Despite rising expectations surrounding enlargement, policymakers are still left without a complete picture of its implications. Existing analyses often fall short of providing a concrete, up-to-date assessment of the costs associated with enlargement. This project aims to fill that gap by delivering a detailed, data-driven, and region-wide estimate of the fiscal impact of Western Balkan accession.

It will thus provide: (1) a consolidated estimate of the total cost of integrating the Western Balkans into the EU; (2) country-level projections of expected financial allocations from the EU budget for each future member state; (3) a breakdown of projected EU budget allocations per each heading of the EU’s MFF; (4) estimates of the financial contributions the Western Balkan countries are expected to make to the EU budget upon acquiring membership; and (5) a calculation of the annual cost per capita for EU citizens. These outputs will enable EU and German decision-makers to prepare for the financial implications of enlargement with greater clarity and precision.

Implemented: between June and December 2025.

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

Članak Was kostet uns der Balkan? 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.

The Republic of Serbia was selected as the primary case study due to its size, significance, and the potential impact of its labor mobility on the EU. Additionally, the project takes a comparative approach by examining Montenegro, the closest to EU membership, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for its high labor mobility. 

The research will collect in-depth, context-specific data through interviews with key stakeholders in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. By collaborating with partners in these countries and experts from the Netherlands, CEP aims to produce a comprehensive analysis and research paper. 

Findings will be presented in The Hague and Brussels to inform EU and Dutch policymakers with on-the-ground insights, supporting more informed decision-making in future EU reform discussions. This project is crucial in bridging the gap between theoretical reform proposals and their practical implications for both potential and current EU member states. 

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

Članak Altering EU free movement of workers in light of further enlargement: A common interest for the Netherlands and Western Balkans? 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’s overall objective is to empower active citizen and civil society participation in the inclusive and transparent development of public policies in the areas of consumer rights and competition policy, in alignment with Serbia’s EU accession process. The first specific objective focuses on engaging citizens and civil society in the processes of developing and advocating for ongoing regulatory reforms in the areas of consumer rights and competition policy, while the second specific objective pertains to involving citizens and civil society in the implementation and monitoring of key reforms in these areas.

The project is designed to enhance the legal and institutional framework for consumer protection and competition policy while raising public awareness about the importance of these topics for a functional and fair market. The project will focus on identifying key challenges in practice, providing concrete recommendations for improvement, and empowering relevant stakeholders through education and collaboration.

The project aims to achieve its objectives through the following activities:

1. Developing a methodology and conducting citizen consultations
2. Conducting research and preparing policy documents with concrete public policy proposals
3. Advocacy targeting decision-makers and policymakers
4. Gathering citizen proposals, suggestions, and comments through an innovative online platform
5. Conducting consumer rights training for citizens and civil society representatives
6. Hosting a thematic discussion for citizens and stakeholders
7. Launching a media campaign through print and online media

In addition to its primary goals, the project will have a significant impact by disseminating its results. Concrete proposals for normative and strategic solutions in the areas of consumer rights and competition policy will be developed based on feedback and suggestions from citizens and civil society. Advocacy towards relevant stakeholders has the potential to drive reform processes in these two areas even further.

Contact Person: Stefan Radojčić, Project Coordinator, stefan.radojcic@cep.org.rs

Članak Enhancing consumer rights through strengthening competition policy 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.

• 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.

European Policy Centre (CEP) is the Serbian partner in a consortium led by Public Administration International (PAI), which has secured a Long-Term Agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). This agreement aims to provide consultancy services and specialized expertise related to the EU accession negotiation process and EU harmonization for Western Balkan countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

The primary objective of the program is to strengthen institutional, administrative, and legislative frameworks through cooperative capacity development efforts.

The program is scheduled to be implemented by December 31, 2025, with approximately 200 individual small-scale technical support projects expected to be carried out across negotiation Clusters 2-5, including:

Cluster 2 – Internal Market (Chapter 1 Free movement of goods, Chapter 6 Company Law, Chapter 7 Intellectual property law, Chapter 8 Competition Policy, Chapter 9 Finantial Services, Chapter 28 Consumer and Health Protection)

Cluster 3 – Competitiveness and growth (Chapter 10 Information Society and Media, Chapter 16 Taxation, Chapter 20 Enterprise and Industrial Policy, Chapter 25 Science and Research, Chapter 26 Education and Culture, Chapter 29 Customs Union)

Cluster 4 Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity – (Chapter 14 Transport Policy, Chapter 15 Energy, Chapter 21 Trans- European Network, Chapter  27 Environmnental and Climate Change)

Cluster 5 – Resources, agriculture and cohesion (Chapter 11 Agriculture and Rural Development, Chapter 12 Food Safety, Veterinary and Phitosanitary Policy, Chapter 13 Fisheris,  Chapter 22 Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, Chapter 33 Finantial and Budgetary Provisions) 

Članak UNOPS program Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans se pojavljuje prvo na European Policy Centre.