invited two prominent experts, one from Armenia and the other from Azerbaijan. Discussants: Benyamin Poghosyan - Chairman of the Centre for Political and Economic Strategic Studies in Yerevan - Former director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the Armenian Ministry of Defence - Graduated at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Anar Jahangirli - Consultant in public affairs and communication - Former diplomat from Azerbaijan, with the focus on NK - Graduated at Harvard

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    Winds of change in Montenegro: What to expect in the next period?

    18.09.2020.
    Stevo Muk
    Sena Marić

    The recent elections in Montenegro suggest that major changes could soon take place in the country in the Western Balkans. Montenegro has opened all chapters in the process of negotiations with the EU, but how far has the enlargement process really progressed and what can be expected in the coming period when it comes to the EU accession process, but also with the political climate in the country? We spoke with Stevo Muk, President of the Managing Board of the Institute Alternative, Podgorica-based think tank.

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    Advancing Albania’s road to EU: Side with agendas and ambitions

    19.08.2020.
    Sena Marić
    Gjergji Vurmo

    In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Council of the EU gave the green light to the opening of accession talks with Albania. What are the expectations regarding the next steps, given the current pandemic restrictions? Can the revised enlargement methodology lead to a more effective accession process? What is the current political climate in this country? In this episode, we talked to Gjergji Vurmo, programme director of Institute for Democracy and Mediation – IDM, Tirana-based think tank.

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    What does the future of EU accession process hold? The case of North Macedonia

    06.08.2020.
    Simonida Kacarska
    Sena Marić

    In this episode, we talked about the current political situation in North Macedonia, EU sentiments of its citizens, and about the strengths and risks of the revised accession methodology for the Western Balkans. Our guest is Dr Simonida Kacarska, director of the European Policy Institute - EPI in Skopje, North Macedonia.

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    EP remains engaged in fostering democracy in the Western Balkans

    10.07.2020.
    Vladimír Bilčík
    Sena Maric

    A few days ago, elections were held in Serbia, in which the ruling party won a convincing victory. These elections were boycotted by part of the opposition. With our dear guest, Vladimír Bilčík, member of the European Parliament and its rapporteur for Serbia, we talked about the election results, relations between the European Union and the countries of the Western Balkans, and regional relations, especially the turbulence between Montenegro and Serbia, and how this affects the EU accession process.

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