The project is implemented through the efforts of the Intersectoral Working Group for Reform Agenda Monitoring (IWG), a consultative mechanism established within the framework of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU), the Project coordinator. The IWG brings together civil society organisations, experts, and academic community representatives to monitor reform progress, promote transparency, and facilitate structured dialogue with government institutions, the European Commission, and other stakeholders.

The project builds on the long-standing cooperation between the NCEU Secretariat and CEP, one of the NCEU’s founding members and the IWG coordinator. As project partner, CEP leads the work of the IWG, ensures coordination among its thematic sub-groups, provides methodological and analytical guidance, and facilitates dialogue with national institutions and the European Commission.

Monitoring and analysis are carried out through the work of six thematic and horizontal sub-groups, each coordinated by a civil society organisation with strong expertise in its respective area: Business Environment and Private Sector Development, coordinated by the National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED); Green Transition, coordinated by the Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society (BFPE); Digital Transition coordinated by the Partners Serbia (PS); Human Capital, coordinated by the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF); Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law, coordinated by the Transparency Serbia (Transparency); and the Budgetary and Financial Impact of the Reform and Growth Facility coordinated by the Center for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES).

The project is structured around three main components: 1. evidence-based monitoring of the Reform Agenda implementation through analytical reports; 2. strengthening the coordination capacity and institutional capacities of the IWG and its sub-groups; and 3. fostering regional peer learning and knowledge exchange among civil society organisations engaged in monitoring reform implementation across the Western Balkans. Through these activities, the project contributes to greater accountability, improved reform implementation, and stronger civil society participation in Serbia’s EU integration process.

Contact person: Ljubica Kovačević, Project Manager, ljubica.kovacevic@cep.org.rs

Članak RA Connect: From National Civil Society Oversight to Regional Peer-learning se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The project is led by the European Policy Centre (CEP), in partnership with Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI B&H) and the Centre for Civic Education (CCE). RADAR is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian MFA).

RADAR’s overall objective is to contribute to the prevention of extremism, violent behaviour, and democratic backsliding by strengthening youth resilience to digital radicalisation. To achieve this, the project combines two complementary research components:

1. Systematic TikTok content analysis which will include mapping the presence, formats, and algorithmic dissemination patterns of harmful narratives, and,
2. Video-elicited youth focus groups examining how young audiences perceive, emotionally process, and potentially internalise such content.

This mixed-method approach enables comparable insights across the three countries, capturing both the “supply side” and “demand side” of extremist communication.

Findings will be synthesised into three national narrative reports and a transnational policy brief, alongside practical prevention-oriented guidance for institutions and civil society. The project will also produce youth-facing outputs (e.g., infographics, podcasts, blog posts) and organise a transnational webinar, including an Italian think tank perspective, to support dialogue and uptake of recommendations.

Duration: 1 December 2025 – 30 November 2026.

Contact: Jovana Knezevic Jovanovic, Senior Project Manager, jovana.knezevic@cep.org.rs

Članak Radicalisation Analytics in Digital Algorithmic Realms – RADAR se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The project will thus focus on the following key tasks:

1) carrying out capacity-building of EU member states through the tailored series of capacity-building webinars for EU member states’ administrations aiming to strengthen their enlargement-related capacities, particularly in Foreign and European Affairs ministries and embassies,

2) conducting in-depth research and advocacy as a follow-up to the Model by conducting four (4) advocacy missions to EU member states and one (1) advocacy event in Brussels, and

3) implementing a simplified communication approach on enlargement by introducing and promoting the “TLTR (Too Long to Read) Enlargement Explainers” – short, focused, and occasionally semi-animated videos designed to summarise essential developments in EU enlargement and CEP’s issue papers for policymakers who need succinct information due to time constraints.

By integrating these components – capacity-building, research and advocacy and an innovative communication strategy – this project aims to create a multiplying effect where each activity reinforces the others.

Contact person: Ljubica Kovacevic, Project Manager, ljubica.kovacevic@cep.org.rs

Članak All in on EU Enlargement – Making Gradual Integration Work se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

Corruption is a persistent and deeply rooted issue in all Western Balkan (WB) countries, demanding comprehensive solutions supported by strong political will, international pressure, and active involvement from civil society organizations (CSOs). The EU has recognized anti-corruption as a key priority for all candidate countries and has introduced several mechanisms to track progress and improve governance. These include annual country reports, rule of law assessments, and the New Growth Plan. As the EU expands its financial engagement in the region, ensuring robust oversight and accountability becomes increasingly vital.

The project aims to support the Western Balkan’s (WB) EU integration process by contributing to their fight against corruption, in light of the enlargement reprioritization. As part of the project, a team of researchers will develop three key issue papers on: 1) Enhancing the Role of EU Investigative Agencies such as OLAF and EPPO in the WB; 2) Lex Specialis and International Treaties as Instruments for Avoiding Transparent Public Procurement in the WB; 3) Comparative Analysis of Anti-corruption Measures in the Reform Agendas of WB countries. Additionally, this project ensured regional ownership and EU ownership over the anti-corruption proposals through cooperation and involvement of regional and Italian experts and their significant contribution. The project activities focus on advocacy and dissemination of key findings, messages and recommendations provided in the aforementioned policy products.

The project’s expected impact is to strengthen the fight against corruption in the Western Balkans, which is essential for advancing their EU integration process. Additionally, the project will assist the EU in improving financial oversight and accountability, particularly in managing EU pre-accession funds. In the long term, the project aims to raise awareness among policymakers, civil society, and the general public about the benefits of stronger anti-corruption mechanisms. This heightened awareness will foster greater political commitment to anti-corruption reforms. Ultimately, the project is expected to contribute to a more transparent and accountable governance structure in the WB, bringing these countries closer to EU membership. Finally, the project will also empower think tanks by fostering collaboration between the Western Balkans and Italy, creating vital connections on the critical and sensitive issue of anti-corruption.

Contact person: Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher, strahinja.subotic@cep.org.rs

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

The project is implemented by the following organisations:

• European Policy Institute (EPI), MK – Project Coordinator
• European Policy Centre (CEP), RS
• Institute Alternativa (IA), MNE
• Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), AL
• Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), XK
• Transparency International BiH (TI BIH), BA

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.

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

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

Activities:
To achieve our goals, we will organise a series of events aimed at fostering discussion and exchanging experiences and ideas for legal and policy action.

Članak The platform revolution: shaping the future of work in the EU and Western Balkans se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

The individual accession processes are not only influenced by the ongoing war in Ukraine but are also still shaped by the consequences of the Yugoslav wars. Through dialogue and discourse, regional experts will identify key similarities and differences to ascertain how the candidate countries can learn from each other and establish best practices.  

The project is co-financed by the governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. 

Download PDF here.

Contact person: Strahinja Subotić, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher, strahinja.subotic@cep.org.rs

Članak Central Europe and Future EU Enlargement se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.

• European Policy Centre (CEP) as project coordinator, RS
• European Policy Centre (EPC), BE
• Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), XK
• Foreign Policy Initiative BH (VPI BH/ FPI BH), BA
• Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), BG
• Notre Europe – Institut Jacques Delors (NE IJD), FR
• Association for Civil Society Development SMART, HR
• Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, EL

The Project aims to enhance citizen engagement (including women and youth) in European policy issues through citizens’ consultations, which are structured events where individuals gather to discuss and provide input on policy issues, ensuring their voices and perspectives are included in the decision-making process. Citizens’ consultations are of great importance since they enhance democratic participation, foster transparency, and ensure that policies reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of the community. Throughout the project, a dynamic social media campaign will highlight key activities and outcomes, including local, national, and transnational events, as well as publications.

The Project will be implemented in four phases:

1. Local Citizen Consultations: Partner organisations will host local consultation events to explore citizens’ understanding, aspirations, and narratives in three interconnected policy areas—environment, EU accession, and the rule of law. They will also identify trade-offs and synergies among these areas. In addition, the MladiRini youth portal (https://mladirini.org/en/) will gather written contributions from young people (aged 16-25), a group which is often excluded from decision-making.
2. National Citizen Consultation Events: Citizens’ delegates from the local events will join experts in national-level consultation events to discuss how the identified trade-offs and synergies can be turned into policy decisions, plans, and strategies. Each partner will then create a national publication summarising the key findings from these events.
3. Transnational Event: The third phase involves presenting the national publications at a Transnational event in Belgrade. Project partners, citizen delegates, and policy stakeholders will engage in a dialogue about their experiences with citizen consultations and proposed policy solutions.
4. Comprehensive Transnational Volume and Final Conference: The insights and experiences from the local, national, and transnational events will be compiled into a Transnational Volume. This volume will be presented at a final conference in Brussels, where delegates, national stakeholders, and EU policy experts will discuss the project’s outcomes and implications.

Contact: Andrija Mladenović, Project Manager (andrija.mladenovic@cep.org.rs)

Članak Reinventing Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations (REACH) se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.