The next few years will be decisive for the democratic and European future of the Western Balkans.
In addition to a credible enlargement perspective and a positive enlargement narrative, which needs to be reinvented and reinvigorated, it is vital to support rule of law, civil dialogue, pluralism and the fight against corruption as well as the social dimension. It is crucial to invest more in social inclusion, to support the broad vision of just and democratic societies, which needs to include various bottom-up initiatives and actors.
Our “WB2EU Network” will activate / connect / research / disseminate and create joint output on the defined topics by bringing together academia, civil society and relevant stakeholders on national, regional and EU level.
Key points:
- reform, consolidate and reenergise EU enlargement until 2025 and beyond
- mobilise, support and engage with progressive and emancipatory forces from below (movements, citizens, local initiatives) that are truly European and pro-democratic
- enhance youth and alternative voices and forces in the society
- strengthen social dimension, rule of law and justice in the region
- connect young and senior researchers, scholars, representatives of civil society, national and EU institutions, stakeholders, policy-makers, and citizens engaged in pro-democratic initiatives (local/regional/national)
PROJECT PARTNERS / WB2EU NETWORK
PROJECT INITIATORS
Austria
Austria
Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE), Vienna (Coordinator & Project Leader)
Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip), Vienna
WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
EU MEMBER COUNTRIES
Bulgaria
Croatia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Romania
Slovenia
New Bulgarian University, Centre for European Refugees, Migration and Ethnic Studies (CERMES), Sofia
Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), Zagreb
EuropaNova, Paris
Institut für Europäische Politik (IEP), Berlin
Department for Political Science & International Relations, University of the Peloponnese, Corinth
Andrássy University, Budapest
International Affairs Institute (IAI), Rome
GlobalFocus Center, Bucharest
Centre of International Relations (CIR) – University of Ljubljana
This project is co-funded by the European Commission under its Erasmus+ Jean Monnet programme.
Contact
Return Migration in Bulgaria: A Policy Context of Missed Opportunities
Some European countries and regions are confronted with a severe decline in population. The last census in Bulgaria, for example, shows that its population has shrunk by 11.5% in a decade and continues to decline. The country has lapsed into a serious demographic crisis, of which emigration, low birth rates and high death rates are the key factors. On the other hand, return migration gathered new momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic in several EU countries and particularly Bulgaria recorded a rising number of returning migrants. However, the recognition of potential benefits from this phenomenon failed to translate into concrete policies aimed at attracting returnee´s involvement in the prosperity of the country. These developments have reconfirmed the need for a thorough re-evaluation of current policies, writes the author of this Policy Brief and identifies possible ways for improvement.
Cultural Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Recognising Culture as an Integration Tool
In its recently adopted Enlargement Package the European Commission recommends that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be granted candidate status by the EU member states, on the understanding that several reforms are undertaken to reinforce democracy, the functionality of state institutions, rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime and guarantee media freedom and migration management in the country. Considering the status quo of the country, the author of this Policy Brief, critically evaluates the present discourse of cultural policies and recommends a different concept of cultural policy and cooperation as a way to integrate society.
The social impact of air pollution in the Western Balkans
Already before the Russian war against Ukraine, the socio-economic cost of air pollution in the Western Balkans due to dirty energy generation was significant. Although the European Green Deal is a much-needed instrument in the efforts to promote energy transition in the region, it is uncertain whether its funds will suffice to bring about sustainable change. The authors of this Policy Brief argue that there is a pressing need to overcome structural deficiencies in the Western Balkans such as regulatory ambiguity, lack of transparency, and low prioritisation of the environment. Amidst the war´s implications on energy security and economic growth, the European Union should prevent Western Balkan states from backsliding to unsustainable ‘energy production’ habits.
Western Balkans 2 EU #wb2eu: 5th Ideas go public Lab, Belgrade – Public Debate
Ukraine War is Europe’s Wake-up Call to Revive Enlargement (Op-Ed Balkan Insight)
Europa darf das neue Momentum nicht verschlafen (Gastkommentar Wiener Zeitung)
Western Balkans 2 EU #wb2eu: 4th Ideas go public Lab – Public Debate: The path to the EU – how the war in Ukraine has reopened the case for enlargement, 19 May 2022, Paris, 19:00-20:30h (CET)
Rule of Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Transformation of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council
For many years the level of public trust in the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been consistently low with the independence of judges and prosecutors further diminishing. Therefore, it is no surprise that in its Analytical Reports the European Commission concludes that the judiciary in the country is barely at an early stage of its preparation for the integration into the European Union. In their Policy Brief the authors argue in favour of financial and personal independence of the judiciary, reintroducing ethics and integrity and avoiding an over-concentration of institutional power.