european fund for the balkans: report 2007-2014

Table of Contents004 INTRODUCTION 007 IntroductionbyHedvigMorvai-APossibleGuidethroughtheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansReport2007-2014013 TheFUND-Structure014 TheFund-Secretariat015 TheFund:SteeringCommittee 020 EFBOverviewinaLongRun026 EFBTeam

028 PROGRAMMEAREAS

030 PRACTICINGEUROPE FellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficialsfromtheWesternBalkans: SupportingExcellenceandLeadershipinGovernance032 FellowshipProgramme2008-2014034 FellowshipProgrammeIntrospection037 FellowshipProgrammeInspection038 EFBFellows-ChangeMakersintheRegionalPublicAdministration 044 ENVISIONINGEUROPE ThinkandLink-RegionalPolicyProgramme046 ThinkandLink2008-2014048 Introspection/FeedbackCorner050 ContributionsbyThinkandLinkParticipants056 FellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchersfromtheWesternBalkans058 ResearchFellowship2008-2014060 Introduction062 ContributionsbyResearchFellows

064 EXPERIENCINGEUROPE SoutheastEuropeandtheEULeadershipDevelopmentProgramme066 LDP2006-2014068 LetterfromPartners070 LDPGroupProjects

072 EFBCOMMUNITY074 EFBCommunity2009-2014076 ReflectionsabouttheEFBCommunity–ALookfromOutside078 ALookfromtheInside080 FirstEFBCommunityConference082 TraditionalJointFellowshipTrainings084 EFBCommunityWebsite

086 SUPPORTINGPOLICYDEVELOPMENT088 GallupBalkanMonitor090 FromYugoslaviatotheEuropeanUnion:20Yearsafter1991–TheTaleofTwoGenerations-Survey092 BalkanPeerExchange096 RegionalTV-ShowVicinities104 BalkansinEuropePolicyGroup106 BalkansinEuropePolicyBlog108 PolicyTalks

110 SUPPORTEDINITIATIVES112 FeedbackCorner:EurActiv.rs114 BelgradeSecurityForum116 BalkanBeyondBordersFilmFestival120 Books122 Exhibition“SeeNewPerspectivesfromBalkanphotographers”124 ShareConference126 EXITFestival128 PolicyDialogues130 FoundationWeek2010-TheBalkans2025:BacktotheFuture132 TheEuropeanStoryFund134 GoodGovernancefromacross-sectoralperspective136 EFBACHIEVEMENTSINNUMBERS2007-2014

137 PARTNERS

INTRODUCTION

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European Fund for the Balkans“Initiative for strengthening democracy and fostering European integration”The European Fund for the Balkans was established in June 2007 as a multi-year joint initiative of European Foundations including the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Compagnia di San Paolo and the ERSTE Foundation.

The four founding partners have set a pattern in promoting the responsibility of European funders in supporting and developing stability in the region. The European Fund for the Balkans is a testimony to the power of collaboration, demonstrating what foundations can do when they come and act together.

During the seven years of operating in all Western Balkans countries and beyond, by implementing a unique programme

strategy, the European Fund for the Balkans has transformed itself into a regional actor and partner to different stakeholders and an active promoter of cross-border and regional cooperation. To this date, a valuable network of governmental and non-governmental organisations, institutions, groups, initiatives and individuals got engaged with the Fund and its activities.

The thorough evaluations of its programmes and the comprehensive strategic planning that was conducted during 2013 have provided a new framework for the Fund’s future programming which will continue to be synchronized with the political and economic developments in Europe and the Balkans.

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The European Fund for the Balkans' reassessment of its seven-year progress and prospects has brought together a set of lessons learned in regard of its operational strategy and programme design. By combining these with being responsive to the donor and changing political context of the region, the EFB will continue to further its vision of strengthening democracy and fostering European integration.

The new cycle of the work of the Fund will be structured upon the three main pillars of its programme activities:

Support of

Policy Development

Developing a policy platform for bringing the policy making into public view and

debating the major issues of Europe today

Capacity

Development Supporting excellence

and leadership potentials

Community Building

Creating a knowledge platform for promoting and strengthening cross-sectoral, regional

and European exchange and coopera-tion

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Hedvig MorvaiEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Thisreportgivesinsightintothevividandexcitinglifeofthisspecialendeavor,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkans.Aninitiativeforregionaldevelopment,alivelyandflexibleplatformforlearningandexchange,demonstrationofpowerofcollaboration,interest-basednetworkofhighlymotivatedpeople.

ItwassevenyearsagowhenagroupofenthusiasticindividualsfromleadingEuropeanprivatefoundationsdesignedtheoutlinesoftheEFB.Sevenyearswereenoughtofillthegivenframeworkwithrelevantcontent.Itbecamevibrant,dynamic,andcolorful.Itbecameapowerfulinstrumentofchange.Itbecamea

placetobe.Itbecameacommunity.OnbehalfoftheEFBteam,IwouldliketothanktoallwhobelievedintheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandwhohonoureduswiththeirpresence,commitment,timeandengagement.Wecountonyoursupportforthenextexcitingseven-yearperiodagain!

A possible guide through the European Fund for the Balkans Report 2007 – 2014

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“In the Western

hemisphere, popular psychology has the 7th year

as most critical in any personal relationship. Does that apply to

ambitious Foundations? In the past seven years the European Fund for the

Balkans has proven that four parent institutions, when coupled by talented

staff, could gain relevance quickly and press beyond many critical

junctures.”p.060

„I think that what the

European Fund for the Balkans is trying

to do is to create a space where people can challenge

the prevailing culture and come up with other ways

of decision-making process.“

p.077

“I do not want to be

emotional, but if the EFB hadn't existed, it would be necessary to

establish it.” p.024

“Thanks to a light structure, the Fund is

in a position to react to political opportunities and

find relevant entries to progress its agenda.”

p.021

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“The greatest

memories are made up of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so do not

hesitate when they arrive - just do it, join us - join the

EFB Community!” Unfold between

p.040 – 041

“The European Fund

for the Balkans is one of the initiatives that produce

changes. In the very beginning, the EFB started with the idea to

contribute to the democratization process in the Western Balkans and

very quickly understood that building an environment that shares

common values is a difficult and long-lasting task. And it is not

an effort for one player.”p.025

“Thus, seven years after its inauguration,

the EFB has grown from an initiative to a platform

that congregates our region’s human potential in envisioning

and tailoring our shared European future.” Unfold between

p.084 – 085

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WiththisreportwewishtoawakeyourimaginationbygivingvoicetopeoplewhoareattheheartoftheFundandtoshowcasethemainimagesand

impressionsfromits7yearsofexistence

Therefore,awaytostartwithexploringthisbookistolookatthequotationsaboveandtrytomatchthosewiththeshortstatementsoftheEFBfriends,collaborators,supporters,grantees,donors,staffmembers;among

thesepeopleyoumightfindnameswhosecommentswillprovokeyour

interest

ThenseethecollectionofphotosofspecialEFBmomentsshowingtheatmosphereofourseminars,

trainings,conferences,networkingactivities

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Forthosewithamorestructuralapproach,weinsertedashortdescriptionoftheEFBatthebeginningandwesummarizedtheEFB'sachievementsin

numbersattheend

AndforunderstandingtheEFB

programmeinterventionlogic,weprovidedaschemethatwillguideyouthroughthefollowingpages

ofouractivities

Lists,maps

andchartshelpin visualizingwhatwehavedoneand

achieved

Whetheryoustartfromitsbeginning,orfromitsveryend;whetheryouonlyflythroughitcatchingafewimages,wehopethatthesepagescommunicatetoyouaspecial

EFBmessage

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2007 – 2014

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The Fund Structure

TheFundismanagedundertheauthorityofaSteeringCommittee,whichisresponsibleforthestrategicorientationsoftheFundandoverseestheworkoftheSecretariat.TheSteeringCommitteeistheofficialdecision-makingbodyoftheFund.EachofthefoundationsconstitutingtheFundhasonerepresentativeintheSteeringCommittee.TheBelgrade-basedSecretariat,ledbytheExecutiveDirectorservesastheFund’sheadquarters.TheFundiscurrentlyhostedbytheNetwork of European Foundations - NEF(Brussels)whichprovideslegalandadministrativeassistance.

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The Fund Secretariat

TheSecretariatoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansisbasedinBelgrade,fromwhereitcoverstheFund’sactivitiesthroughouttheWesternBalkansregion.Itisrunbyasmallbutexperiencedgroupofpeople,whoactivelyseekoutandincorporateexpertisefromawidevarietyofsources,aswellasexpertstoaddtotheirnumbers.

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The Fund Steering Committee

TheFundismanagedasaseparateentityundertheauthorityofaSteeringCommitteethatoverseestheprojectasawhole.

TheSteeringCommitteeoperatesbasedonaneighteen-monthrotatingChair,appointedbythefoundingpartners.

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Fabrice de KerchovePROJECT MANAGER, KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR

OneofthemainstrengthsoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,whichhasbeenbuiltsinceitsinceptionin2007,isitscapacitytosuccessfullycombineconsistencyandflexibility.ConsistencyinmaintainingitsclearandrelevantfocusonthefutureintegrationoftheBalkancountriesandsocietiesintotheEUandflexibilityinitsabilitytoadjustprogrammesaccordingtoaneverchangingenvironment.ThissoundstrategyhasenabledtheFundtobecomeanimportantplayerwhoseactiontofostergoodgovernance,democraticdevelopmentandtheformationofpolicyexpertiseiswidelyrecognizedbothintheBalkansandinBrussels.

ThisstrengthwillprovetobeespeciallyusefulastheFundfacestwomainchallengesforthe

nearfuture.Firstofall,recentdevelopmentswithintheEUandintheBalkanshavemadetheEuropeanintegrationprocessfarmoreuncertainthanin2007.Secondly,aftersevenyearsofoperations,theFundisengagedinaprocessaimedatsecuringitssustainabilityasanindependentorganizationinthelongerterm.TheKingBaudouinFoundationisconfidentthatbybuildinguponitsoutstandingresultssofar,andmoreespeciallytheinvestmentintheregion’semerginggenerationof‘motorsofchanges’,theFundiswellequippedtoconsolidateitsfuturedevelopmentandtoreachtheseambitiousgoals.Wethereforelookforwardtoourcontinuinginvolvementinthisstimulatingendeavour.

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Nicolò Russo PerezPROGRAM MANAGER COMPAGNIA DI SAN PAOLO MEMBER OF EFB STEERING COMMITTEE

TheCompagniadiSanPaoloisoneofthelargestindependentfoundationsinEuropeandoneofthemainprivatefundersofresearchinthefieldsoftheEUaffairsandinternationalrelations.OuroverallgoalistofosteratrulyEuropeandebateonthemainissuestheEUfaces,thusencouragingtheemergenceofaEuropeanpoliticalspace.

ItisagainstthisbackgroundthattheCompagniadecidedtobecomeafoundingmemberofahistoricinitiativeofregionalcooperation,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,setupwiththreeotherEuropeanfoundations–theRobertBoschStiftung,theKingBaudouinFoundationandtheErsteStiftung–withtheaimofcontributingtotheimprovementoftheadministrationofthecountriesoftheWestern

Balkans,withaviewtotheirintegrationintheEU.

IhadtheprivilegetoservetwotermsintheSteeringCommitteeoftheFundandtoenjoythegreatcreativitythatsurroundedthelaunchandstartofsuchahugeproject.AssomeonecorrectlyremarkedwhenwecommissionedaninterimreportontheperceptionoftheFundafteritsfirstthreeyearsofactivity,iftheEFBhadnotexisted,someoneshouldhaveinventedit.So,Isincerelyhopethatequippedwithitsimpressivearrayofactivitiesdevelopedoverthepastyears,theEFBwillcontinuetointensifythedialogueamongkeyEuropeanstakeholders–bothinstitutionalandfromcivilsociety–withthegoalofstrengtheningtheBalkansnaturalpathtowardsEurope’sintegrationprocess.

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Franz Karl PrüllerMEMBER OF THE BOARD ERSTE STIFTUNG MEMBER OF EFB STEERING COMMITTEE

InthelastsevenyearstheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshasbuiltalargebodyofyoungprofessionalswhotodayareshoulderingresponsibilityforaEuropeananddemocraticdevelopmentoftheircountries.InastillvolatileeconomicandsocialclimatethefactthateveryyeartheEFBcontributesdozensofmotivatedyoungofficialstothepoliticalleadership,publicadministrationandcivilsocietywhohavehadtheopportunitytoexperiencetheworkingsandchallengesoftheEU,helpstostrengthenthedemocraticdevelopmentsandEuropeanvisionofthecountriesofSoutheastEurope.ThededicatedworkoftheEFBteamandtheirwide-rangingcontactsandnetworksnotonlyensurethateachyearmoretalentedanddedicatedyoungpeoplejoin

theseranksbutthatresearchandanalysisintoissuesofcriticalimportanceforatrulyEuropeanperspectivefortheircountriesaresupportedandareleadingtoconcretepolicyoutcomes.

AsoneofthefoundingInstitutions,ERSTEFoundationisproudofandhappyfortheachievementsoftheEFB,andwearelookingforwardtocontinuingworkingwiththeFundinhelpingitshapeandorientitsvisionandworktotheneedsandaspirationsofthepeopleofSoutheasternEurope.Inthefuture,makingtheirvoicesheardintheEUandkeepingasenseofurgencyabouttheaccessionoftheircountriesaliveandburningintheEUwillbeoneofthemainchallengesoftheEFB.

IwishtheteamaroundHedvigMorvaiallthebestandlotsofsuccessinthisimportantwork.

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Atje DrexlerHEAD OF DEPARTMENT, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EUROPE AND ITS NEIGHBORS ROBERT BOSCH STIFTUNG MEMBER OF EFB STEERING COMMITTEE

Sinceitsinceptionin2007theEuropeanFundforBalkanshasevolvedintoanindependentplayerintheregionwhichsupportsdemocraticdevelopmentandEuropeanintegrationinallBalkancountries.Avastnumberofyoungpeoplehaveexperiencedthe“spark”whichthefundignitesthroughitsprogrammesandtheyhavebecome“motorsofchange”intheircountries.Weareproudthatwehavehelpedinbuildingthiscommunityandlookforwardtoseeingitgrowfurtherandstronger!

ThepastyearshaveseenmanychangesintheBalkanswiththeKosovoagreementandCroatia’saccessiontotheEuropeanUnionservingasmilestonesonanimaginaryroadtotheEU.Nevertheless,weareconvincedthat

themissionoftheFundremainshighlyrelevanttoday.Firstofall,EuropeanintegrationandaccessiontotheEUarenotsynonymous.Accessionisneithertheendpointofanintegrativeprocess,norisitanecessaryrequirementforsuchadevelopment.TheEFBwillcontinuetofostergoodgovernance,democraticdevelopmentandtheformationofpolicyexpertiseinandabouttheregioninallcountriesoftheBalkans–nomatterwhattheirindividualperspectivesofaccessionmaybe.WeareconvincedthatindoingsotheFundwillcontributetoformingaunifiedEuropeofwhichtheBalkanswillbeanintegralpartof.WeattheRobertBoschStiftunggreatlylookforwardtocontinuingoursuccessfulcooperation.

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Kristie D. EvensonEXTERNAL EVALUATOR OF THE EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans(EFB)hasexperimentedwithavarietyofassistanceandinterventionsinthepastsevenyearsofengagementintheWesternBalkansregion.Thesehaveincludedasetoftoolstosupportcapacitydevelopmentandresearchpolicydevelopment,andthroughthisthebuildingofacommunityofyoungprofessionalsintheregiontoreachEuropeanstandardsandbemorefullyengagedintoEuropeanintegrationefforts.

Takentogether,theEFB’seffortshaveresultedinaclearuptickinabilityandhavefocusedtheinterestsofyoungprofessionalsonhowtoarticulateaEuropeanfuture.Particularlytheyounggovernmentofficials’capacitydevelopmentprogrammehasbroughttogether

acadreofaspiringanddeterminedgovernmentofficialswhoshareandviewasimilarfutureascollegialneighbours,andinmanycases,asnewfriends.

TheEFB’ssupportofpolicyresearchandinpushingforwarddifferentmediaforcommunicatingthoughtfulandevidencegroundedpolicydiscussionshasbeenakeycomponentofthiswork.Theneedforsupportoftimelyresearchandadvocacyeffortscontinuestoincrease,makingtheneedforflexibleandinnovativedonoreffortsinthisareaparticularlycritical.

TheEFB’sstocktakinginitslastyearhasbroughttogetherasetoflessonslearnedinoperationsandprogrammedesign.Combiningthesewithbeingresponsivetothedonor

andchangingpoliticalcontextoftheregion,theEFBshouldbewellpositionedtofurtheritsvisionofassistingtheregionandEuropetobemorecloselyintegrated.

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Peggy SaïllerEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NETWORK OF EUROPEAN FOUNDATIONS (NEF) BELGIUM

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansisanambitiousexampleofcooperationbetweenprivateEuropeanfoundationsthatworkto“bringtheBalkansclosertotheEuropeanUnion”.

Setupin2007tobebothoperationalandgrant-making,theFundhasbeenabletodevelopintheregionbyinvestinginfieldssuchasthemediawithits“Vicinities”talkshow,andbyseekingtherightpartnerstodevelopexcitingprogrammes.Thankstoalightstructure,theFundisinapositiontoreacttopoliticalopportunitiesandfindrelevantentriestoprogressitsagenda.

Andallofthisdespiteadifficultcontext:Europeanintegrationisatstake,markedbythewideninggap

betweentheEuropeancitizensandtheEuropeproject.

However,theFundhassteadilybuiltanetworkofactiveindividualswithintheEFBAlumniNetwork,whichwillreacharound400membersby2015.ThisgrowingcommunityismakingpositivechangesintheWesternBalkansandbeyond,andcanbeconsideredoneofthemainassetsoftheEFB.

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Goran Svilanovic SECRETARY GENERAL, REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans(EFB),withitspivotalroleinbringingtheWesternBalkansclosertotheEuropeanUnionthroughitsregionalprogrammesforgovernments,think-thanks,institutesandcivilsocietyorganisationsdealingwithresearchinEuropeanpublicpolicies,hasmadeadifferenceduringthe6yearsofitsexistence.AdifferencehasbeenmadeformanyinitiativesfromtheWesternBalkansincreatinginclusivepoliciesandininitiatingnumerousresearchesandprojectsrelevanttofulfillingtheCopenhagencriteriaanddedicatedtostrengtheningthecapacitiesattheregionallevel,allinsupportoftheEuropeanintegrationprocesses.

IwouldespeciallyemphasizetheEFBprogrammesPracticing,EnvisioningandExperiencing

Europededicatedtoimprovingprofessionalandadministrativecapacitiesandskillsofyounggovernmentofficials,futureleadersanddecisionmakersthatwillshapethefutureregionalandEuropeancooperation.Theaccumulationofhumanandsocialcapitalstartsatayoungage.InordertomakethecitizensoftheWesternBalkansregioncompetitiveintermsoffunctioningstateadministrationandprofessionals,theEFBhasmadethatadditionaleffortinperforminganexcellentjob.Inthisrespect,andwiththehelpfromitsfoundingpartners,theEFBgavetheyoung,talentedpeoplefromtheBalkansthenecessarysupportinbuildingandstrengtheningtheircapacitieswhilepreparingforthechallengestheircountriesarefacingontheirwaytoEUmembership.

Iwouldliketoadd,onaverypersonalnote,howhighlyappreciatedtheeventsorganizedbyEFBthatIhavewitnessedwere.Itwasagreatpleasureformetoengageinopenandfrankdiscussionwiththoseyoungleaders,towitnessfirst-handhowhappytheyweretobeprovidedwiththeopportunitytomeettheircounterpartsfromdifferentcountries,toestablishprofessionalcontactsandcontinuesharingtheirexpertise.TheinvestmentmadebytheEFBintotheadministrativecapacityoftheenlargementcountrieswillprovidelong-termeffectsintheaccessionprocessandIsincerelyhopealsointheircountries’performanceoncetheyjoinEU.ThehumancapacitytheEFBhasbuiltinthelastsevenyearswillmarkthefutureoftheWesternBalkanmembersoftheEuropeanUnion.

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Erhard Busek JEAN MONNET PROFESSOR AD PERSONAM

IhavehadtheopportunitytocooperatewiththeEuropeanFundfortheBalkansindifferentcapacities.Firstofall,IamapartoftheEFBprogrammefortrainingYoungGovernmentOfficialsfromtheWesternBalkans.Heremyassistingisnotonlytofindtraineejobsindifferentgovernments,butalsototeachthisgroupbygivingthemdifferentperspectivesfortheirfutureprofessionalcareer.Ihadanexcellentimpression,especiallyconcerningtheselectionofthoseinvolvedinthistrainingprocess.

AlsoIamcooperatingonbehalfoftheCenterforDemocracyandReconciliationinSoutheastEurope,inthejointprojectofCDRSEEandEFB–thefirstregionalNewsTalkShow“Vicinities”.Thisisanexcellentexampleforcreativeregional

cooperationthatisdirectedtobettermutualunderstandingandsupportoftheeducationmattersintheregion,whichareofgreatimportanceforthefuture.

OnbehalfoftheEuropeanForumAlpbachIamalsoinclosecooperationwiththeEFB,becausewehavealotofyoungstudentsfromtheregionparticipatinginthesummermeetingsandallotherexercises.IespeciallywishtooutlinetheuniversitycourseonEuropeanLaw,wherewearealwaysgettingnomineesfromtheEuropeanFundoftheBalkans.

Lastbutnotleast,asachairmanoftheAdvisoryBoardoftheErsteFoundationIcansayitisanexcellentcooperationthatwehaveonthedifferentprogramsofthefoundation

supportingtheissuesoftheEFB.Idonotwanttobeemotional,butiftheEFBwouldnotexist,itwouldbenecessarytoestablishit.

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TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansisoneoftheinitiativesthatstartchanges.IntheverybeginningtheEFBstartedwiththeideatocontributetodemocratizationprocessintheWesternBalkansandveryquicklyunderstoodthatbuildinganenvironmentthatsharescommonvaluesisadifficultandlong-lastingtask.Anditisnotaneffortforoneplayer.ThedecisiontobringtogetherthemostinfluentialEuropeanFoundationsaimingtomaketheWesternBalkansintegrationtoEUaninevitabledevelopmentfortheregionisagoodexampleofhowcommoneffortsmakerealdifference.ThemainEFBprogramscoverlargespectrum-gainingknowledgefortheregion,creatingcommonvisionforEuropeandworkingonwaysofitsrealization.

TheFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficialsprovedtobeaveryusefulandefficienttoolforcreatingacommon,practicalanddurablevisionamongkeyBalkandecisionmakersabouttheirpathtoEurope.TheThink&LinkRegionalPolicyProgrammestrengthenedtheregionalpolicyexpertiseandnarroweddifferencesbetweenthepolicydebatesindifferentcountries.TogetherwiththeLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme,ithelpedinbringingthekeydebateonthefutureofEuropeclosertothepublicoftheregion.Intimesofdifficult,butcrucialdecisionsfortheEUwhichwillhavedirectimpactontheenlargementprocess,keepinganinformedandrealisticperspectiveforthefutureoftheBalkanregionisofessencefortheBalkansocieties.

Ivan KrastevCHAIRMAN CENTRE FOR LIBERAL STRATEGIES

Sixyearsarenotenoughtocompletetheambitiousgoals,butIamsurethatthebrilliantstartwillhelpustocontinueourworkforsupportingtheIntegrationtheWesternBalkansintheEuropeanUnion.

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EFB Team

Hedvig MorvaiExecutiveDirector

Igor BandovicSeniorProgrammeManager

Branka PanicProgrammeManager

Elena PetkovskaProgrammeAssistantandCommunications

Natasa SmiljanicOfficeManager

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PROGRAMME AREAS The Fund’s strategy was1. PRACTICING EUROPEContributingtothedevelopmentofeffectiveandefficientstateadministrationsintheregion

2. ENVISIONING EUROPESupportingresearchandpolicydevelopmentprojectsaswellasmediaoutreachinitiatives

Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance

Think and Link – Regional Policy Programme for Think Tanks and Policy Institutes

Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans Region

European Story Fund

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PROGRAMME AREAS The Fund’s strategy was

4. SUPPORTING POLICYDEVELOPMENT

3. EXPERIENCING EUROPESupportingdecisiveleadershipmodelsandpromotingtheEuropeanvaluesbyallowingtheyounggenerationsintheWesternBalkanstoexperienceandlearnmoreaboutEurope

Boostingnewpolicyideaswhichcanacceleratethereformprocessofthesocietiesintheregionandpromotingincreasedpublicengagement

Southeast Europe and the EU - Leadership Development Programme

Gallup Balkan Monitor

Reflection Group

Balkan Peer Exchange

Policy Talks

Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group

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Practicing Europe Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western BalkansThereformofthestateadministrationisoneofthemajorchallengesthatthecountriesoftheWesternBalkansarefacedwithintheirdemocratization.ThiscrucialrestructureismainlydrivenbytheEUintegrationprocess,irrespectiveoftheprospectivedateofaccession.

KnowingthatboththeEUintegrationandtheperformanceoftheBalkancountrieswithintheEUwilldependonthequalifiedandexperiencedhumanresourceswhowillbeguidingandshapingthewholefutureoftheregion,in2008theFunddecidedtolaunchitsFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficialsfrom

theWesternBalkansasoneofitsflagshipoperationalprogrammes.

TheconceptionwasadirectreactiontotheomnipresentneedthateachpublicofficialresponsiblefortheEuropeandomainshouldacquirepracticalexperienceindifferentEuropeanmemberstatesoveranextendedperiodoftime,inordertobettersupportinstitutionalreformsandmeetrequirementstheircountryneedstomeetfortheEUmembership.

TheprogrammewasdesignedtocontributetothedevelopmentofeffectiveandefficientstateadministrationsintheWestern

Balkansbyofferingatailor-madeseminarandtrainingprogrammeto20highlyqualifiedyoungprofessionalsfromthetopstateauthoritieseachyear.

Thethree-monthdurationoftheFellowshipentailsastayandworkinthehostEUcountryandstateinstitutions(Austria,Belgium,CzechRepublic,France(from2012),Germany,Hungary,Italy,theNetherlands,Poland,Portugal,Slovakia,SloveniaandSpain)and3seminarswhichbringtogetherthegroupofFellowsatthebeginning,middleandtheendoftheFellowshipprogramme.

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GainprofessionalexperienceintheEUcountries’federalorstate

governmentagencies

Receivetraining

ontheirrespective fieldofexpertise

Serveasambassadors oftheirrespective

countries

ReceivetrainingontheEU (andotherinternational)

issues

Acquireleadership

andmanagementskills atseminars

Participate inanalumni network

Shareknowledgeand

expertisewithcolleagues fromtheregionandtheEU

By participating in the Programme the Fellows had an opportunity to:

Createlinksbetween

administrationsthroughindividualnetworking

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6 GENERATIONS

750 APPLICATIONS

115 FELLOWS

HOME COUNTRIESALBANIA

SERBIA

MACEDONIA

MONTENEGRO

KOSOVO

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CROATIA

HOST COUNTRIESAUSTRIA

BELGIUM

CZECH REPUBLIC

GERMANY

ITALY

PORTUGAL

SLOVENIA

THE NETHERLANDS

SPAIN

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

FRANCE

POLAND

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Geographical scope of Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans programme

Home countries Host countries

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Branka PanicPROGRAMME MANAGER EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

Introspection

ThedevelopmentofeffectiveandefficientstateadministrationhasbeenoneofthemajorchallengesofthedemocratizationprocessesinourregionandassuchhasbeensetasthemaingoaloftheFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficials.

OverthelastsixyearstheProgrammehasinvolvedmorethanahundredmostqualifiedandmotivatedofficialsfromthroughouttheWesternBalkans.TheywereofferedanopportunitytogainprofessionalexperienceintheEUcountriesandtoreceiveanadvancetrainingontheEUandspecificgoodgovernanceissues,asatailor-madepreparationfortheirfutureleadershiproles.TheuniquecontributionofthisProgrammeisanopportunitytoprofessionally

engagewithcolleaguesfromtheregionandtheEUandtocreatelinksbetweenadministrationsthroughindividualnetworks.AfterreceivingtheadvancedtrainingandworkingexperienceintheEuropeanUnion,theseyoungindividualsarebecomingreadytoleadtheEUintegrationandbroaderdemocratizationprocessesintheircountries.AlthoughtheregionitselfisalreadyadvancedinitsEUintegrationprocess,thecontinuousandmoreintensiveworkinthisdirectionisstillhighlyneeded.

TheadditionalvalueandaparticularassetofthisProgrammeisthefellowshipcommunity,auniquecontributionofprofessionalandpersonalrelationships.Workingcloselywitheverygenerationandlisteningcarefullytotheirneeds,

wefocusedoureffortsoncreatingacommunityofandforfellowsduringandaftertheprogramme.Witheveryselectionofparticipantsweintentionallychooseindividualsdifferentinage,experience,expertiseandpersonality,inordertodevelopdiverseanddynamicgroups,whichresultedinforminganactivenetworkwithagreatpotentialforfurthernetworking,communication,socialandprofessionalcooperation.

DevelopinganadvancedandinnovativeProgramme,whichisleadinginideasandvisionsforthecapacityandcommunitybuilding,isachallengingtask.Thesuccessfulimplementationsofarhasbeenareflectionofever-increasingdedicationandenthusiasmofprogrammepartners,associates

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andfriends.Eachofyoumadeasignificantimpactinmakingthisexperiencethe“lifechangingone”formanyFellows.Withyourhelp,supportandprofessionalismyoucontributedtobringingtheWesternBalkansclosertotheEuropeanUnionandthroughyouropennessandfriendlinessalsotobringingtheEUclosertoourregion.Furthermore,aspecialtributegoestothosewhoareintheverycentreoftheprogramme,whomadeita

truesuccessstory,totheFellowsthemselves.FormanyofyouthisstorywasamemorableoneinmanywaysandwehopetheEFBwillcontinuetoplayanimportantroleinyourfutureprofessionalandpersonaladvancement.Withgainedknowledge,developedskills,valuesandconfidenceyouareactivelybecomingchange-makersinyourinstitutionsandsocieties.Hencethisisafirmconfirmationoftheclearneedandmotivationforthe

EuropeanFundfortheBalkanstocontinuewiththeprogramme.

Weareverymuchlookingforwardtomergingourefforts,sharingnewinsightsandinnovatingideasinupcomingEFBpathofstrengtheningdemocracyandfosteringEuropeanintegration.

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Kristie D. EvensonEXTERNAL EVALUATOR OF THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM THE WESTERN BALKANS: SUPPORTING EXCELLENCE AND LEADERSHIP IN GOVERNANCE

drawingfactor.Withinthismix,age,experience,countryandspecializa-tionaresecondaryconsiderationstotheattitudeandthepotentialthatfellowsdemonstrateintheapplicantinterview.

Atthesametime,allministriestosomedegreerequirealignmentwithEUstandards,andfellowscomingfromdifferentlineministriesdisplayasimilarcommitmenttoreformpro-cessesintheirministriesandadmin-istrations.Hereitisnotablethatfel-lowscomingfromsuchdiverseofficesasgendermainstreamingtojudicialinstitutionsfeltandsawaneedforsuchopportunitiesandlearning.Tosomeextent,suchfellowsevenmoresosawtheopportunityascritical,sincemostdidnothaveothersuchopportunitiesthatmightbeavailabletocolleaguesmorecloselyconnectedtoEuropeanintegrationprocesses.

Thecomplexityoftheprogrammeandtheneedtooftenbeflexibleandcreativemeansthatthistypeofpro-grammeisnotatypicalfoundationorgrantsmanagementprogram.There-sourcesforkeepingsuchaprogrammefunctioningatitscurrentlevelshouldbemaintained.

TherearefewdonorprogramsliketheEFBfellowshipprogrammewhichtargetyoungofficialsasindividualsthatarekeyharbingersofchangeintheirregions.MostnotablyhereistheabilityoftheEFBtomorecomprehen-sivelybuildonfellowshipexperiences,successesandcommunitiesforfurtheradvocacyandpolicyeffortsbothintheregionandvis-a-vistheEU.Revisitingthese,aswellasconsideringhowtoapplythesemorefocusedobjectivestoarefineddesign,shouldensurethatthefellowshipprogrammecontinuestobebothauniqueandvaluableexperienceforitsparticipants.

Inspection

“Young Government Officials as key harbingers of change in their regions”

TheEFB’sFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficialsfromtheWesternBalkansSupportingExcel-lenceandLeadershipinGovernanceprovidesandhasprovidedmorethan100officialswithclearcapacitydevelopmentandcommunitybuild-ingimpacts.Fellowsexhibitlearninggainsandenthusiasmfortheirprofes-sionaleffortsandthecommunityoffellowstheyarepartof.BothsuchoutcomesaregenerallypositiveandattributedtotheEFB’ssolidmanage-menttodate.

ThefellowshiphasattractedawidespectrumofgovernmentofficialsfromacrosstheWesternBalkansregion.Thisisitsstrengthandits

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EFB Fellows Change makers in the regional public administration

TheEFBhasalsobeensuccessfulinitsbuildingofafellowshipcommunity.Theuniquenessofthefellowshipcommunityofalumniisaparticularassetoftheprogram.Intentionalgroupselectiontodevelopdynamicgenerationsoffellowshasresultedinavibrantandengagedregionalnetwork.Suchanetwork,withapotentialforamoreprofessionalandformalcooperation,isaresourcefortheprogrammeanditsfurthergrowth.Thefellowshipnetworkisnotanaveragenetworkofeitherprofessionalorpersonalrelationships.Ratheritisaquite

uniquecombinationofboth.Thiscommunityisdesignedtobebothaprofessionalandsocialcommunity.Itsobjectivesarealsotwo-foldinthatithopestocreateasetoflike-mindedgovernmentofficialswhocancalloneachotherandsupporteachotherintheirprofessionalefforts.Theoutcomestodatearealsolinkedtothesocialportionofthiscommunity.

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TherequesttocontributetothispublicationarrivedduringquiteabusyperiodaswewerepreparingtheprogrammefortheIntroductorySeminartotheEFBFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficials.

InourfiveyearsofcooperationwiththeEFB,Ihaveworkedcloselywiththeteam,experiencingauniquepartnershipcharacterizedbythedevelopmentofcloseworkingrelationshipsandalsobytheEFB’shighstandardsfortheirprogrammes.Itisthechallengeofthesestandardsaswellastheteam’sopennesstotrynewandsometimesevenunconventionalformatsthatmakeusgotheextramileinthedevelopmentofseminarsandinnovativeteaching.

Hence,apartfromofferingchallenging,interestingseminarstotheEFBFellows,itissafetosaythat,asanorganisationofferingpostgraduateeducationinthefieldsofpolicyandpublicadministration,wehavebenefittedequallyfromthiscooperation,beitthroughtheexchangeoforganizationalculturesortheeffectsofbasicinterculturallearning(e.g.wherecanyougetthebestcheesecakeinPotsdamandhowisatraditionaldinnerservedintheMacedonianmountains?).

Itisthisapproach,payingattentiontotheconstantstrategicdevelopmentoftheentireprogrammeareasaswellasthecharmingdetails,thatcreatesaspecialatmosphereinwhichagrowingnumberofcivilservantsfromtheWesternBalkanshavecometoshapeauniquenetworkprovidingthemwithopportunitiesforlearningandexchangeinawidevarietyofways.

BeingintheprivilegedpositionofhavingmetalltheFellows,IdaresaythatIamconvincedthat,nomatterinhowmanydifferentandindividualwaystheyhavebenefittedfromtheirFellowship,theEFBhasmadeadifferenceinalloftheirlives.

Wearehappytobeapartofit.

AllthebestwishesfortheEFB’sfuture!

To: EFB TEAM From: KERSTIN ALTHERRTrainerattheFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficials CoordinatorofShort-TermPrograms,PotsdamCenterforPolicyandManagement(PCPM) UniversityofPotsdam

Subject: HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY EFB!

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Elidona DurmishiBUDGET SPECIALIST AT THE GENERAL BUDGET DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF FINANCE - ALBANIA

FELLOW 2011/2012

A unique, great, unforgettable learning experience in my life that I enjoyed a lot. I am lucky to have been a part of EFB big family. Having always been interested in learning new things for my job, I decided to apply for the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance. I developed my traineeship in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Austria in General Budget Department. During these three months, they contributed to the qualification and training of an official of public administration of a country like Albania, which is in the first steps on the path towards the European Union. For this reason, Albania needs prepared civil servants to face the challenges and difficulties that may arise in the future. In this way, I had the opportunity to compare my

country with Austria through the questions they posed about my Ministry's work. During my traineeship I talked with the officials of BMF (Ministry of Finance, Austria), regarding our future cooperation. Being part of the budget department for three months gave me the opportunity to acquire additional information for my profession. I think that this experience was very useful and affected my everyday work. Our future cooperation will be on issues such as structural funds, fiscal decentralization, budget reform, reducing administrative burdens, administrative reform, performance budgeting. For this reason I talked to my general secretary and he was very happy to continue the cooperation between two ministries. I would like to apply Austrian performance management process in my country because in this way everything will be more transparent. All thew knowledge that I gained in many directions I am applying to my daily work at the Ministry of Finance

Darko MiceskiPROGRAMMING OFFICER, IPA UNIT AT THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS-MACEDONIA

FELLOW 2011/2012

Let me use this opportunity, to express my highest appreciation and admiration to the EFB for creating such an excellent programme as the “Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance”, as well as for giving me the unique opportunity to participate in one of the best experiences in my professional career to this day.

The professional benefits of my participation in the Programme go far beyond my stay at the host country. The establishment of firm partnership between the two institutions with respect to exchange of information and expertise in the future is one of the achieved aims. The traineeship helped me to identify the weaknesses and opportunities of my home

Ministry and equipped me with efficient solutions and “European way of working”.

The participation in this programme helped me create not only a network of professional contacts but also a group of friends. Building a personal network and understanding different working cultures are essential for every person. This initiative was an excellent chance for me to make friends with a group of enthusiastic people working in the region by creating links between administrations through individual networks and friendship.

The greatest memories are made up of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so do not hesitate when they arrive - just do it, join us - join the EFB Community!

Gordana TripkovicSENIOR ADVISER AT THE MONTENEGRIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE- MONTENEGRO

FELLOW 2011/2012

The European Fund for the Balkans offered me a unique opportunity of gaining three-month practice in Berlin at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. I was given an insight into the economic and political situation of the EU member states, current political affairs and a clear outlook of the status of the acceding EU countries, i.e. Western Balkans. I also had many opportunities for networking while there were numerous occasions to meet relevant persons from the German state administration and economy. The most valued aspects of the traineeship were primarily the choice of the host country, reliability of the supervisor, work dynamics and networking.

I have written the analysis paper for my chosen topic of study under the supervision of my

mentor. Nevertheless, it gave me an opportunity for establishing valuable contacts, carrying out additional research for my analysis and holding important meetings outside the Ministry. This networking broadened my views on intellectual property rights protection in Germany by exchanging opinions and practices of other ministries, state agencies and nongovernmental organisations, with century-long tradition in brand promotion and fight against piracy and counterfeited goods in Germany.

Dunja PejicHEAD OF THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRY SECTION AT THE MINISTRY OF TRADE AND TOURISM OF REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

FELLOW 2011/2012

Having participated in the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials in 2011/2012, not only have I gained an extensive knowledge and valuable skills, all applicable in my current work, but I also find myself richer for having a chance to meet some amazing people from the region, experts in their own fields, with whom I share the vision of the Western Balkans future.

Apart from the good organisation and appropriate and available support from EFB team at all stages of the Programme, I have to underline the importance and capability of the selection team to choose those participants, across generations, who share the same passion for bringing changes to the region.

I would like to use this opportunity to kindly suggest to

EFB and its respective partners to consider moving things further and developing the project that will give an added value to what has been done already. Regional joint (political) initiative, why not?

Arta UkaSENIOR OFFICER FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND EDUCATION AT THE MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION - KOSOVO

FELLOW 2012/2013

I was part of the 5th generation of the European Fund for the Balkans programme “Young Government Officials from Western Balkans”. Attending this fellowship was both exciting and challenging for me. I say exciting considering the insights I have gained regarding different topics that were tackled during this period, and I say challenging considering the ever greater complexity of problems the Kosovo administration system faces.

Kosovo, my home country, has experienced a bitter past of conflict and economic backwardness. It is a territory with its state administration challenges unresolved as yet. By understanding the rules, institutions and philosophy behind an EU state administration, I came to understand of how important it is to have an efficient and effective administration for the citizens to have a qualitative life.

The experience that I acquired at EFB fellowship was of an utmost value at both personal and professional level. Personal, as it gave me the opportunity to meet wonderful people from other Western Balkan countries and to learn more about the region. I was surprised by the similarities we share, we have same problems, same mentality and we even share the same dreams. We are a region that suffered from wars, a region with a lot of corruption but with a great hope for a European future. We had the unique opportunity to participate at the ceremony of Croatia joining the EU which at the same time gave us hope and reason to go on. Professional, as we had the unique opportunity to gain first hand professional experience in EU countries state administration, to receive training on EU and many other issues.

It is my firm belief that only through programmes as this one, though cooperation and sharing experiences, we will build proper administration systems that will be able to meet citizens’ needs.

Kalterina Shulla URBAN PLANNER AT THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT - ALBANIA

FELLOW 2009/2010 The programme is very well designed and implemented, and it really makes a change in the par-ticipant’s professional and social life. The possibility of working in different working environments, leaving for three months in an EU country, making many friends is a great opportunity. I think that we will feel the benefits of this pro-gramme for a very long time.Being with EFB since the begin-nings of the programme I have the opportunity to see it growing and expanding. The value of the community networks can be better understood only after some years. Apart from the advantages received from the work in host institution as the value of partnership between actors, exchange and networks, this programme was a great opportu-nity for me as a start of working independently, considering even my home institution as a partner. EFB is a partner organisation for all of us that want to expand our activities. I consider it one of the most success-ful programs for the region.

Erlis Themeli PHD CANDIDATE AT THE ERASMUS UNIVERSITY ROTTERDAM - ALBANIA

FELLOW 009/2010 I always receive letters and news from the European Fund for the Balkans with a sincere happiness and curiosity. It happens because of the experience that I had during the time of the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials. In April 2010, I was working at the High Council of Justice in Albania and was getting ready to participate in the Fellowship Programme organized by the EFB. I would divide that experience in 4 parts. The first were the seminars. Most of them were of immediate importance for us as civil servants surrounded with the immediate needs of our respective nations in view of the European Union accession talks. A variety of talks and discussions and analysis still echoes in my mind to remind me of their quality. The second part was the internship itself. I had the luck to be at the Ministry of Justice of the Land of Hamburg in Germany. I was amazed by the working

ethics, the simplicity of dealing with the everyday problems and the wonderful human relations. That was a life lesson to me, a demonstration of efficient working from a justice institution. Back at the High Council of Justice, I tried to apply everything I’ve learned. The General Secretary of the Ministry of Justice of Hamburg and some other high officials visited Albania, which established the bases of an ongoing collaboration between my institution and the German counterpart. The third part was my life after the Fellowship. The lessons learned and the experience in itself, taught me to be more ambitious and to seek other ways to expand my knowledge and the professional capabilities. The fourth part is the human experience. I met many people from Europe, but most importantly from the Balkans. Those were people sharing the same dreams, fears, and problems. This part made me have more friends and convinced me that the future is better if you share it with friends.

Ivana IvkovADVISER AT THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND WATER MANAGEMENT – SERBIA

FELLOW 2009/2010

If I have to stop at this moment and make a review of my previous achievements, I am pretty sure it is the best time. Actually I am attending the Advanced Training Programme for Young Officials from CEI Member Countries on the Management of EC (Co) Funded Projects which is similar to the previous one organized by the EFB.

During the traineeship segment of the Fellowship Programme, I had an excellent professional experience within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Italy which was my hosting institution. Moreover, I had an opportunity to also work within the ISMEA - National Institute of Agricultural Economics, where the Training on Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) had a huge influence on my current work. The project “Establishment of Serbian FADN” started out in late 2011

when I was directly delegated as the National Coordinator for FADN in front of the Ministry as Beneficiary Institution.

To sum up, the Fellowship Programme is a great way to get a first-hand experience of the work dynamics of the host institution and its subsidiaries and to gain an insight into the latest research in the area of your interest, which will for sure influence your future work. I will always recommend it highly to anyone interested in an upgrade of this kind.

Elona VarfiEU POLICY CONSULTANT AT THE ALBANIAN CENTRE FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE - ALBANIA

FELLOW 2012/2013

As a fellow of The Fellowship Programme for Young Govern-ment Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance 2012/13, I would classify this programme as significantly posi-tive and rewarding. In my opinion this fellowship signifies the region wrapped up in one Programme, where like-minded young profes-sionals share experiences, discuss ideas, build perspectives and bond. This programme takes re-gional cooperation to the highest level and I, as part of the remark-able network of the EFB Fellows, will continue to do that.

Being an EFB fellow, I have benefited from increased knowledge on the EU issues and enriched professional network. During the seminars we had the opportunity to discuss different topics concerning our region and

the EU integration, we had the chance to get to know each other better, our particularities and ideas. During the introductory seminars in Berlin and Potsdam, we had the chance to participate in and listen to different lectures with very interesting topics from remarkable speakers.

We had such impressive experiences while visiting the Federal Chancellery in Berlin and the Federal Foreign Office where I was impressed by the accurate knowledge that the Special Envoy for South-Eastern Europe had on the current situation of our region. I vividly recall the Brussels meetings where we had the opportunity to visit the European External Action Service, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the NATO HQ and the King Baudouin Foundation. The meetings were all very beneficiary to creating a more realistic picture of the situation in the region and the path towards the EU.

During the final seminar we were brought together for the last time

in Croatia. It was organized in a historical moment when Croatia was about to enter EU, and the fact that we were all together there to celebrate this moment was meaningful. The seminars were characterized by a lively discussion on Croatia and its position between the EU and the Western Balkans. The special moment I will always remember will be the wrap up session, when the certificates were distributed and we all were happy and feeling melancholic that this experience was actually going to end.

I believe that the selection body has done a very good job on the selection of Fellows. I felt that we had both similarities and differences, which helped this overall amazing experience. I met with like-minded colleagues and shared concrete experiences from our work. Overall I found uniformity in a group of people from different countries, experiences and professions.

Ana Angelovska HEAD OF UNIT AT THE SECRETARIAT FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS-MACEDONIA

FELLOW 2012/2013 First of all I would like to congratulate you the 7th year of existence and to wish you lot of success in your future continuation of activities.

Thanks to the European Fund for the Balkans I had the rare opportunity to get familiarized with the French experience on the process of coordination of EU affairs and to gain significant knowledge regarding the development of the EU in JHA policies, analysis of the EU acts and preparation of national acts.

The Fellowship programme really contributed to my personal and professional upgrade. Having the possibility to meet relevant persons, upgrade our knowledge and exchange information on the EU related topic presents an important acquisition for every person coming from a country as Macedonia that has

the strategic goal of becoming a member of the EU, and especially for a person who works on the process. It also contributed to creating networks among the different representatives from the WB countries and it ensured quality exchange of experiences among us on different relevant topics.

Since I’m a relatively “new” fellow (from the 2013 programme) I believe that I will have the occasion to continue my cooperation with the EFB with regard to other activities in your programme areas. I really would be interested in participating and contributing to your future activities.

Dejan RadicADVISOR TO DIRECTOR GENERAL AT INDIRECT TAXATION AUTHORITY - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

FELLOW 2009/2010

The Programme provides fellows the opportunity to learn how to be effective civil servants while adding a valuable contribution to their home institutions. This is one of the rare chances where you have a possibility to work in a modern state institution. It really did change my perspective on civil service along with real-life problems that civil servants have to face every day. I do not ever recall learning about so many relevant topics in such a short time period. This fellowship was a great motivation for me to continue in the same manner after the three-month training. Working with the European Fund for the Balkans has proved to be a successful approach in coping with future challenges.

Migena KalthiEXPERT AT MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND ENERGY - ALBANIA

FELLOW 2008/2009 Six years have passed, which means I am getting older as I belong to the first generation of the EFB Fellows.

I do remember that experience with nice memories, cheerful times but also challenging ones. We have exchanged our opinions and ideas during the constructive debate around the common political, economic and geophysical countries. That experience significantly influenced and certainly will influence my job in the near future, as I still work in the WTO department. However, I want to point out that if I given another possibility to apply again I will definitely do that. Thank you very much for your effort and for this very good initiative for the regional development.

Bojana BulatovicADVISOR FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT THE DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION, SPORTS AND YOUTH – MONTENEGRO

FELLOW 2012/2013

I have participated in the European Fund for the Balkans Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials in 2013. Through this programme, combining seminars and three-month direct insight in the working practice in the German Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Woman and Youth, I had an opportunity not only to improve my working and social skills, but also to gain particular knowledge on positive practice examples in enabling young people to make the best of their potential and to involve them in important sociopolitical processes, such as structured dialogue in the EU. Furthermore, the fellowship programme predominantly emphasized good governance principles, efficiency and effectiveness, transparency and different aspects of performance

(economic, democratic, policy), often neglected in the public administration sector, and which are key challenges in our region.

It is thanks to the EFB programmes that young leaders from the Balkans coming from both government sector and civil society, learn about possible ways to bridge the gaps – the ones between different sectors , but also the ones that are linked to our recent conflict past.

Not only do the EFB fellows get an opportunity to compare and bring back to their respective countries new practices from developed EU countries, but they become more aware of commonalities within the region and most importantly of the fields in which they can learn from each other. This is, in my opinion, the added value of the EFB programmes.

Bosiljka Vukovic Simonovic

The EFB fellowship opened a unique opportunity of glimpsing into the future, seeing how our jobs would evolve, how our societies would change and how our states would transform in the future in which our countries will have joined the EU. This glimpse, albeit not long enough for a detailed examination of all the challenges that will lie in front of us, offered each one of us a chance to understand the main drivers, topics and debates that are of key relevance globally in our respective fields and in society at large. As timing is crucial with all information, being able to collect so many so early in our countries’ EU integration processes has been invaluable and made us/me, more ready and prepared to be an active participant, and not just a spectator in the dialogue with the EU. And this type of dialogue, I believe, is of key importance for our success in preparing our political and economic systems for the future that awaits us.

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High spirit and involvement of EFB programme managers

ThroughoutthementionedperiodIwasinvolvedasatrainerinopeningandfinalseminars.IhighlyvaluethefactthatEFBwasalwaysstrivingtogetthemostoutofeverysingleprogrammeslot.Iwitnessedanextremelysupportiveattitudeinco-developingprogrammes,schedules,contents.Thiswasaveryhelpfulconditionfortheconstantevaluationandevolutionofcontentandmethodsincludingperspectivesfromtrainers,programmecoordinatorsaswellasparticipantssystematically.Thismakesaneducationalapproachprofessional!

Incredible focus on target group for tailor-made input

Fromtheveryminuteofaselectiondecisionineveryyearitwasclearlyobviousthattheinterplayofeachyear`sgroupofparticipants,theirspecificexpatriationexperiences,afitofsuitabletrainingsessionsandsocializingeventswastailor-madeinatwofoldmanner:Firstly,theguidingprogrammephilosophyinfluencedtheselectionofparticipantsaswelltrainingcontentsinanequallystringentway.Secondly,adifferentiationwasmadeforeverygenerationevenalongtheway,asitwaspossibletogainmoreinsightsonhoweachparticipantofthegroupassuchwouldperform.Onlyfromthis,itwaspossibletoestablishaStuntteambuildingwithamazingimpactandatthesametimeaprofessionalevolutionofaleadershipself-portraitmodule.

Nice balance between content and socializing

AsIperceiveit,aspecialcharacteristicoftheEFBisthebalancingqualitywithregardstothesocialandtheprofessionalpartsofaprogramme.Thisisinmanywaysmadepossiblebytheinnovativeattitudeanddaringtrustofthecoordinatorsfornewapproachesintraining.ItisalsoatruefactthatEFBhasshownaspectacularinterestandperfectinstinctinfindingsupportinglocations.

Bestwishesforthefutureendeavours!

Bernd-FriedrichVoigt

To: EFB TEAM From: BERND-FRIEDRICH VOIGTTrainerintheFellowshipProgramme

Subject: EFB CONTRIBUTION LETTER FOR THE 7 YEAR REPORT

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Envisioning Europe Think & Link Regional Policy Programme

Inordertoencouragevariousdebatesonthechallenges,costsandopportunitiesofbuildingagenuineEUmember-state,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkanslauncheditsregion-widepolicyprogramme:“THINKANDLINK”-RegionalPolicyProgrammein2008.

Theprogrammeseekstofosterinclusiveandevidence-basedpolicymakingintheWesternBalkansbyinitiatingandsupportingindividualandcollaborativeresearchprojectsonthechosenannualprogrammetopic,embeddedintheregionalseminarprogrammecycle.

Emergingthinktanks,policyorientedNGO’s,independentpolicyinstitutesandpolicyrelevantresearchgroupsareencouragedtoparticipateintheprogrammecycle(capacitybuildingandnetworkingseminars,mentoring)andconductingaresearchprojectwhichwillanalyzethein-countrypoliciesagainsttheneedsandrequirementsderivedfromtheEUacquis,necessarytoensureeffectiveandcompletecompliance.

TwelveorganisationsfromtheWesternBalkansarefinanciallysupportedtoperformresearchontheproposedtopic,differentforeachprogrammeyear.

Basedontheirresearchresults,theydevelopconcretepolicyproposals,policyadviceorpolicyalternatives.Tosupportpolicytransformation,policyproposalsshouldprovideafeasiblestrategyforchange.Aneffectiveandefficientdisseminationstrategyisacrucialelementoftheprogramme.Outreachactivitiesareexpectedtobeanintegralpartoftheresearchproposals.Ontheotherhand,toobtainfeedbackanddisseminationresults,theEFBwillinvolvepolicy-makers,non-statestakeholdersanddevelopcomplementarypromotionactivities.

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Linkemergingpolicyinstitutes

fromtheBalkanswith theEU–basedthinktanks

Fillthecrucialgapbetweenthe

politicalandtechnical debate

Fosterinclusiveandevidence–basedpolicymakinginthe

region

Publicdebatetriggeredby

innovative,effective andefficientoutreach

activities

Buildupresearch

capacitiesandsupport constantlearning

Policypapers

basedonsound research

Newcooperationand

communicationchannels withintheregional think-tankscene

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5 GENERATIONS

565 APPLICATIONS

115 FELLOWS

56 SUPPORTED ORGANISATIONS AND POLICY PROJECTS

150 SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS

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Think & Link Network

Network countries

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Igor BandovicSENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

TheEFBThinkandLinkProgrammehasprovidedorganisationswithameansandasetofmethodstocarryoutpolicyresearchandadvocacyonEUrelatedreformprocessesthroughouttheWesternBalkans.Duringthepastsixyearsmorethan50organisationshavebeenengagedwiththeprogrammetoaddressawide-rangeofchallengesfacingtheircountriesinamannerthathasencouragedmorethoughtfulandevidencebaseddiscussionsaroundthesereformundertakings.Managingtheprogrammeofthisuniquekindandtheinterventionwaschallengingtaskandenrichingexperienceforme.

Meetingpeoplefrompolicyorientedorganisationsfromtheregion,discussingtheirstrengthsandweaknesses,discussingtheways

inwhichtheycangrow,personallyandintermsoforganisations,andbydevelopingtheiranalyticalandadvocacyskills,wemanagedtocreateactivesceneoforganisationsworkingintheareaofEUintegrationandEUpoliciesfield.Theseorganisations,now,Iamsureofthat,representtheactorscapableofensuringthattheprocessofbuildingevidence-basedpolicymakingsystemsintheregionprogresses.Iamveryproudofthefactthatregionalcooperationandjointactivitiesofresearchandadvocacybetweenthinktanksandpolicyresearchcentersintheregionhavebecomelegacyofthisprogramme.Itisthemomentaftersixyearsofintensiveworkwiththinktankstopursuitnewgoalofimpactguided,influentialprojectswithclearpolicyobjectivesandwearelooking

forwardtocontinueworkingwiththem.

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Kori UdovickiDIRECTOR, CENTER FOR ADVANCED ECONOMIC STUDIES (CEVES), SERBIA THINK AND LINK PROGRAMME GRANTEE

ithelpedusbuildanunderstandingofhowEuropeviews,developsandregulatesentrepreneurship,andlayacriticalbuildingblockinthefoundationsonwhichCEVEScapacitytohelpSerbia’ssocietychangestandstoday.WhenIspeakofCEVES,Ispeakofoneofthemanyteamsofyoung,enthusiasticpeople,whoEFBhelpedlearnaboutresearchmethodsandmeetotheryoungpeoplefromtheregionlikethemselves.Thesearetheregion’sfutureleaders.

EnvisioningEuropeisonlyoneofthecomponentsoftheEFB’sprograms,theothersdealingwithpolicymaking,policymakersandyouthmoredirectly,andallofthemleavingapalpabletrailofnewpracticalknowledge,criticalforthetransformationthattheWesternBalkancountriesneed.Ihopeand

wishtheEFBtonotonlycontinuedoingthisimportantworkintheyearstocomebutthatitexpandsit,becauseweneedit.

MywarmestcongratulationstotheEFBonitsseventhbirthday!

“Europe“forthepeopleoftheWesternBalkansisachimera,itisawonderfullandwheretheorderlinessandprosperitythatwesomuchcraveawaitsus.Butweknowlittleofitsstructureandhardlyanythingaboutitsdetail.Itishugelyimportantthatthechimerabecomesamuchmoreconcretevision,sothatwebecomeabletocreateourEuropeancountriestoourownandEurope’simage-bothtruetoeachoneofus,andtrulyEuropean.TheEFB’sworkispreciouslyhelpingusachievejustthat.CenterforAdvancedEconomicStudies(CEVES)hashadtheprivilegeofdirectlyexperiencingEFB’sEnvisioningEuropebybenefitingfromitsThinkandLinkProgramme,aimingtobuildknowledgeonmember-statebuildingandpolicyresearchcapacityatthesametime.ThisisexactlywhatThinkandLinkaccomplishedforus:

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Milena LazarevicSENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER, EUROPEAN POLICY CENTRE – CEP, SERBIA

THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT

GENERATION 2012/2013

AsapartoftheThink&LinkProgrammeoftheEFB,theEuropeanPolicyCentre(CEP)teamgreatlybenefitedfromcapacitybuildingaswellasnetworkingactivities.Ontheoneside,theteammembersimprovedtheirresearchskillsandgraspedmethodsforadvancingthecommunicabilityofourpolicyproducts,whilealsoontheotherside,wecreatednewandextremelyusefulcontactswithotherthinktanksinSerbiaandintheregion.TheopportunitywehadtogettoknowandconnectwiththinktanksfromotherWesternBalkancountriesisanequallygreatvalueoftheProgrammeastheresearchcapacitybuildingitself.Moreover,thankstotheProgramme,CEPwidenedanddeepeneditsreachtothedonorcommunity,andinitiatedcooperationwithpartnersinthecountryandtheregion,withwhomitremainsincontactandiscurrentlydevelopingandimplementingjointprojects.ImustsaythattheEFBteamwasverysupportiveandresponsivethroughouttheProgramme.

Megi LlubaniRESEARCHER AT ALBANIAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, ALBANIA



ThefirsttimeIheardabouttheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,waswhenIappliedfortheEUandSoutheastEuropeLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme(LDP),oneofmyveryfirstregionalexperiencesofthiskind.Thesecondtime,IappliedfortheThinkandLinkRegionalPolicyProgramme,onbehalfofthethinktankwhereIwork,theAlbanianInstituteforInternationalStudies.Andthelatest,buthopefullynotthelast,cooperationIhadwiththeEFBwastheThinkandActasaEuropeanworkshopinBudapest.FromtheThinkandLinkprojectIgreatlyvaluedthetrainingelement,whichisalmostalwaysmissingwithotherdonorsandprojects,andwhichhelpedmeimprovemypolicyresearchskills.FromwhatIhavenoticed,theEFBhasavastnetworkofcollaboratorsandpartnersandthemembersoftheEFBcommunityhavehadaccesstothisnetwork,whichformanyofushasbeencrucialinourprofessionaldevelopment.IalsoappreciatetheabilityoftheEFBtoinspire.ThroughallitsprogramsandactivitiestheEFBnotonlyofferstraining,professionalandacademicopportunitiesfordevelopment,butalsoinspirespeopletobethebestpersontheycan.WhatIcansayinconclusionisthattheEFBis,inmyopinion,oneoftheleadingorganisationsintheBalkansandtheireffortshavethusfarbeensuccessful,offeringgreatopportunities,especiallyforpassionateandcommittedyoungpeopleandyoungprofessionals.

Todor MilchevskiRESEARCHER AT FOUNDATION NEW BUSINESS EDUCATION, MACEDONIA



Ihadtheprivilegeofconductingaresearchentitled“ImprovingRegionalDevelopmentPolicies–SharingtheGermanandSlovenianExperience”togetherwitharesearchteamcomposedofseniorandjuniorresearcherspartoftheNewBusinessEducation(NBE)Foundation,undertheCallforProposals“ThinkandLink”–RegionalPolicyProgramme2012/2013.ThefundingprovidedbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,includedcontributionsfortheresearchteammembers,conductingtwostudytripstoGermanyandSloveniaforfourandthreeresearchteammembersrespectively,andpublishingapolicypapertogetherwithapolicybriefinbothEnglishandMacedonian.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanswasanexcellentopportunityforourgrowingorganisationtoimproveitsprojectportfolio,learnimportantinformationforconstructingpolicypapersandpolicyadvocacy,aswellasspreaditsnetworkwithothergranteesfromtheBalkanregion.Anexceptionalopportunityfornetworkingwasprovidedatthetwotrainingseminars,organizedthroughouttheprojectperiod.TheEFBinthepastsevenyearshasdoneanamazingjobinprovidingopportunitiesfornewlyestablishedCSO’sandthink-tankstoconductresearchinavastvarietyofareasandestablishconnectionsforpotentialfuturecollaboration.Itsdiligence,vision,capability,andsupportisanexampleforotherstofollow.Speakinginthenameofourorganisation,itwasapleasuretobeapartoftheEFBnetwork.

051

Igor NovakovicRESEARCH FELLOW AT INTERNATIONAL AND SECURITY AFFAIRS CENTRE - ISAC FUND, SERBIA



InternationalandSecurityAffairsCentre–ISACFondisproudthatitsresearchteamtookpartintheThinkandLinkprogrammeoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans.Forourresearchteam,itwasbeneficialtobeapartofthetrainingphaseforpolicyorientedresearchandadvocacy.But,moreimportantly,ourparticipationinT&Lprovideduswithachancetobuildasteppingstoneforouractivitiesintheperiodthatistocome,namelymonitoringandprovidingsupporttoSerbia’snegotiationsinChapters30and31.ISAC’sT&Lprojectanditsresults–apolicystudy,onepolicybriefandanonlinepublicsurveyonB92webportalpreparedgroundsforseveralspin-offprojectsthatwearecurrentlypreparing.Duringourparticipationintheprogramme,wewerealsoimpressedbytheselectionofotherprojects,whichcoveredalmostallimportantissuesthatfallintothescopeoftheEUaccessionprocess.Andpreciselythatisthevalueofthisprogram:buildingcapacitiesofvariousresearchorientedthink-tanksandCSOsformonitoringandsupporttoreformprocessofalloftheWesternBalkansinamomentwhenpoliticalelitesarelackinganactualwishtoundertakeneededcomprehensivereformsinalmostalloftheEUchapters.ExamplesoftheconsequencescouldbefoundinourneighboringEUmemberstates.Forthesereasons,wewouldliketoonceagainemphasizehowimportantofanexperienceitwasforourteamtobeapartoftheprogramme.EFBwasofgreathelpduringtheentireprocessandwearemorethangratefulforthesupportthatwasprovidedtous.WehopethattheEFBwillcontinuetograntopportunitiesofthiskindtootherthink-tanksandthattheywillasusefultothemastheyweretous.

Ilina MangovaPROJECT MANAGER AND RESEARCHER AT THE INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY SOCIETAS CIVILIS (IDSCS), MACEDONIA



IcollaboratedwiththeEuropeanFundfortheBalkansasthemainresearcherfromtheInstituteforDemocracy“SocietasCIvilis”–Skopje(IDSCS)ontheproject“IstheAnti-CorruptionModelDeliveringResultsinMacedonia?”implementedin2012.TheresearchproducedacomprehensivepolicystudyoftheMacedoniananti-corruptionmodel,itsweaknessesandneedsforimprovement,anditistheonlystudyofitskindthathasbeenpublishedinMacedonia.ThestudywasdistributedtopolicymakersofallpoliticalpartiesanditisplacedintheKnowledgeDatabaseoftheRegionalAnti-CorruptionInitiative(RAI).Thiswasalsothefirstprojectandresearchintheareaofanti-corruptionIDSCShasimplementedandsignificantlyassistedtheorganisationtopositionitselfasoneofthemostrelevantorganisationsthatworkintheareaofanti-corruption.ThefundingandthesupportoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshadavitalimportanceinassistingIDSCSachievethisposition.Inadditiontothis,throughtheworkonthisresearchIhavepersonallystrengthenedmyexpertiseinanti-corruptionandpolicymaking.ThroughoutthecooperationwiththeEFB,thestaffoftheEFBwasextremelyprofessional,helpfulandapleasuretoworkwith.TheparticipationintheThinkandLinkProgrammealsoassistedustonetworkwithotherCSOsintheregionandinMacedoniaandtheimpactoftheEFBhasbeenvisibleintheworkoftheseCSOsinMacedonia.

053

Marko SosicPUBLIC POLICIES RESEARCHERS AT INSTITUTE ALTERNATIVE, MONTENEGRO



ThinkandLinkProgrammeoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanswasveryimportantforus,partlybecausewehadtheopportunitytotakepartinitearlyoninthedevelopmentofourorganisation.Itenabledustodoresearchontwotopics,whichwethoughtwereextremelyimportant,butwhosesignificancewasnotsocleartootherdonorsatthetime.TheEFB’sfocusedsupporttotheworkofthinktanksletusdealwiththesetopicsinawaythatwethoughtwasthemostappropriate,itprovidedassistanceandguidanceintheresearchandadvocacyprocessaswellasenabledustomeetourpeersthroughouttheregion,createlinksandnetworks.

OurfirstT&LprojectwasconcernedwiththestrengtheningoftheimpactoftheStateAuditInstitutioninMontenegroandthesecondwasdealingwithwaysofenhancingtheroleoftheMontenegrinParliamentintheprocessofEUIntegration.Policypapersthatwereproducedintheframeworkwithinthesetwoprojectsmadeanimpact:usingthemastoolswemanagedtoachievechangesinMontenegro.Moreover,thesepapersarestillaresourceweusetoadvocatechangesandbuildupontheirfindingswithnewresearchinitiatives.Networkingwithotherthinktanksintheregionwasalsoveryimportantforus,bothbecausewegottoknowourpeersandlearnfromtheirwork,andbecausewemadepartnershipsthatinsomeoccasionsevolvedintoformationofformalnetworksorjointprojectapplications.

Gledis GjipaliEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EUROPEAN MOVEMENT IN ALBANIA



EuropeanMovementinAlbania(EMA)isathinktankorganisationdevotedtothedemocratizationandEUintegrationprocessofthecountry.Focusingonresearchandadvocacyinourareasofinterestitisalwaysdifficulttofindunderstandingforthedifficultiesoftheresearchcommunityandfinancialsupporttoovercometheproblems.TheEFBthroughtheThinkandLinkProgrammesinceitsestablishmenthasbeenaddressingbothissuesintherightway.Listeningtotheproblemsrelatedtopolicyresearch,shapingtheappropriatetoolsforinterventionandprovidingtheneededsupport.Thestrongcapacity-buildingcomponentattachedtothefinancialsupportproducedsustainableresultsfororganisationslikeEMAthatgobeyondaprojectimplementationcycle.TheEFBisalsooneofveryfewpartnerswithwhichEMAhascollaboratedthatprovidedsupportforthecommunicationanddisseminationstrategyofpolicyresearch.Thissupportwasensuredintwomaindirections:firstlybydirectmentoringandcapacitybuildingandsecondlythroughfinancialsupportfordisseminationactivities.EMA’steam,composedfrombothseniorandjuniorresearchers,benefitedalotfromtheseminarsorganizedbytheEFB,whereaparticularattentionwaspaidtotheeffectivemannersofcommunicationanddisseminationofapolicyproducttotargetgroupsandpublicopinioningeneral.TheinformationandinstrumentsprovidedwereusefulforEMA’sstaffnotonlyintheframeworkofprojectsimplementedatthattimebutalsotoimproveEMA’sprofileinthiscontext. EFBhasbecomeovertheyearsanindispensableactorfortheresearchcommunityintheWesternBalkans.Wehopethatthis7thanniversarywillbeoneofmanymilestonesonitsjourney.

055

Envisioning Europe Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans

In2010,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,incooperationwiththeThinkTankFundoftheOpenSocietyInstitute(Budapest),launchedtheFellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchersfromtheWesternBalkanswiththeaimtocontributetofurthercapacitybuildingandprofessionaldevelopmentofthepolicyresearchersfromtheregionoftheWesternBalkans.Thisinitiativewascreatedinordertoprovide

opportunitiesforexchangeofknow-howandbuildingnetworksacrossEuropethroughfellow’spaidvisitsandworkintheotherpolicyresearchinstitutionsandthink–tanksintheEUandothercountriesoftheWesternBalkans.

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Toenrichportfolios andnetworksof

thinktanksbybringing inresearcherswithdifferent

backgrounds

Toequipjuniorresearcherswithtools

necessaryforeffectiveinfluencingonthepolicy-makingprocessesanddevelopinginnovativeandqualitypolicyproducts

Tocontributetoinstitutionaldevelopment

ofthinktanksbybroadeningtheirprofessionalnetworks,improvingthejunioremployeeskillsandincreasing

theirmotivationforbetterparticipationandgenerationof

newideas

057

WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

4 GENERATIONS

100 APPLICATIONS

20 RESEARCH FELLOWS


SERBIA

MACEDONIA

MONTENEGRO

KOSOVO


CROATIA

HOST COUNTRIESBELGIUM

CZECH REPUBLIC

GERMANY

GREECE

ITALY

SLOVENIA

THE NETHERLANDS

2008–2014058

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Geographical scope of Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans

Home countries Host countries

The six-month Fellowship includes a three-month residential stay in one of the think tanks in European Union member states or policy centers in the Western Balkans.

Residential stay at Host Institution

Continuation of work at Home Institution

OpportunityfortheFellowtoengageintheongoingpolicyresearchprojectsanddevelopconcretepolicyproducts,guidedbyseniorpolicyanalystsfromthehostinstitution.

Afterreturningtohomeinstitution,theFellowcontinuestoworkonthefinalreportfromboththementorandtheFellow,whichwillbepresentedtotheEFBattheendoftheFellowship.

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WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

Goran BuldioskiDIRECTOR, THINK TANK FUND ACTING CO-DIRECTOR, HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM, OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS

Introduction

IntheWesternhemisphere,popularpsychologyhasthe7thyearasmostcriticalinanypersonalrelationship.DoesthatapplytoambitiousFoundations?InthepastsixyearstheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshasproventhatfourparentinstitutionswhencoupledwithtalentedstaff,couldgainrelevancequicklyandpressbeyondmanycriticaljunctures.Iamsuresoonwewillcelebrate10,15andmoreyearsofyourFund.

TheThinkTankFundoftheOpenSocietyFoundationsandtheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshavesuccessfullyimplementedajointfellowshipprogrammethatenabledadozenofyoungpolicyresearcherstospenduptothreemonthsinpeerinstitutions.Notonlydidtheyimprovetheiranalyticalskills,thesepeopleforgedrelationsthatspearheaded

jointcollaborationsbeyondtheinitialgrantperiod.Theplacementinanotherthinktankmademanyoftheseyounggiftedindividualsstayinthepolicysector.Together,wehavealsospearheadedandsuccessfullyorganizedtheBalkanPeerExchangeforThinkTanksandAdvocacyOrganisations.Thiswasperhapsthemostambitiousgatheringof100participantsfromthesetwotypesoforganisationsintheregion.Iwishwehadtheenergyandtimetofollowupthiseventgiventhedemanditcreatedforcontinuousaction.Perhapswewilldoitbeforeyour10thanniversary.

Iwishyougreatcelebrations,butalsoboostofnewenergyandinspirationandlookforwardtoourcontinuedcooperation.

Congratulations!

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

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WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

Baisa SefaEXTERNAL LECTURER AT THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA, ALBANIA

RESEARCH FELLOW 2010

Inmypersonalandprofessionalopinion,thecollaborationwiththeEFBisanunforgettableexperience.Itwasuniqueandchallengingatthesametime.UniquebecausetheparticipationinoneofEFBprogrammes“FellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchersfromtheWesternBalkansRegion”,offeredmetheopportunitytodeepenmyprofessionalinterestontheEUpre-accessionassistancebydevelopingboththeoreticalandpracticalapproachattheCenterforEUEnlargementStudies,Hungary.Thisexperienceenabledmetoworkindependentlyinaforeignprofessionalenvironment,wherecopingwiththeresponsibilitiesanddeadlineswasachallenge.Inthisregard,IamgratefultotheEFBfortheopportunityitprovidestoyoungprofessionalslikemetodeveloptheircareerbyboostingtheirmanagerialandcommunicationsskillsatthesametime.

Thefellowshipprogrammewasagreatchancetoestablishafruitfulcooperationwiththehostorganisation,whichlateronwastransformedintoaconcretecollaboration.Currently,thecooperationsetupduringthefellowshipperiodisembodiedintoaninstitutionalcollaboration,intheframeworkofajointprojectonsharingexperiencestowardsEuropeanintegration.Thisexperiencewasuniquealsointermsofopportunitiesprovidedtoexploreanewcultureandtofurtherdevelopmyspiritofadventure.ItresultedinbeingsuchthankstothevisionandsupportprovidedbytheEFBstaffmembers,whowerealwaysreadytoassistmeinthisprocess.Iamgratefulforthewillingnessandpassionshown,aswellastheexcellentcommunicationskillsthatturnedthisexperienceintoanunforgettableevent.IfIhavethechance,withoutanydoubtIwillgoforitagain!

Zoran NechevPROGRAMME MANAGER, ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES – ZENITH, MACEDONIA


TheFellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchersfromtheWesternBalkansRegionhasbeenagreatexperienceformeintermsofgainingadditionalknowledge,expandingmyprofessionalnetworkandexchangingopinionsandideaswithexpertsinthefieldoftheEUenlargement.TheextensivelistoftheEUthinktanksandotherinformationprovidedbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansweresufficientformetochooseandcontactanorganisationwithinterestinmyresearch.

TheFellowshipProgrammecontributedtomyprofessionaldevelopmentasapolicyresearcher,sinceIwasgivenanopportunitytoexperiencethemethodsandapproachesusedinconductingresearchinaninternationallyrenownedorganisationsuchastheNetherlandsInstituteforInternationalRelations“Clingendael”.

Roundtabledebatewasorganizedinordertodiscusstherecommendationsofthepolicybrief“BolsteringRuleofLawintheEUEnlargementProcesstowardstheWesternBalkans”whichwasthefinaloutputofthefellowship.RepresentativesfromtheDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs,theMontenegrinandMacedonianambassadortotheNetherlandsaswellastheformerEUambassadortoMacedoniaattendedtheevent,amongothers.

Mentor VrajolliSECRETARY/SENIOR RESEARCHER, KOSOVAR CENTRE FOR SECURITY STUDIES (KCSS), KOSOVO


ItismypleasuretoexpressmypersonalviewsandalsotheKCSS'viewswithregardstotheEuropeanFundforBalkans(EFB).MyfirstexperiencewiththeEFBwasthroughtheFellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchersfromWesternBalkansRegion(2011).ThisprogrammeprovidedmewithahighlyvaluableopportunitytobehostedbyoneoftheleadingEuropeaninstitutionsandgainavaluableexperiencefromthem.DuringthisfellowshipIchosetheInternationalCenterforDemocraticTransition(ICDT)inBudapestashostorganisation.Asawell-knownglobalinstitute,duringmyperiodatICDTIwasabletolearnalotabouttheirapproachtowardsdifferentregionalandglobalsecuritycrisesandprocesseswhichtheywereinvolvedin.IwasparticularlyengagedintheiractivitiesrelatedtoISAFAfghanistanandVisegradGroup(V4).Myworkonthisprojectallowedmetoexpandmycomparativeabilities.IusedtheperspectivesgainedfromboththeseprojectsinthePolicyPapertitled“Kosovo’sChallengestoEnterNATOIntegrationProcesses”whichIdraftedwhileIwashostedinBudapest.Inadditiontothat,backhomeIshareddifferentgoodideasandpracticesusedbyICDTwithmyColleaguesatKCSSinordertoimprovetheperformanceofmyorganisation.Thereforehavinginmindthispositiveexperience,IconsidertheFellowshipProgrammeandthesupportprovidedbytheEFBpivotalformycareerdevelopment.Indeed,unlikeotherGrantdonorswhotendtooverburdentheprocessofgrantimplementationwithdifferentunnecessaryandcomplicatedprocedures,theEFB’smainconcernwasthequalitypart,respectivethesuccessfulcompletionofthefellowshipwithanaimtodevelopmyprofessionalandpersonalcapacitiesthroughlearningfromdirectexperiencesinoneofthemostprominentthinktankinstitutionsoperatingintheEU.IamverymuchlookingforwardtocontinuingmycooperationwiththeEFB.

Emina CosicPOLICY RESEARCHER, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA


IhadtheprivilegetoparticipateintheEFBProgrammeAreaEnvisioningEurope-ThinkandLinkandFellowshipProgrammeforPolicyResearchers.Bothprogramshavebeenbeneficialintermsoflearningnewtechniquesrelevanttopolicyresearch,especiallyexperiencingtheworkdynamicsinanEUbasedthinktank.WorkinginBrusselshasinfluencedmythinkingandunderstandingpolicymakingprocesses,theroleaThinkTankhas,aswellashelpingmeplacethisroleinthecontextofmyownworkinBosniaandHerzegovina.Beyondthedirectbenefitstomyself,Iwouldtakethisopportunitytounderlinethecomponentsthat,inmymodestopinion,maketheEFBactivitiesmostsuccessfulandbeneficialtoboththeregionandtheEU.MostimportantlytheEFBmanagestofacilitatecontinuousnetworking,knowledgeexchange,andbuildingoftrustingprofessionalrelationshipsamongstbothWBandEUbasedthinktanksandindividuals.ThatisaccomplishedthroughthedesignoftheprogramsforwhichtheEFBprovidesgrants,makingtheformergranteesandexpertspartoftheirregionaleventsandconferences,researchandreports,promotingtheoutputsoftheiraffiliateseitheroninstitutionalorindividuallevel,supportingmobilityofindividualsandorganisationsandcontinuousfollow-upandcommunicationwiththealumni.Asadonor,theEFBhasdemonstratedthenecessarypatience,understanding,support,andflexibilitytotheorganisations/individualstillinthedevelopmentprocess.TheflexibilityandresponsivenesscontributestooverallgoalsoftheEFB,andcircumventsthelossofqualitylinkedtostrictnessofprocedureandadministrationfocusedexpectations.

063

Experiencing Europe Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development ProgrammeTheLeadershipDevelopmentProgrammewaslaunchedin2006/2007bytheCollegeofEuropeandtheTRANSFUSEAssociation.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansbeganfinancingtheprogrammein2008andsince2009ithasbeenorganizingitjointlywiththeCollegeofEuropeandtheTRANSFUSEAssociation.

WiththeaimofpromotingEuropeanvaluesforthefuturegenerations,theFundhassupportedthisprogramme,whichwasenvisionedasacatalystfortheemergingchange-makersandleadersintheBalkansocietiesand

theEU.ByencouragingthespiritofcooperationandidentifyingthenewconnectingtissuesfortheyounggenerationsoftheregionandtheEU,theprogrammemanagedtoproduceawidenetworkofyoungambassadors.

30graduatestudentsfromAlbania,BosniaHerzegovina,Bulgaria,Croatia,Macedonia,Greece,Kosovo,Moldova,Montenegro,Romania,SerbiaandTurkeyareselectedeachyeartotakepartintheeight-monthlong“SoutheastEuropeandtheEU–LeadershipDevelopmentProgramme”.Alimitednumberof

participantsareselectedfromtheotherEuropeancountries.TheLDPisledbyanAcademicDean,whoguidestheparticipantsthroughthedifferentelementsoftheprogramme–SummerAcademy,GroupActivitiesandSpringSeminar.

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Developleadershipskills

Createlinkswith

thelike-mindedpeersfromtheWesternBalkansandEurope

Becomeyoung ambassadorsof theircountries

Jointhe

EFBCommunity

Objective

Contributetothedevelopmentofopen-mindedandprogressiveleaderswhohavetheambitiontoplayanactiveroleinthefutureoftheircountriesbyofferingatailor-madeprogrammeinleadershiptraining.

AcquireknowledgeabouttheEU, EU-WesternBalkansrelations

andinternational relations

065

WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

7 GENERATIONS

2131 APPLICATIONS

203 YOUNG LEADERS


AUSTRIA


BULGARIA

CROATIA

CYPRUS

DENMARK

GERMANY

GREECE

HUNGARY

ITALY

KOSOVO

SUMMER ACADEMY AND SPRING SEMINARGERMANY

AUSTRIA

BELGIUM

SLOVAKIA

2008–2014 MACEDONIA

MONTENEGRO

MOLDOVA

NETHERLANDS

POLAND

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

SERBIA

SLOVENIA

SWEDEN

TURKEY

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

066

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Geographical scope of Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme

Home countries Summer Academy and Spring Seminar

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WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

MyexperiencewiththeEFBwasmainly,asyouknow,withtheLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme-SEEandtheEU.IwasAcademicDeanoftheProgrammeforfiveyears.Duringthistime,IwashighlyimpressedwiththeprofessionalismanddedicationoftheEFBstaffwithwhomIworked.Theywereexactingbothonthemselves,andontheparticipantsoftheprogrammewhowereheldtothehigheststandardsbothacademicallyandpersonally.Theprogrammewasminutelyorganizeddowntothelastdetail,anddeliveredwithefficiency,patienceandcheerfulness,whichweregreatlyappreciatedbothbymeandtheparticipants,astheirfeedbackunfailinglyshowed.ThecollaborationwiththeCollegeofEuropewasparticularlygood,andIamsureitwashelpfultotheEFBattheoutsetastheneworganisationwasfindingitsfeet.ThecollaborationflourishedduetothesharedinterestofbothpartnersintheLDPproject,andIhopeitcontinuestodayandinfuture.

IparticularlyappreciatedthecareandrigouroftheprocessofselectingLDPparticipants,andthescrupulousattentiontogatheringandanalyzingparticipants’feedbackateachstageoftheprogrammeinordertoconstantlyimproveit.LDPhadclearlybecamerecognizedas“stateoftheart”intheregion,andwasdrawinghugenumbersofapplicantsforits30places.Moreandmoreyoungpeoplefromtheregionweretravellingandstudyingabroad,andhadestablishedfriendshipsacrosstheregion.IthinktheEFBstaffsetanexcellentexampleofwhattheyweretryingtoachievewiththeLDPparticipants-responsible,self-motivatedmembersofcivilsocietywithhighlydevelopedskillsofbuildingandsustainingcollaborativenetworksacrosstheWesternBalkansandtheEU.IamveryhappytowriteafewwordsaboutmyexperiencewiththeEFB.Firstofall,congratulationsonreachingyour7thanniversaryandIwishyoumanymoreyearsofsuccess!

To: EFB TEAM From: JUDY BATTAcademicDeanoftheLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme

Subject: HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY AND I WISH YOU MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESS!

EvenifIwasnotpresentwhentheLeadershipDevelopmentProgrammewasborn,IcansaythatIhaveseenitgrowingandbecomingan“adult”intermsofsuccessandmaturity.Concerningthelatter,wecouldrealizeatanearlystagehowthingsareneverperfectandthatwecanimproveineachminordetail.TheseseveneditionsoftheLDPprogrammehavebeenaconstantovercomingandexerciseofpullingboundariesfortheentireteam.Howevertheyhaveaswellgivenustheopportunityofgrowingprofessionallyandtransferringthisknowledgetotheprogrammeyearafteryear.

Asforthesuccessoftheprogramme,Iamextremelygladtohavebeenapartofaninitiativewhichbroughttogetherverytalented,professionalanduniquepeoplefromtheregionoftheWesternBalkansandbeyond.Wemustbegratefultoallofthem(morethan200)becausetheysharedwithustheirhopes,dreamsandexpectations,sowecouldgivethemsomethinginreturnandthatsomethingwas-thebestprogrammewecouldorganiseeveryyear.

FinallyIonlyhavewordsofadmirationandgratitudetotheentireEFBteam.Theyarenotonlyhighleveldedicatedprofessionals,butincrediblehumanbeingswhoitisapleasuretoworkwith.WeworkedtogetherhardforthisprogrammeandIbelievethatithaspaidoff.FromthelonglastingmeetingsoftheselectionprocessorthesolongnightsoftheteamfinalizingeverysingledetailtothechallengesofthedebatesanddiscussionsorthevisitstotheEUInstitutions,theteamhadtofacealargenumberofdifficultiesandovercometoughsituations.Nevertheless,allthesedrawbacksmadeusjustrealizehowwellwecouldworktogetherandsupporteachotherasateamevenifwebelongtodifferentinstitutionshavingauniqueandcommongoal.

To: EFB TEAM From: JESÚS BALLESTEROS DeputyDirector,DevelopmentOffice CollegeofEurope-PartnerorganisationofLDPProgramme

Subject: CONTRIBUTION LETTER FROM COLLEGE OF EUROPE

Kladiolla Djini LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ELBASAN, FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, ALBANIA

LDP PARTICIPANT 2011/2012 LDP is not only bringing together 30 young people from the Balkan region and beyond, it is a life experience. It motivates you to be a better person, to have another impact in society issues, to think in a different manner. Personally, I gained a lot from this programme, by sharing ideas, and by discovering different perspectives.

This programme gives the opportunity to young people to be in different places in an eight-month programme. Listening to the speakers, participating in debates, confronting different ideas is very interesting and it stimulates creativity, cooperation and dialogue between youth. The topics discussed during the summer academy and spring seminar are relevant for the implementation of the group projects. The political, economical and security topics discussed during the programme are of a

big importance not only for this programme, but also for all our life. I really got motivated and inspired by the guests invited. I used their example while giving classes of Microeconomics and Introduction to Economics at the Faculty of Economics in my city. The organizers of the programme always demonstrated great ability to manage every situation. They were very helpful, leaving the right space to our decisions and being a precious guide in the phase of group project creation. I consider them my friends and really want to continue collaborating with them in future activities. After the end of the programme you have the possibility to be a part of the EFB community, a network for young people and future leaders in the Balkan region. I have received many notifications for other activities in the region, like seminars or other conferences, and it is a great possibility to be still engaged in the regions’ issues. When I came back home I had other energies, other intentions for me and for young people, especially students in Albania. Participating in a programme like

that makes you feel important, your opinion counts, and you feel you can make the difference. You feel the incentive to do other things, to see things from another perspective. You feel very gifted that you have been selected, and that other people have expectations from you.

Theodora Matziropoulou PROJECT COORDINATOR IN CENTER FOR CULTURAL DECONTAMINATION, GREECE

LDP PARTICIPANT 2011/2012 Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Pro-gramme (LDP), under Experiencing Europe EFB’s programme area, was for most of the participants the first high-level academic programme after our undergradu-ate studies. LDP aimed to develop our leadership skills, introduce us to the EU and IR knowledge, highlight the Western Balkans’ relations with the EU and familiar-ize us with all these issues.

And such a programme couldn’t be a better beginning. The excel-lent structure of the LDP gave us the possibility to gain knowledge, work together, face difficulties and deal with frictions, but in the end presents the high quality results of our projects, which took place all over the Balkan area, also bringing the local communities closer to those issues. The eight-month duration of the programme was

only an advantage giving the time needed for to happen.

In the end an objective of high importance was accomplished: a network of young leaders created throughout the years and genera-tions of LDP, a network with strong connecting bonds that consists of the young ambassadors of the region. After LDP most of us opened up our wings living not just all over Western Balkans but also all over Europe, continuing with our studies and taking part in other important programmes. In my case, LDP opened the door of FutureLab Europe. And guess what happened? There I found other LDP alumni members, with whom we continue to cooperate as many of us do in various different levels of partnerships.

The intellectual and social capital the EFB has gathered all the 7 years of its existence is one of the greatest achievements of its programmes. And this is the reason the EFB Community is a rich and vivid com-munity of individuals and needs to be strengthened, because young people are catalysts of change.

Diana Dzaka SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, MITA GROUP AGENCY, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013 My experience within Leadership Development Programme has been an excellent journey. I had an op-portunity to learn many useful and interesting things through sum-mer school lectures. Programme and lecturers were an outstanding choice.

Group projects were interesting and they helped us learn how to communicate and coordinate groups of people from different countries, cultural backgrounds and different locations.

Finally, Spring Seminar was the most interesting for me, since we had the opportunity to talk directly to people from the EU Parliament and Commission, who are involved in situation in my country. I learned many new facts through the meeting and lectures we had in this part of the programme.

Bianca Sporiş ConePR-MANAGER, ROMANIA

LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013

I would like to say that I feel very proud to be a part of the LDP com-munity. It was an honor for me to be selected to take part in this programme. It was an extraor-dinary experience that I would highly recommend to all the stu-dents that are engaged in making changes in their society.

I think that LDP was a complex ex-perience, very different from what other leadership seminars propose. The Summer Academy which meant two weeks of intensive study from the EU institutions and policies to personal skills development, all with a fruitful impact. I really ap-preciated most speakers that were present in the Summer Academy. Although most of the EU informa-tion was already familiar to me from my university studies, I appreciated the quality of the debates that were present in all the sessions.

The quality of people that were chosen to take part was an ad-

ditional quality to the programme and in this sense the importance of the strict selection process had a big influence. I think that the chosen countries were appropri-ate, due to our common history and future political plans.

The second part of the pro-gramme, which involved the group projects, was probably the hardest part because we had to implement a project where all the team members were in different countries, so it was hard to coor-dinate, but we finally managed and I think that this was a big challenge.

The third part was about how things function in reality of the EU institutions and it was a great ex-perience. I appreciate very much the meeting with Jamie Shea, who gave us some valuable insights into some things that we could never find in any book.

Last but not the least, I would like to thank all the team members that organized this programme and that they were available at any time for our questions.

Ivan JovanovCIVIL ACTIVIST AND PRESIDENT OF THE YOUTH CSO “YOUTH CAN”

LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013 The Leadership Development Programme is one of the few life-changing events that I have been a part of. When I look back at the whole eight-month programme I can easily say that this is a programme which turns theory into practice, pitfalls into challenges, questions into answers and people into friends. It showed me that young people are not only leaders of the future but can be leaders of the present!

Judith SchultePROJECT COORDINATOR IN SCHUELER HELFEN LEBEN FOUNDATION, GERMANY

LDP PARTICIPANT 2010/2011 I was very grateful to be able to participate in the Leadership Development Programme and there are two important characteristics that were decisive for my future professional and academic background. The first important aspect is that members of the EFB receive the chance to become a part of a network that is crucial for any person dealing with South East Europe.

The second aspect is the transfer of knowledge and skills within the actual LDP that enabled me to include them in my current professional life. The EFB does great work in bringing people together and transferring the knowledge and skills necessary for an actual professional life.

Adel AbusaraSENIOR PROJECT ASSISTANT, OSCE MISSION TO SERBIA, SERBIA

LDP PARTICIPANT 2006/2007 I see my experience related to the Leadership Development Programme as the life-changing one. There are three main reasons to support this claim. I was accepted to be a part of the first LDP generation in the important crossroad of my life, when I was about to choose what to do next in my life. I was interested in the EU prospects of the Western Balkans, but I was not certain if this was the topic I would like to deal with further on. The LDP programme helped me solve this puzzle. The LDP made me understand just how much the Western Balkans is behind the rest of Europe, unfortunately, but also how inextricably connected to Europe it is – in the scope of the programme I travelled for the first time to a European country, obtained my first Schengen visa and had the first serious encounter with young people with similar affiliation. We were

able to exchange views, agree and disagree, shock our European organizers on several occasions, but ultimately became lifetime friends. I do not hear or see regularly many of the LDP fellows now, but when I do, we know that we have a lot in common – our time in Schloss Neuhardenberg will remain an unforgettable experience. Finally, our time spent in the College of Europe convinced me to do my MA in this institution and this experience inevitably shaped my future career. Beside all the above mentioned, related only to the LDP, I benefited highly from communication with the small, but more than just competent EFB team – numerous workshops, seminars and some summer schools and other events that I was invited to attend helped me narrow down my portfolio and expand my network even more. For this reason, today I am able to call several persons in each country of the Western Balkans whenever I need something. Finally, I strongly believe that a number of networks whose creation was facilitated by the EFB will contribute highly to the betterment of our region.

Aleksandra Georgievska VICE PRESIDENT “STEP4INCLUSION”, FREELANCE SOCIAL ECONOMY EXPERT, MACEDONIA


I would like to give my positive feedback and satisfaction with the cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans. Our cooperation started in June 2009, when I was selected for the Southeast Europe and the EU-Leadership Development Programme (July 2009-April 2010) organized by the European Fund for the Balkans, College of Europe and Transfuse Association and since then we have been constantly cooperating on different activities, programmes, conferences they organize.

Following my educational and professional background, for me it was of a great importance to be part of the Southeast Europe and the EU Leadership Development Programme. During the two weeks seminars in Germany and Belgium, I had the chance

to open my horizons and gain knowledge about topics, which were not previously familiar to me such as: Economics of Transition, EU Enlargement 2004/2007, Reconciliation in Southeast Europe, Regional Cooperation in SEE, the role of EU and South East Europe. It was very important and useful to be a part of the practical workshops about Leadership and Communication Skills, EC Project Management and EU Fact Finding Effective Online Research. To be highlighted as well, during the whole programme I had the chance to enlarge my network of potential partners, collaborators from different EU and Non-EU countries. With some of them, we managed to develop and implement projects under EC funded programmes (Youth in Action Programmes, Life Long Learning Programme and EuropeAid projects). Apart from the theoretical inputs, the programme included practical placement or joint activities, where all the knowledge and skills we gained during the programme were put into practice. I was the coordinator of the joint

activity “EU Umbrella of different nationalities” and for me the LDP programme was a good base in order to prepare, manage and implement such a challenging joint activity with members from different countries (Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and Turkey). I believe the better we educate the new generations the more we empower them to take leadership and get more and more involved in the decision and policy making processes in their country.

Adnan Ovcina RESEARCHER AND FOUNDER OF CENTRE FOR REGIONAL RESEARCH, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA


Leadership Development Programme (LDP) was a very well-designed program, which significantly contributed to my professional and academic career. What the European Fund for Balkans (EFB) successfully managed to achieve is to establish a network of young people eager to cooperate. After the programme ended, I decided to establish a think tank, the Centre for Regional Research and to include some of my colleagues from the LDP programme. I was inspired by the success of the LDP programme in establishing a network of young professionals with different educational and national background. Through its LDP programme, the EFB managed to connect us during the programme itself, but it also managed to keep us connected even after it ended.

LDP provided a frame for discussion with some of the most prominent scholars from Europe. During LDP the focus was not only on the academic debates, but rather on some practical implementation of skills and knowledge developed during the programme. Crucial advantage of EFB efforts is that they are both academic and policy oriented. Many other programmes are only academic or policy oriented.

The EFB team is keeping us posted about their new initiatives, sending us information about different events, scholarships, which is very important considering there is a big gap in access to information in the Western Balkan region. By doing so, the EFB is significantly contributing to the professional development of their former fellows and doing a great job in motivating young people from the Western Balkan region to think and to discuss the future of their countries.

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EFB CommunityIn2009,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkanslauncheditsnewinitiative-EFBCommunity.

ThemissionoftheEFBCommunityistoservetheinterestsoftheEFBCommunitymembersbyprovidingaforumfornetworking,communicationandcollaboration.Inordertofulfillitscommitmenttostrengthenthecohesionbetweenmembers,theEFBsponsorsandorganizesinitiativesandevents,includingthecommunitymembersinavarietyofEFBactivities.

ThroughitsprogrammestheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshastheopportunitytosupportindividualsaswellasorganisationsinavarietyofways.Itiscrucialthatthissupportisnotaone-timeinvestment,butonlythefirststepontheroadtowardalong-termmutualcooperation.TheEFBCommunityhasbeencreatedtoprovideavenueforthiscooperationandthusbethebasisfortheformationofa

strongEFBnetworkwhichwouldperpetuateandfurtherenforcethecoregoalsandvaluesoftheFund.

In2014theEFBCommunityhasgrownintoa338membernetwork,whichincludesalltheparticipantswhohavesuccessfullycompletedoneoftheEFBProgrammes.

WithintheEFBCommunityspecificgroupshavebeencreatedhavinginmindtheoriginoftheparticipantsandtheirspecificinterestduetostrongconnectionswhichhavebeendevelopedduringtheirparticipationindifferentEFBprogrammes.ThesespecificgroupsareaddressedwithspecificissuesbesidesthegeneralapproachtotheEFBCommunity.

TheEFBCommunityprogrammewithitsspecialapproachtoitsmembersnowservesasaplatformfordifferentEFBeventsandjointinitiatives,wherethecommunitymembersareactiveparticipants,promotersandinformationsources.

TheyreceiveanelectronicEFBNewsletterandEFBEventCalendar,forconstantnewsfeed,photosandvideomaterialsregardingtheEFBactivitiesandprogrammes.

Inadditiontothenumerousnetworkingopportunities,theEFBCommunityoffersanopportunityforfurthercooperationthroughparticipationindifferentEFBactivitiesasspeakers,panelists,trainers.

PEOPLE

PEER LEARNING

NEW

EMERGING IDEAS

VISION

YOUTH

PERSPECTIVES

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MOTIVATION

ENERGY

DIVERSITY

HOPE

CONNECTION

COMMITMENT

NETWORKING

INNOVATION

EMULATION

NEW

EMERGING IDEAS

VISION

YOUTH

PERSPECTIVES

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338 MEMBERS

203 LDP PARTICIPANTS

115 CIVIL SERVANTS

20 RESEARCH FELLOWS

26 COUNTRIES



BULGARIA

CROATIA

CYPRUS

DENMARK

FRANCE

GERMANY

GREECE

HUNGARY

2009–2014

ITALY

KOSOVO

MACEDONIA

MOLDOVA

MONTENEGRO

THE NETHERLANDS

POLAND

PORTUGAL

ROMANIA

SERBIA

SLOVENIA

SWEDEN

TURKEY

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

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Geographical scope of EFB Community member

Home countries

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Reflections on the EFB Community

A LOOK FROM

OUTSIDE

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Fabrice de KerchoveCHAIR OF THE EFB

STEERING COMMITTEE, KING BAUDOUIN

FOUNDATION

„It is extremely important to invest in this social capital, human capital which is for me one of the main assets of the region. It is made of all this young people willing to go cross border, to meet each other and try to design a vision for the future of this region.“

Andrew RasiejFOUNDER

OF PERSONAL DEMOCRACY MEDIA,

USA

„EFB Community has a fantastic opportunity to sit at the table with a much larger global community which is now far more connected than ever before.“

Eóin YoungPROGRAMME DIRECTOR

& SENIOR TRAINER, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLICY ADVOCACY

„I think that what the European Fund for the Balkans is trying to do is to create a space where people can challenge the prevailing culture and come up with other ways of decision-making process.“

A LOOK FROM

OUTSIDE

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Hedvig MorvaiEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

„I do expect that the community members of the European Fund for the Balkans will be eager to use every given opportunity in the frames of the EFB Community to engage themselves in the new initiatives, exchange of ideas and discussions about the future of the region.“

Branka PanicEFB COMMUNITY COORDINATOR,

EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

„After seven years of continuous work in the Western Balkans and the European Union, we strongly believe that the most valuable resources of the European Fund for the Balkans are the people who connect with us through active engagement in our Programmes. Each member of the EFB Community has a unique potential and offers valuable ideas and perspectives in creating the future. We aim is to make this community powerful enough to accomplish positive changes in all societies of the Western Balkans.“

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Igor BandovicSENIOR PROGRAMME

MANAGER, EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

„The unique strength and the richness of the people involved in our programmes presents the real virtue of our work. We expect that the EFB Community will grow over the years. It is the substance of the Funds’ contribution to the European project.“

A LOOK FROM THE

INSIDE

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Blerta DerhemiALBANIA

FELLOW 2010/2011

Friendship among the EFB members means a good opportunity to build strong ties for building a new future for our region, far away from the common prejudices. As a part of the EFB Community, I feel that I’m more open and that the stereotypes that I had for the people from the neighboring countries have now disappeared from my mind. Now I have friends from Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Croatia and from every country in the Balkans.

If all the Balkan people are connected with each other as the EFB Community is, than everything will be better in the region. It’s not just important to do something visible, but to share ideas and bring something from different cultures and how they organize their job and find solutions for problematic situations.

Tamara BrankovicSERBIA


As my plans are to take an active role dealing with the regional cooperation in the Western Balkans in my further education and to pursue a professional career in this field, I am convinced that every EFB Community event is a great opportunity to discuss current issues, new challenges and creative solutions for the problems with relevant individuals, CSO and government representatives from all over the region. The EFB Community is a excellent mix-match of generations, so one can always meet new people, gain ideas and share experiences. I actually find it one of the most valuable experiences. In my opinion, the future of the EFB depends on its alumnae and many things can be done for development of the community.

Natasa KulakowskiCROATIA

FELLOW 2011/2012

I believe that this community can really make a difference. It is always great to be surrounded by great people that have a common vision and can easily share ideas. I think we can all together bring changes. I’m always interested in the possibility of strengthening the connections with colleagues from the region, but also getting to know all the other researchers, activists and professionals from the EFB Community working in the area of my research - energy, environment, climate change, sustainable development. Moreover, I believe that during different community events future co-operation can be discussed and agreed.

Daniel GjokeskiMACEDONIA


I’ll cherish as most precious the experience I had during the LDP Programme and after that I’m always motivated to apply for the EFB Community events in order to meet as many EFB Community members. The most valuable addition to the EFB`s excellent programmes and initiatives are friendships and collaborations that continue to evolve.

Every community event reminds us that we always have to give something back to the community. We all share a mindset of how we can start contributing and time getting something back from the society. It is really a change of a mindset in European and Balkan sense.

Dejan RadicBOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

FELLOW 2009/2010

I firmly believe the EFB Community network of events is an excellent opportunity for exchange of experience and positive energy between the Community members. I was fortunate enough to meet and collaborate with all those wonderful people participating in Fellowship Programme 2009/2010, but I’m always willing to expand my network. The EFB Fellowship has affected not only my professional ambitions, but my ambition as a part of a wider network of government officials from the whole region. We have to force the regional cooperation and use our capacities in fostering regional cooperation in the community spirit. Each one of us should be an active participant who will share their ideas and thoughts with the other Community members.

Teuta PejaKOSOVO


The pleasure of hard work is when people benefit from it, are aware of it and talk about it. Each organisation has its mission and vision and they work in the best way they can to accomplish the goals and improve the quality of life of their communities. I believe that the European Fund for the Balkans has succeeded in achieving this. I have benefited a lot from the EFB programs and the gained knowledge and experience opened many doors of opportunities for me. Being a part of its community for me is an added value to the whole story, since I believe that there are people with whom I can discuss different topics , share my views on EU perspective and improve my skills in the area of communication and outreach strategy.

Ivan JoveticMONTENEGRO

LDP PARTICIPANT

From the experience I have, I can say that the EFB is gathering young, innovative and dedicated people. Having in mind that we do live in different times that pose unknown and quite different challenges, we also need different and unique answers to all of them. I consider this community a platform for defining some of the potential solutions through academic share of ideas and knowledge. Moreover, it is also a significant opportunity to create and expand my personal network. I think that this kind of regional communities is quite important for the Balkans and all its inherited issues and all the members can contribute to finding the best ways of dealing with the common issues in the region.

Konstantina KarydiGREECE


The EFB Community is a an um-brella platform for meeting the participants from the other genera-tions and EFB programs other than my own as well as renewing my links with participants from my LDP generation. As a co-founder and member of Balkans Beyond Borders, which directly emerged from LDP, I wish both to share my experience as well as find out about other similar projects and ways of connecting our initiatives in order to create an even stronger network of active individuals working in similar fields. As an active member of the EFB community, I believe I will continue to get involved in forging new lines of cooperation and planning of common projects. I would also be interested in either organizing or participating as a panelist in a discussion that would be related to the scope and the role of NGOs in the region towards promoting EU ideas and principles or concretely supporting the goal of the EU integration through the lines of informal diplomacy.

Doru TomaROMANIA


I believe that this community can really make a difference. It is always great to be surrounded by great people that have a common vision and can easily share ideas. I think we can all together bring changes. I’m always interested in the possibility of strengthening the connections with colleagues from the region, but also getting to know all the other researchers, activists and professionals from the EFB Community working in the area of my research - energy, environment, climate change, sustainable development. Moreover, I believe that during different community events future co-operation can be discussed and agreed.

Alexandra NastaseROMANIA


As a participant, you usually think in immediate terms and benefits of a programme and hope that it will bring added value to your personal experience, CV or network. Short term, this is the implicit consequence. Nevertheless, there is more potential to be exploited in a community such as the EFB. The most important in my view are: exchange of know-how and knowledge, organisation of trans-border projects, enlarged network to be exploited over future professional initiatives and something less quantifiable, but more important, the empowerment of being a part of an active community with a great declared potential of change and of creating the future leaders of the SEE. Moreover, judging from my experience with LDP, I believe in the unleashed potential of this community and I would like to be a part of its

future development. Moreover, I expect to have the opportunity to debate interesting ideas with participants and speakers and to expand my professional network in the region.

Iskra BelchevaMACEDONIA

FELLOW 2008/2009

I am truly honored to have worked with the competent and friendly staff at the EFB, as well as be a member of the EFB community since the fellowship I spent in a Government institution in Slovenia in 2009. I was fortunate enough to be selected in the first group of Government officials and have since seen the EFB Community grow in number and quality. Even though the fellowship programme is mostly investing in individuals from the public sector, in the case of Macedonia the EFB has become a prominent factor in capacity building in the structures dealing with the EU integration process as well as management of the EU funds. The individuals that participated in these programmes introduced a lot of ideas they gathered in the host institutions and made networks themselves, that experience is still being shared among the employees in these structures. It was personally

great for me to be able to meet with researchers and civil society representatives in the EFB Community, who invited me to participate in other projects. In this and all other aspects of my cooperation with the EFB, it has always been a very positive reference both for my professional and personal life. Among the diverse people in the community I met both friends and colleagues throughout the years, mostly at the Community Conference, which are now my first source for all regional information. Unfortunately, I do not meet with my EFB friends as often as we would like, but fortunately the EFB makes it possible once in a while.

Dejan BuhaBOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

FELLOW 2011/2012

Through its own development, the EFB helps developing personalities and competencies of future leaders in the region, linking them with each other and with the other important stakeholders in the vitally impor-tant EU integration process of the Western Balkans. This development and the evolution is not only indi-vidual: the great benefit of the EFB’s work lies in the fact that each of its activities is creating an ever-growing regional and European-wide EFB Community network of future lead-ers, connected with strong, both professional and private ties. My significant experience with similar international programmes and ac-tivities has clearly shown me one big advantage of the EFB’s approach: focus on the young, capable people. This is, in my opinion, the key for successful sustainability and appli-cability of all the efforts invested. If I were asked to summarize what the EFB community is all about, I would just say: making a difference. And I really hope it will keep doing it, even on a larger scale.

Milos DjindjicSERBIA

FELLOW 2011/2012

The EFB Community is a great opportunity to be a part of one inspirational environment and keep the faith and good spirit. It is investment in the future. Secondly, since it includes all EFB members from different programmes and different generations, it is broadening the scope of potential connections and friends. Alumni activities are something that is considered to be very valuable when it comes to these kinds of programme, since it provides possibility of reviewing, networking, exchanging, mutual learning and cooperating. The more people are involved the more former and future participants gain and it keeps the EFB programmes alive. For me the EFB Community is meeting the members on regular basis, exchange of future ideas. I believe that it is all about social capital, social mobility and this is the only way to do it. It is my aim to be up to date and connected with the dynamics of

Edvard MitevskiMACEDONIA

FELLOW 2011/2012

Going through my EFB folder I came across a note I wrote in my application form for one of our community gatherings in 2012. The sentence reads: “The EFB through its community members, values young professionals in their respective societies, represents a hub of youth, enthusiasm and knowledge and a recruitment spring of active agents of change.” I believe that this sentence concurrently depicts and underpins EFB’s overearching mission of identifying, mapping and nurturing the new generation of decision-makers in the Balkans and beyond. European Fund for the Balkans could be only proud of such a tangible outcome, which, I reckon, will be growing incrementally for years to come. The so-called “EFB Community” is an important achievement because today’s regional challenges require collaborative solutions and because history taught us that cooperation and

integration (of any kind) is much more benevolent, practical and righteous than its antipodes. I would say that the EFB proved successful in their endeavor to create such community. Our get-togethers and mutual aiding, exchange of thoughts and expertise (out of the EFB format) are more and more frequent. Our network is growing in size, number and substance while the prospects for its sustainability are rather encouraging. Thus, seven years after its inauguration, the EFB has grown from initiative to a platform that congregates our region’s human potential in envisioning and tailoring our shared European future.

the Community and to share its spirit. I believe that Community will prosper from having active and interested alumni members, which will eventually lead to better opportunities for all and even firmly established network. Community membership, I am certain, has much more to offer than I have hitherto experienced and I think the EFB Community membership is one of great value.

First EFB Community Meeting

ThesuccessfullaunchofthefirstEFBCommunityMeetinginZagrebintheperiodofOctober11-14,2012wasanexcellentstartingpointfortherealizationoftheideaforbringingalltheEFBcommunitymembersinoneplace.

100CommunitymembersfromallovertheBalkansandtherestofEurope+13Programmegenerations+26participatingcountrieswerejoinedtogetherunderthemottooftheFirstEFBCommunityMeeting“People,ideasandNetworks”.

DifferentgenerationsoftheEFBCommunitymembers,partners,collaborators,politicalandcivilsocietyactivists,researchers,consultants,professors,policyadvocates,trainers,students

andinvitedguestswereactiveparticipantsinthethree-dayprogramme.

Seriesoffreshtopics,brainstormingandexchangeofideasunfoldedduringthetheedays,whichwerealsofilledwithotherdynamicactivitiesfromtheEFBagenda.TheEFBCommunitymeetingofferedstimulatingexchangeofopinionsandanopportunitytosharethoughtswithpopularspeakersaboutthecurrentissuesinEurope.

Thefruitfulplenarysessions,discussionsandopenspacecommunicationservedasanenginefordevelopingnewcreativesolutions,visionsandconceptsforbringingtheWesternBalkansclosertotheEUandviceversa.

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Traditional Joint Fellowship TrainingsTherealizationoftheEFBgoalofstrengtheningandexpansionofthenetworkofcivilservantsintheWesternBalkansandcreatingfoundationfortheirfuturecooperationbeganwiththelaunchofthejointtrainingsofthegovernmentofficialsfromtheEFBFellowshipProgramme,thatarenowheldtraditionallyeveryyearintheperiodbetweenJune/July.

In2010,theFellowsfromtheFellowshipProgrammefromYoungGovernmentOfficialsfromGenerations2008/2009and2009/2010joinedforcesandparticipatedinaone-dayreallifesimulationofabusinessgamewithtypicalworkingenvironmentchallenges“ManagementChallenge-WorldofEmployment”.TheEFBideawastofosterthesharingofknowledgeandexchangeofexperiencesbetweentheEFBFellows,whohadanopportunitytotesttheirleadership,communicationandcooperationskillsandshow

therealteamspiritinmakingtherightdecisionswiththeircolleagueFellows.

In2011,theEFBorganizedtheFellowshipJointConference–“ChallengesfortheCivilServiceintheWesternBalkans”(Mavrovo,Macedonia,July1-3,2011).ThejointtrainingdaygatheredthreegenerationsoftheFellowshipProgrammeforaninteractiveandcommunicativeteam-eventwithonemainobjective–networking.Theoverallsettingofthejointtrainingwasorganisationandrealizationoftheregionalconference"ChallengesfortheCivilServiceintheWesternBalkans",includingpresentations,panelsanddiscussions.

In2012,theFellowsfromtheprevious4generationsoftheFellowshipProgrammeparticipatedintheEFBCommunityNetworkingEventandJointTraining“ANewCohesionInitiativefortheWesternBalkans“.Theideaofthisnetworking

eventwastointegratedifferentbackgroundsandindividualexpertiseoftheEFBCommunitymembersandtoencourageandstrengthenthedevelopmentofnotonlya“social”,buta“knowledgeandexpertise”network.Theexchangeofpersonalknowledge,expertiseandlessonslearntwithpeersenabledtheFellowstocomeupwithanewvisionofcohesionandcooperation.

In2013,fellowsfromthefivegenerationsgatheredforanotherjointfellowshiptraining“CroatiaandtheFutureoftheWesternBalkansEnlargement”whichwassymbolicallyheldinCroatia(28ofJune-3ofJuly),asthenextmemberstateoftheEUfamily.WiththisstrategicchoiceoftheEFBteam,thefellowswerealsogivenanopportunitytowitnesstheJuly1stceremonyinZagrebwhichmarkedCroatia’saccessiontotheEU,asahistoricaleventandasuccessstoryfortheentireregionoftheWesternBalkans.

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EFB Community Website

InMarch2011theEFBCommunitywebsitewww.community.balkanfund.org waslaunched.ItservesasanonlinedatabaseandaninteractiveplatformfornetworkingandcooperationbetweenalltheCommunitymembers.OnthiswebsitetheregisteredCommunitymemberscansearchforothermembers,latestCommunitynewsorinformationaboutEFBProgrammes.

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3548FACEBOOK PAGE LIKES

1

LINKEDINGROUP

319

NEWSLETTERSUBRCRIBERS

3

ONLINE PLATFORMS

14

FACEBOOKGROUP

338

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

085

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Supporting Policy Development

SupportingPolicyDevelopmentseekstoservepolicyresearchers,thinktanks,NGO’s,andgovernmentsthatareinterestedinbeingengagedinpolicydevelopmentsandtheEUintegrationprocessintheWesternBalkans.Theprogrammeaimstofacilitatetransferofknowledgeandexpertisewithevidence-basedapproachforaddressingcomplexsocietalchallengesthecountriesoftheregionarefacingontheirwaytotheEUmembership.

ThroughSupportingPolicyDevelopment,theFundboostsnewpolicyideaswhichcanacceleratethereformprocessofthesocietiesoftheregion,createsynergiesandmultiplytheimpactthroughinnovativeapproaches,promoteincreasedpublicengagementandsupportdecisiveleadershipmodels.

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BALKAN MONITOR

FROM YUGOSLAVIA TO THE EUROPEAN UNION: 20 YEARS AFTER 1991 – THE TALE OF TWO GENERATIONS SURVEY

BALKAN PEER EXCHANGE

BALKANS IN EUROPE POLICY GROUP

POLICY TALKS

VICINITIES - FIRST EVER SEE CURRENT AFFAIRS REGIONAL TV TALK-SHOW

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Balkan Monitor

In2008theEuropeanFundfortheBalkansformedapartnershipwithGallupEuropeinordertolaunchthe“BalkanMonitor”,whichaimedatprovidingall-encompassingdataonpeople’sperceptionsintheWesternBalkanregion,creatingtherebyaone-stopshopthatdeliversstrategicinsightsbasedonevidence-basedsocialresearchintheregion.CoveringAlbania,BosniaandHerzegovina,Croatia,Kosovo,Macedonia,Montenegro,andSerbia,BalkanMonitoraskedmorethan100generalandcountry-specificquestionsandexploredaseriesofkeyissuesincluding:

AttitudesandperceptionsoftheEUandinternational

community

Good

governance

Socialandeconomic

conditions

Employmentprospects, businessconditions

Migratorypatterns

andthefuture:outlookandaspirations

7CITIES

3 SURVEYS

100 QUESTIONS

21 DISCUSSIONS

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Theresearchwasconductedannually,therebyprovidinganup-to-dateassessmentonthesocioeconomic,sociopolitical,andmulticulturaldimensionsoftheBalkanregion.

InordertopresentandwidelyacknowledgetheresultsoftheBalkanMonitor,theEFBincooperationwithGallupEuropeorganizedseriesofeventsintheformofpublicdiscussionsinthecapitalsofWesternBalkancountries,wherethesurveyresultswerepresentedanddiscussedwithleadinganalysts,journalists,governmentofficials,academics,representativesofCSOsandthinktanksfromtheregion.TheresultsservedasabasisforthediscussionsonthefutureoftheBalkans,itsEuropeanaspirationsandthepotentialof“attitudechange”andEuropeanizationofthesocietiesintheregion.

SeveneventswereorganizedinthecapitalsofWesternBalkancountrieseveryyear(Zagreb,Belgrade,Sarajevo,Skopje,Podgorica,PrishtinaandTirana).Theroad-showeventswereescortedwithcampaignswiththemostinterestingresultsineachcountrywheretheroadshow-eventtookplace.

CrimeandSafety

Politicalactivity intheregion

Corruption

Religion

Well-being

&lifesatisfaction

Ethnic&culturalidentitiesandperceptionsofotherethnic

groups

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From Yugoslavia to the European Union: 20 Years After 1991 – The Tale Of Two Generations Survey

REALIZATION:Fieldresearchconductedintheperiodfrom,25Septemberto17October,2011.

COUNTRIES:Albania,BosniaandHerzegovina,Croatia,Kosovo,Macedonia,Montenegro,Serbia

SAMPLE FRAME:Citizensofthecountriesborn1971and1991

TYPE OF SAMPLE:Quota sample:Quotasweredispersedgeographicallyandbytypeofsettlement(urban/rural)bydefinedstartingpoints(varyingbetweencountriesindependenceofthesamplesize,formminimumof32to42startingpoints)

TYPE OF SURVEY:Facetofaceinrespondent’shouseholds

Theyear2011markedthetwentiethanniversaryofthedissolutionoftheYugoslavfederation–twodecadesofwarsandconflictsthatleftadeepscarontheBalkansanditspeople.Themanyanalysesofevents,leadership,ortransformationprocesseshaveoftenoverlookedthehumandimensionofregionaldisintegration.ThelastYugoslavgenerationof1971wasinitsformativeyearswhentheconflictsstarted,thefirsttwentyyearsofitsadultlifecutshortbywars.Thosebornin1991aretooyoungtorememberconflicts,warandthe

falloftheoldsystem.Isolatedfromeachother,theyarenowcomingofagetoshapethefutureoftheircountries.Thesurveyexaminedtheperceptionsoftwogenerations,thosebornin1971and1991(thelastYugoslavgenerationof1971wasinitsformativeyearswhentheconflictsstarted,thefirsttwentyyearsofitsadultlifecutshortbywars.Thosebornin1991aretooyoungtorememberconflicts,warandthefalloftheoldsystem).Basedonthesurveyresults,apolicypaperwaswrittenbyyoungrepresentativesfromtheWesternBalkancountries.

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DOES THE REGION EXIST AS COMMON POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL SPACE?

IS THE YOUNGER GENERATION A NATURAL DRIVER OF THE EU INTEGRATION?

WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF YUGOSLAVIA?

DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR PARENTS HAD BETTER LIFE THAN YOU TODAY?

HAVE YOU TRAVELLED TO OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE REGION?

WHAT WOULD BE THE SITUATION TODAY IF YUGOSLAVIA SURVIVED?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

IS THE FUTURE OF THE REGION IN THE EU?

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Balkan Peer Exchange

In2012,BalkanPeerExchangebroughttogetherarepresentativegroupofthinktanks,advocacyorganisationsanddonororganisationstoaddressburningissuesinthesectorandopennewavenuesforfuturecooperationandsystematicandstructuredexchangesofknow-howandexperience.

Itsorganizers(EuropeanFundfortheBalkans,ThinkTankFund,BalkanTrustforDemocracy,HumanRightsandGovernanceGrantsProgramme,

TheNationalEndowmentforDemocracy,FundforOpenSocietySerbia),didnothaveanypre-conceivedideastofloatandimpose,nortospearheadtheestablishmentofnetworksandregionalplatforms.Thegoalwastooffertheparticipantsanopportunitytosuggestnewideasandforgenewpartnershipsthroughthematicpanels,parallelsessionsandworkshops.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of Balkan Peer Exchange was to provide a space for representatives of 70 think tanks and advocacy organisations (with established track records in policy relevant research) and a dozen of donors active in the region and offer them a space for peer-to-peer exchange of practices, positive and negative lessons learned and brainstorming on new innovative ideas.

9 COUNTRIES

70 THINK TANKS AND

ADVOCACY

ORGANISATIONS

10 DONORS

100 PARTICIPANTS

9 WORKSHOPS

3 IN-DEPTH DEBATES

3 PARALLEL SESSIONS

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Geographical scope of Balkan Peer Exchange conference

Participant countries

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ItiswithdistinctpleasurethattheBalkanTrustforDemocracy(BTD),aprojectoftheGermanMarshallFundoftheU.S.,congratulatestheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansonsevensuccessfulyearsofsupportingthedevelopmentofthinktanksandadvocacyorganisationstofurthertheEuropeanintegrationoftheWesternBalkans.DuringtheconceptionanddevelopmentoftheEFB,BTDsawboththeneedandopportunityforthedevelopmentofauniquelyEuropeanfundbasedintheBalkansthatwouldpromoteregionalcollaboration,leadershipdevelopment,scholarshipprogrammeandpolicyresearchwhilerecognizingtheuniquepathbeingtakenbyeachcountrytowardstheEU.

BTDhashadthepleasureofcollaboratingwiththeEFBanditsstaffinanumberofareas

overtheyears.WhiletheEFBandBTDcertainlypursuedistinctmethodologiesandprogrammingstrategies,wesharecommonvaluesandgoalsanduseacomplementaryapproachtoworkwithsimilarorganisationsandstakeholders,andbuilduponandsupporteachother’sefforts.

AsignificantjointcollaborationwiththeEFBwastheBalkanPeerExchangein2012,co-financedandplannedbyOSF,NED,andBTD,thatbroughttogethermorethan70keythinktanksandadvocacyorganisationsfromthroughouttheregiontoexaminethenewparadigmofopendatawithitsopportunitiestoenhanceanalysisandresearch-basedadvocacy.Thissuccessfuleventbecameatouchstoneforanumberofsuccessiveregional

events,substantiallyinfluencingthewaymanyorganisationsapproachpolicy,advocacyandcitizenengagementefforts.

TheEFB’sflexibilityanddesireforinnovationwereinstrumentaltomakingtheBalkanPeerExchangethesuccessthatitwas.ItalsoonceagaindemonstratedthevalueofcollaborationandtheexchangeofideasandpracticesbetweenBTDandtheEFB.

BTDlooksforwardtocontinuedcooperationwiththeEFB,believingthatfuturewell-consideredandeffectiveinvestmentsinpolicydevelopmentandstrengtheningoftheEFBcommunityintheregionarekeytoanimprovedandstrengthenedEuropeanfuture.

Gordana DelicDIRECTOR, BALKAN TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY, SERBIA

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Providingparticipantswithgeneralawareness,knowledgeofbasictoolsandlanguagetofor-mulateandcommunicatetheirideasonhowtousedata/analysisforeffectivecommunica-tionandeffectiveadvocacyinordertobe

abletosearchandidentifytoolsandpartnersfortheirimplementa-

tion.

Exchangingrelevantexperiencesand

goodpracticesontopicsspecificallylinkedtothesetypesoforganisations(accesstoinformation,fiscaltransparencyandabuseofstateresources,politicalsystemandtransparencyofgovernmentdecisions,

qualitystandardsforpolicy-rele-vantresearch)

Sharingopinions/analysesonrelevant

topicssuchastheEUintegration,governmentaltransparencyand

accountability,economicpolicy,socialandintegrationpolicies

Presentingand promotinggoodpractices

ofpolicy researchdesigns/monitoring

andadvocacy

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Vicinities - First Ever SEE Current Affairs Regional TV Talk-show Televisionisauniversallyaccessibleandpowerfulmediumwhichshouldbeusedbythecivilsocietytoedu-cate,enlighten,engageandinformthepublic.Withthatvisionoffoster-ingreconciliationinSouthEasternEuropebyapproachingthewideraudienceintheregionandofferingafrankexchangeofideasinanopendebateontheissueswhicharebadlyaffectingtheneighbouringcountries,theEuropeanFundfortheBalkans(EFB)andtheCenterforDemocracyandReconciliationinSEE(CDRSEE)decidedtojoinforcesincreatingthefirsteverSEEcurrentaffairsregionalTVtalk-show“Vicinities”.

StartingfromApril2012,thefive-partTVprogrammeserieswasbroadcastduringprimetimeonaweeklybasisin5countriesthroughouttheregionon8majornationalandlocalTVstations.Asthefirstpilotseriessurpassedall

setexpectations,itevolvedintoamoreambitiousprojectwithasecondseasonconsistingofaseriesofnewdebates,whichwerealsosupportedbytheGermanMinistryofForeignAffairs.

ForthefirsttimeinaregionalTVshow,peoplefromthevicinitydiscussedsensitiveissuesinanopen,honestandconstructivemanner.Theseissueswere,untilrecently,onlydiscussedwithinsmallerandclosedgroupsonanationallevel.Vicinities(Okruženje)providedtheopportunitytobringthediscourseoutintotheopen,especiallyastheTVprogrammeswerebroadcastbothonpublicandprivatetelevisionsandwereaccompaniedbymajorarticlesinthemostrespectedweeklyanddailynationalnewspapers.

Thefinal17showsfromthe2seasonsbroughttogetherwell-

respectedandunbiasedspecialregionalquestsfromawidefieldofsocialsciences,andincludedtheEFBalumnaeasaparticipatingaudiencewhichadditionallystrengthenedtheregionaldimensionoftheinitiative.

"Vicinities"hasprovenitselfasasuccessfultoolforenablingsincereexchange,interactionandcommunicationintheWesternBalkans,butalsoasapositivemediaexampleforattractingtheattentionofthepublicinrecognizingthesimilaritiesanddifferencesthatexistinthiscommonspace.

Encouragedbythissuccess,boththeEFBandCDRSEEarenowintheprocessofplanningthenextseasonsofthisexcitingregionalTVseries.

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TO BE YOUNG AND TO LIVE IN THE BALKANS

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE IDENTITY

THE EUROPEAN UNION BETWEEN LAMENT AND RHAPSODY

STEREOTYPES

HOW TO SURVIVE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS?

MEDIA—DO THEY HELP OR HINDER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING?

THE GREAT POWERS AND THE BALKANS

IN THE COUNTRIES FROM THE VICINITY

WAR CRIMES

THE CHURCH – HOW SEPARATED IS IT FROM THE STATE?

GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

ETHNO MUSIC

VICINITIES THROUGH CARICATURE

OUR HISTORY VS. YOUR HISTORY

VIOLENCE OF YOUTH OVER YOUTH

ABOUT SPORT IN SPORTS MANNER

LGBT POPULATION

THE CIVIL SOCIETY

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ForthepastsevenyearsIhavehadboththeprivilegeandthepleasureofworkingcloselywiththeEuropeanFundfortheBalkans.Sometimesasakeynotespeaker,moderatororworkshopcoordinatorfortheireventsandinthepastthreeyears,alsoasaco-producerofthehugelysuccessfulregionaltelevisionshow"Vicinities".IhavealsotakenpartintheselectionprocessfortheEFBfellowshipsandmetsuccessivegenerationsoffellows.And,IhavetakenpartinnumerousotherinternationaleventswiththeExecutiveDirector,HedvigMorvai.

ItisreallyapleasuretoworkwiththeEFB.Itisanadmirableteam,whichcombinescompetencewithhumantouchandcarefortheprojects.Allsuccessesinthecivilsocietyfieldcomeasaresultof

teamwork,butgreatteamworkisaprocessthatneedstobebuiltup.

Inthesesevenyears,theEFBhasestablisheditselfasamajorandmostrelevant–notjustgenerator-butalsolocomotiveofideasandinitiativeswhosegoalistobringtheWesternBalkansclosertotheEUandtospeedupthelongandarduousprocessofEuroAtlanticintegration.TheprogrammesoftheEFBaregenuinelydesignedandimplementedforthebettermentoftheregionandhavebothshortandlong-termimpactonthesocietiestheEFBoperatesin.Itisdifficulttodeterminethebest,butmypersonalfavouritesaretheFellowshipProgrammeforYoungGovernmentOfficialsandtheTVshow"Vicinities".NolessimportantistheEFB’scapacitytoswiftlyrecognisea

goodideaandsupportagrassrootinitiativewithquickfunding.

InregardofourjointTVproject,Iwouldliketoemphasizethatwithits2Seasonsand17episodes,"Vicinities"isnolongerjustacometinthemediaskybutaplanetthathasplaceditselfsolidlyandfounditsorbit.Wetackledtoughtopicsanddilemmasandwehadguestsfromfourorfivecountriesineveryshow,tohelpinthequestforanswers.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandtheCDRSEEareresolvedtocontinuewiththeshowin2014andbeyond.

Nenad SebekEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND RECONCILIATION IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

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AsanemployeeoftheCDRSEE,IwasexcitedtoobservethepreparationandrealisationofthefirstseriesofVicinities,whichthenbecameacreativechallengewhentheCDRSEEtaskedmewithrunningtheproject.Itwasapleasuretoworkonthe12episodesinwhichmanypainfulsubjectswerediscussed,mostlybecausepeoplefromdifferentcountriesmetandtalkedatoneplace.Studioco-hostNenadŠebekandmyself,webothhaveviewsoneverytopicthatwebroached.However,werefrainedfromarguingforthemordirectingourgueststoanyparticularcourse.Hearingpeoplefromtheregionwhoforwell-knownreasonswerenotgivenanopportunitytospeakforalongtimeincountrieswheretheirownlanguageiswellunderstoodisaprivilegethatwewereabletooffer.

And,welistenedtothemcarefullyinreturn,delightedlikeviewersacrosstheregion.Thatistheuniquenessof"Vicinities"thatIcouldnotresist.Weshowedthatwecoulddiscusssuchtopicsasidentity,warcrimes,theroleofthechurchandsoonevenwhenourguestshadcompletelyoppositeviews.However,theirviewsonuniversalvalueswerethesame,allayingconcernsthatciviliseddialoguecouldcomeunderthreat.“Vicinitiesis,afterall,akindofagoratowhichwekeepreturning,totalkandtobeheard,”saidBalšaBrkovićwhogaveanintroductionwithfourotherjournalistsandwriters.Ihopethatwewillbebacktoyourfavouritetelevisionchannelsformanyyears.Thatwilldependonusaswellasyou.

Zvezdana KovacEDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF VICINITIES

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Sanja GvozdenovicHRT (CROATIAN RADIOTELEVISION), EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE HTV4 INFORMATIVE CHANNEL

Broadcastsoftheregionalpoliticaltalkshow"Vicinities"enabledviewersofHRTtohearviewsonissuesofcommoninterestthroughaverydynamicdebate.Theshow’simpartialityanditsprofessionalandopenapproachwerevisibleinthetreatmentofsensitivetopicsandintheselectionofdifferentbutrelevantguestsfromtheregion.Theshowwasassessedasgoodandinterestinginthereportsthatreachedme.SinceHTV4isbroadcastfree-to-air,theshowisavailabletoviewersinEurope.Theshowsthathaveairedtodateproducedadefiniteinterestforcontinuingcooperation,soIusethisopportunitytoconfirmthat.HTV4isalwaysopentoprojectsofpublicinterestlike"Vicinities".

RESULTS FROM THE CONDUCTED POLL ON OKRUZENJE.NET

84+14+2+A WOULD YOU LIKE TO WATCH VICINITIES NEXT YEAR?

83.3% YES

13.3% NO

1.7% MAYBE

64+18+18+A DO YOU APPROVE OF OUR CHOICE OF GUESTS?

63.6% YES

18.2% NO

18.2% MAYBE

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Vladan MicunovicEDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TV VIJESTI (MONTENEGRO)

Broadcastingthesecondseasonof"Vicinities"intheprime-timeslotclearlyshowstheimportancethatTVVijestihasattachedtothetalkshow.Theshowwillnottopourviewershipratings,buttheywilldefinitelyhaveanaudiencethatwillnothavesundryfarmsandgrandparadeshowsservedaggressivelyandinsolentlyinsteadofreal-lifeconcerns.Thatwasapowerfulreasonwhywedecidedtobroadcast"Vicinities",eventhoughweareacommercialtelevisionstation.Vicinitiesisfarbetter,moreopenandofhigherqualitythanthesurrounding.Wedonotseethisshowalongingforbygonetimesorawaytorenewsomethingthatismostlikelylostforever,butasanopportunitytohelpviewerstobetterunderstandeachotherandtoliveandcooperatemoresincerely,throughtheexperiencesofthewisepeople.

Anamari RepicDEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, RTV IN KOSOVO

RTVKosovo,ourpublicbroadcaster,agreedimmediatelyandwithpleasuretoair"Vicinities"ononeofitschannels.WedecideditwouldbethenewchannelinSerbian,theRTK2,andanewshowinKosovoonanewtelevisionchannel.Itisanewapproachthatbreaksdownlocalbarriersanddevelopsstoriesthroughdialogue,debate,andaregionalapproachtotopicswhichsurroundus.Unemployment,unpunishedcrimes,lifeforyoungpeopleinanycountryandintheregioncannotbutintertwineandaffectourliveswhereverweare.Wefaceandgettoknowtopicsandproblemswearefamiliarwithinanewway,weidentifywiththemandbecomeinvolved.

Nenad Lj. StefanovicEDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE INFORMATION PROGRAM OF RADIO TELEVISION OF SERBIA

RTSisthebiggestmediahouseintheareathatbroadcastsindependentproductionsaswellasitsownextensiveprogramming.VicinitiescametoRTSthroughapubliccompetitionthatitwonowingtoitsfreshness,innovation,approachandtopics.After12shows,Icansaythatourexpectationshavebeenmetinfull,andourviewersarehappytoseeanewformoftheoldtelevisiontalk-showgenre.Vicinitieshasletourviewershearthevoicesandopinionsofpeoplefromacrosstheregion,whichaddedtowhattheyhearorseeorreadeverydayintheirownmilieu,withopinionsfrom“theotherside,”andtolearnsomethingnew,breakdownprejudicesandshifttheirusualdiscourse.

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Vladimir VodusekDIRECTOR OF TOP TV SLOVENIA

Cooperationon"Vicinities"wasafavourableexperienceforusbecausetopicsfromtheregionarealwaysinterestingforviewersinSloveniaeventhoughithasbeenamemberoftheEUfornineyears.Theselectionofguestsandtopics,theprofessionalguidanceoftheanchorsandtheproductionwereapositivesurpriseforusandproofthattop-qualitytelevisionproductionandjournalismstillliveinthispartoftheworld.

78+3+19+A DOES VICINITIES HELP US UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER?

78.4% YES

2.7% NO

18.9% MAYBE

88+3+9+A ARE THE TOPICS DISCUSSED ON VICINITIES INTERESTING AND TOPICAL?

87.5% YES

3.1% NO

9.4% MAYBE

RESULTS FROM THE CONDUCTED POLL ON OKRUZENJE.NET

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Dzenana Karup – DruskoACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DANI NEWSMAGAZINE, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Firstofall,theimportanceoftheproject"Vicinities"isthatitisregionalandthateveryshowfeaturedguestsfromtheregionwhosestatementssometimesshowedthatidenticalproblemstroubledthecountriescreatedfromthedisintegrationoftheformerYugoslavia.And,sometimestheydiscussedtheirdifferencesandpointedtopossiblesolutions.

Thechoiceoftopicswasquitegood,indicativeofissuesthatconcernoursocieties,mostlyforsimilarreasons,suchaspublicadministrationorreligiouscommunities.Inshort,IbelievethatourdifferenceshavenarrowedslightlythankstotheprojectVicinities.

Veseljko KoprivicaEDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MONITOR NEWSMAGAZINE, MONTENEGRO

Topical,interesting,andcivilised.Putinoneword-professional.WhypraisetheVicinitiesseries?Becausetheshowisdifferentfromsundrytelevisionprogrammesthatweareinundatedwith,thatbombviewerswithpropaganda,primitivism,ignorance,lengthytalksfortheself-promotionofanchorsandguests."Vicinities"isimmunetothat.Itiseasytoseethattheshowswerecarefullyprepared,throughaselectionoftopicalandinterestingtopicsanditsguests,andcleverlywrappedupin45minutes.Everythingisdonewithbalance.IwaspleasedtohearthattheshowswerewidelyviewedinMontenegro,andIdidnothearanyobjectionstothecontent.Cooperationbetween"Vicinities"andMonitorisperhapsrareforthisregion,anexampleofsuccessfulcooperationbetweenanelectronicandprintmedia.WearehappytocontinuethiscooperationandourpagesareopenforVicinities.

Hamdi RasitiPROGRAMME DIRECTOR, ALSAT-M TELEVISION, SKOPJE, MACEDONIA

"Vicinities"isamirroroftheregion,andtheserieswascarriedoutinaverypositiveway,dealingwithissuesthatareofdailyconcernforus.Itshowsthatpeopleintheregionhaveessentiallythesamesocialandpoliticalproblemsandlookoverintotheneighbour’slawn,replicateandapplyagoodpracticeinordertomoveontotheEUthatweaspiretoandwhichoughttobeourfuture.

"Vicinities"helpsussurroundourselveswithpeoplewhohavearecipeforchangeforthebetter,orwillfinditwithus.Throughface-to-facedialogue,"Vicinities"voicesthegoodandthebadandthusovercomesthedistrustthatisstillamongus.Andformediatomakeacontributionaswellasconnectthediversities,helpbuildmutualconfidenceandatleastroundoffthenarrativeforthewell-beingoftheircitizens,itisbecausetheyareworthit.

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Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group

BalkansinEuropePolicyAdvisoryGroupontheBalkanswasestablishedin2013asacooperationoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans(EFB)andCentrefortheSoutheasternEuropeanStudiesoftheUniversityofGrazwiththeaimtoassistinthetransitionoftheBalkansfromthestageofunconsolidateddemocraciesandweakeconomiestothestageoftheEUaccessionandtohelptheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansindeepeningitseffortsinthisprocess,channeledthroughtheFund'scoreactivitiesandinidentifyingnewareasofengagementwhicharealignedwiththeEFB'soverallgoals.

BalkansinEuropePolicyAdvisoryGroupanalyzesanddebatesthe

existingmechanismsandpoliticalskillsoftheEUandtheregiontosuccessfullybringtoanendtheprojectofEuropeanizationoftheBalkansaspromisedattheThessalonikiSummitinJune2003.

TheGroupiscomposedofyoungresearchersfromtheWesternBalkansandwiderEuropethathaveestablishedthemselvesfortheirknowledgeandunderstandingoftheWesternBalkansandtheprocessesthatshapetheregion.

Theworkofthisgroupwillbenefitgreatlybyinclusionofnewresearchandanalyticalmethodologyofferedbysocialandhumanitiesacademia,atthesametimeholdingontotheadvantageofpreservingthe

promotionalempiricalgatheringskillsoftheseniorresearchers,intellectualsandjournalists.Theaimofthegroupisnottoreinventthewheel,butbuildonformerandcurrentstrategiesoftheEuropeanizationoftheregion,havinginmindalsothemottooftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,”TobringtheWesternBalkansclosertotheEU”,butalsotheEUclosertotheWesternBalkans.

ThemaintasksofBalkansinEuropePolicyAdvisoryGroupwillbetotranslatethefindingsintoproposalforfurtherprogrammingoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandtodraftspecificpolicyrecommendationsfortheregion,andfortheEuropeanUnion.

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DrawconclusionsforfuturestrategiesoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans

anditsprogrammes

ReconsiderrecentandcurrentpoliciesoftheEuropeaninstitutions,memberstatesandthegovernmentsintheregion,theirstrategies,goalsand

indicators

Providespecificpolicyrecommendationsforstakeholders

involvedintheprocess.

ConventionalandalternativemodelsofdevelopmentoftheregionanditsrelationswiththeEuropeanUnion

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Balkans in Europe Policy Blog

TheBalkansinEuropePolicyBlogisaforumforcurrentdebateontheEUintegrationandreformprocessesinSoutheasternEurope.TheblogisapartoftheBalkansinEuropePolicyAdvisoryGroup,ajointinitiativeoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandtheCentreforSoutheastEuropeanStudiesoftheUniversityofGraz.Itisaspaceforin-depthdiscussionsforaninterdisciplinarygroupofyoungresearcherswithandexpandedgroupofcivilsocietyactivists,analysts,intellectualsandscholarsfromallpartsoftheregion

andtheEU,beyondtheusualformatofaworkshoporaconference.

TheBalkanPolicyBlogseekstopromotedebateanddivergentviews,basedontheexchangeofanalysisandresearch.Itthuspromotesthecommunicationbetweenthepolicyandtheacademiccommunity.

TheinitiallistofblogcontributorsarethemembersoftheBalkansinEuropePolicyGroup–FlorianBieber,AroldaElbasani,CorinaStratulat,DejanJovic,DimitarBechev,Leon

Malazogu,MarkoKmezic,MilanNic,NebojsaLazarevic,NenadKoprivica,NerminOrucandVedranDzihic,butalsoexternalcontributorsandVIPBloggerslikeTimJudah,DorisPack,StefanLehne,PetraRoter,ChristianDanielsson.

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L GO

B

TheblogisapartofaprojectoftheCentreforSoutheastEuropeanStudiesinGrazandtheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansbasedontheobservationthattheEUenlargementprocessiscurrentlylackingbroadsupportintheEUandthatthecountriesintheWesternBalkansoftendonotpursuingaccessionasvigorouslyastheycould.Thus,theblogisaboutpromotingadebateonhowtheEUintegrationoftheregioncouldbeacceleratedandgivennewdynamism.

ThecoregoaloftheBalkansinEuropePolicyGroupandtherelatedblogistoachievedemocratic,prosperousmemberstatesoftheEUintheWesternBalkans.Thus,thekeygoalistopromotetheconsolidationofliberaldemocraciesintheregion,includingastrongregardfor

tolerance.ItisunderstoodthattheEUaccessionisatooltoachievethisgoal,notanendinitself.

Weseekanopenanpluralistdebateandbelievethatdiscussingnewideas,givingavoicetorelevantpolicyproposalsandresearchiswhatisneededtocarrythedebateforwards.WhilewepromotethegoalofliberalprosperousdemocraciesintheEU,wedonotpromoteasinglewaytoachievethisgoalandseekadiversityofopinions.Onlydebate,includingcontroversycanhelptoreinvigoratethisprocess.Infact,thereductiontoameretechnicalprocessoftheEUaccessionrisksby-passingtheinherentlypoliticalnatureofreformswhichhavetoreduceopportunitiesforabuseofoffice,amoreeffectiveeconomicpolicyandstronginstitutions.

Florian BieberDIRECTOR CENTRE FOR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ

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Policy Talks

PolicyTalksislong-termEuropeanFundfortheBalkans'initiative,whichisapartoftheSupportingPolicyDevelopmentProgrammeArea.

ItisenvisagedasaseriesofshortinterviewsconductedwiththeresearchersfromWesternBalkanspolicyresearchorganisations,think-tanksandinstitutes,whichparticipatedintheThinkandLink–RegionalPolicyProgrammecycles2010/2011,2011/2012,2012/2013,supportedbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans.

TheconcludingfinalseminaroftheThinkandLinkProgrammeservesasanexcellentopportunitytogetthebestanswersandinsightsintoalltheimportantquestions,concerningtheseparateregionalprojectsandthepolicyinfluencedperspectivesoftheproducedpolicypapers.

Inthesametime,thisplatformisusedforsharingthevideosfromthepolicyevents,conferencesandmeetingsorganizedbytheEuropeanFundintheBalkans,bothintheregionandintheEU.

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49

Videos

49

Projects

10

Countries

3

Editions

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Supported Initiatives

EveryyeartheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanssupportsvariousinitiativesandprojectswithintheDiscretionaryFundscheme.Takingtheflexibleapproachtowardstheideasandconceptswhichrequirerapidresponse,theEuropeanFundhas

2Totalinitiatives supportedin

2008


2009


2010


2011


2012


2013

createdasmallnetworkofsupportedorganisations/institutions.ByhelpingtherealizationoftheseprojectswhichareinlinewiththeFund’spriorityprogrammeareas,theFundhasalsosupportedasignificantnumberofindividualsfromitsowncommunity.

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Slovenian EU Presidency 2008 – a chance for the Western Balkans“LjubljanaAgendafornewphaseoftheStabilisationandAssociationProcess”EuropeanMovementinSerbia

Alpbach Summer School on European Integration InitiativeGroupAlpbachBelgrade

The European Rails of PeaceTravelsandFreedomCulturalAssociation

Towards White Schengen List- Road Maps Monitoring - Western Balkan Regional Response Group484

Serb – Croat Relations – Political Cooperation and National Minorities Dialogue - Researcher’s association CentreforPromotionofScientificDialogue

Is a New Gas Crisis Approaching? EuropeanMovementinSerbia

The Twelfth South-East European Summer School for Democracy -“Impact of Global Crisis on Stability and Security in the Balkans” Anglo-SerbianSociety

Ten years of normalization of relations, ten years of Igman Initiative CentreforRegionalism

The Culture Lobby, And Archive of Cultural Memory KIOSK

EU Integration School KosovoCivilSocietyFoundation

Live from EuropeAninsideEuropeexperiencefor6TVjournalistsfromtheBalkansSEETv

Advocacy for Young People in KosovoThinkYoung

Promotion of Benefits of Regional and Cross-Border Cooperation For SerbiaISACFund

Enhancing Women’s Role in GovernanceAcademyofPoliticalStudies

Exchange for leaders in the regionEUCLIDNetwork

Belgrade Security ForumBelgradeFundforPoliticalExcellence,EuropeanMovementinSerbia,BelgradeCentreforSecurityPolicy

International Justice – Global EquityEuropeanForumAlpbach

Civil Bridge-Building – The Hungarian 2011 EU-Presidency and the Western BalkansAssociationofLocalDemocracyAgencies,SuboticaandtheEuropeanHouse,Budapest

Share Conference 1SHAREFoundation

Summer School in Comparative Conflict StudiesCenterforComparativeConflictStudies(CFCCS)

Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival 2012BalkanBeyondBorders

Leaving Europe’s Waiting Room -“Overcoming the Crisis of EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans” ConferenceTheCentreforSoutheastEuropeanStudies,UniversityofGraz

Alpbach Political Symposium 2012EuropeanForumAlpbach

The European Association of Political Consultants conferenceEAPS

The Balkans and the EU – New RealitiesGLOBSECBratislavaSecurityConference2012

SHARE Conference 2SHAREFoundation

Find Your Way through the Enlargement LabyrinthCivilTrustBuildingProject

Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival 2013BalkanBeyondBorders,Greece

Alpbach Summer School on European Integration 2013 (ASSEI-B13)ClubAlpbachBelgrade

Belgrade Security Forum 2013BelgradeFundforPoliticalExcellence,Serbia

EurActiv.rsBetaPressltd

Good Governance from a Cross-sectoral PerspectiveRegionalResearchPromotionProgramme

Summer School in Comparative Conflict StudiesCenterforComparativeConflictStudies(CFCCS)

Young Leaders ForumGLOBSECBratislavaSecurityConference2013

Alpbach Summit of Emerging Leaders 2013EuropeanForumAlpbach

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Feedback Corner

Project:EurActiv.rs

TheprojectenvisagedmediaproductionontheEurActiv.rs-specializedportaldedicatedtoSerbia’sassociationwiththeEU,Serbia’spreparationfornegotiationsontheEUmembershipandconsequencesthetalkswillhaveupontheentireWesternBalkansregion.Theportal’sexperiencedjournalistsprepareddetailedreportsonallkeyaspectsofthetalks.EurActiv.rsgathersexperiencedandexpertjournalists,recipientsofseveralawardsforprofessionalreportingonEuropeantopicsand

theEuropeanintegrationprocess.Owingtoyearsofexperienceandwell-establishedconnections,theyarerelyingonexpertopinionsandanalysesofrepresentativesoftheexpertpublic,institutions,andorganisations.Initswork,EurActiv.rsalsoreliesonpositionsandactivitiesofthecivilsector,aswellasonscientificanalysesandlecturesdeliveredatvariousuniversitiesandbysuccessfulbusinesspeople.

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ThankstotheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanswhichhasrecognizedtheneedforrelationsbetweenSerbiaandothercountriesintheregion–involving,amongother,economicandsocialissuesandjointeffortsagainstorganizedcrimeandcorruption–tobetackledthoroughly,aspecialsectionentitledEUandtheWesternBalkanswasopenedatEurActiv.rs,aspecializedportallaunchedbytheBetaNewsAgency.

FromthemediapointofviewthishasalsoopenednewreportingareasthatwilldemandgreaterandmorediversifiedexpertiseconcerningSerbia’sandtheregion’salignmentwiththeEUacquisandaconsistentfollowingandexplainingofvarioustechnicalproceduresinthenegotiationsbetweenSerbiaand

theEUonthecountry’sfull-fledgedmembership.Mostmedia,atleastinSerbia,stillfocusonthepoliticalcriteriaintheprocess,whileonlyafew,likeEurActivSerbia,reportcompetentlyontheveryessenceofthetalks,andtheimportanceandthenatureofreformsinSerbiaandothercountriesintheregion.

TheprojectthatwassupportedbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansinvolvedamediaproductionontheEUandtheWesternBalkansintheperiodoffivemonths.TheproductionwasmadeavailabletothepublicviatheEurActiv.rsportal,specializinginEUintegrations,socialnetworks,andBETA’sGeneralNewsService.

BecauseofthefinancialcrisisinSerbianostateinstitutioncanafford

Milica SolunacPROJECT MANAGER, EURACTIV.RS

tosupporttheEurActiv.rsportalanditsprojects.SincemonitoringdevelopmentsintheEUisofessentialpoliticalimportanceforSerbia,assistancefromdonorswassought.

WewouldliketousethisopportunitytoexpressourgratitudetotheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansforallitshelp,hopingthatoursuccessfulcooperationandnaturalpartnershipwillcontinueinthefuture.

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Feedback Corner

Project:Belgrade Security Forum

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshassupported2editionsoftheBelgradeSecurityForum–“TheBalkansandGlobalSecurity:WhatDoWeHaveinCommon,WhatSetsUsApart?”(2011),and“Isthestateunderde(construction)?-RisksandresponsesfromtheBalkansandbeyond"(2013).

ThemainobjectiveoftheprojectistobuildagenuinesecuritycommunityofpeopleandstatesoftheBalkansregion,througharegion-widedebatecarriedoutby

politicalleadersandmembersoftheinternationalcommunity,civilsocietyandresearchcommunity.ThespecificobjectivesoftheBelgradeSecurityForumaimat:bringingtheEuropeanandglobalsecuritydebatetotheBalkans,discussingBalkansecurityissueswithintheEuropeanandglobalsecurityframework,andpresentingBalkanachievementsanddilemmastotheparticipantsintheEuropeanandglobalsecuritydebate.TheorganizersoftheBelgradeSecurityForum–threewell-knowncivilsocietyorganisations(Belgrade

FundforPoliticalExcellence,EuropeanMovementinSerbia,BelgradeCentreforSecurityPolicy)–dotheirbesttoturnthiseventintoanhigh-levelregionalhubforpolicydialoguethatwillcontributeinameaningfulwaynotonlytothedevelopmentofthesecuritycommunityintheregion,butalsototheongoingEuropeanandglobalsecurityandforeignpolicydebates.

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IvividlyrememberthelaunchoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansinSarajevo.Anexcitingmomentfullofexpectations.HowwillthisnewinitiativeshapeanewwayofcivicinterventionintheWesternBalkans?WillitcontributetothestrengtheningofcivilsocietyandtheEuropeanperspectiveofthewholeregion?TheBalkanTrustforDemocracyoftheGermanMarshalFundleftthreeyearsofverysuccessfulactivitiesbehindalready,thus,anewEuropeanfundedsimilarinitiativewasbothwelcomedandnecessary.TheBelgradeFundforPoliticalExcellencefeelshonoredtobeacontinuouspartneroftheEFB.Inmanymajoreventsthatweorganized,theEFBwaspresentasagenuinesupporter:fromBelgradeSecurityForumstothemarkingofourtenthanniversarybysupporting

theconference“InSearchofResponsibleDemocracy”.

Inmyopinion,allthefoundersoftheEFBshouldbeproudthattheymadetherightdecisionintherightmoment–whentheThessalonikiAgendaneededagenuinebottom-upsupport.ThisiswhattheEFBhasbeenfulfillingfromitsveryinception,andIsincerelyhopeitwillcontinuetodosoinforthcomingfuture.

Sonja LichtPRESIDENT OF BELGRADE FUND FOR POLITICAL EXCELLENCE

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Feedback Corner

Project:Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival

FocusingontheArtofshortfilmandnewmedia,BalkanBeyondBordersflagshipactivityistheorganisationofanannualthematicshort-filmfestival,theBalkansBeyondBordersShortFilmFestival.TheFilmFestivaltakesplaceinadifferentBalkancityeachyear.ItcelebratesBalkandiversityandengagesaudienceandcreatorstoreflectonpressingcontemporaryissuesthroughthemediumofshortfilm.

TheFundhassupportedthefirstBBBShortFilmFestivalintheframesoftheEFBLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme,aswellastheBBBShortFilmFestivalsin2012and2013.

In2012theBalkansBeyondBordersShortFilmFesttravelledtoTirana,Albania,betweenSeptember21and23underthetopic“TalktoMe”,

multilingualismandcommunication.Thethreedaysofthefestivalwerealsoframedbyotherculturaleventslikefilmworkshops,photoexhibitions,visualartevents,livebands,graffitiactivities.

The2013editionofthefestival“ReinventingBridges”tookplaceinBucharestonOctober11-13atMuzeulTaranuluiRoman,analternativeartspacelocatedinthecentreofBucharest,whichhasbecomeatruemeetingpointforyoungpeopleinterestedinculture.Themuseumofferedapossibilitytoprojectfilmsbothinitsnewlyrenovatedcinemaandoutside,initscourtyard.Theadditionalactivitiesincludedroundtablediscussions,photoexhibitions,concertsandafter-screeningparties.Roundtablediscussions(2duringthe

threedays)broughttogetheryoungfilm-makersfromRomaniaandothercountriesfromtheregiontodiscusstopicssuchas:crowdsourcingforfilmfestivals,theimpactofdocumentariesonperceptionsofhistoricalevents,theinfluenceofhistoryoneverydaylifeintheBalkans.Aphotoexhibitionwasorganizedwiththebeststillsfrompreselectedandprojectedfilms.

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BalkansBeyondBorderswouldnothaveexistedwithouttheSEEandtheEULeadershipDevelopmentProgrammeasitwascreatedduringLDP2009.ThroughLeadershipDevelopmentProgramme(LDP),EFBhasmanagedtocreatearealnetworkofyoungprofessionals,devotedtoimprovingtheirregion’srealityandwhoveryoftensupporteachotherinorganizingactivities.LDPgavemotiveto6youngprofessionalsfrom5differentcountriesofSoutheastEuropetocreateBBBinordertoenhancecooperationamongBalkanpeoples’andtheBalkansclosertotheEuropeanUnionthroughtheartofShortFilmmakingandtheuseofNewMedia.

TheEFB’scontributionhasbeencrucialforBBBasithelpedusin

organizingtwosuccessfulshortfilmfestivals-onein2012andtheotherin2013,aswellasthefirstBBBShortFilmFestivalthroughLDP.EveryyearBBBorganizesBalkansBeyondBordersShortFilmFestivalthattravelsfromcitytocityintheBalkansandhasadifferentthematicwhichisinspiringfortheyoungfilmmakers.Itsmissionistogivemotivation,inspire,enhancemobilityandcooperationandofcoursefosterEUIdentity.WithEFB’ssupportBBBmanagedtocontinueitsmissionbyorganizingthe3rdand4thBBBShortFilmFestivalwhichtookplaceinTiranaandBucharestrespectively.The3rdShortFilmFestivalhadasthematicthetitle:“Talktome-MultilingualismandCommunication”andthe4th:“ReinventingBridges”.ThankstotheEFB’ssupport,BBBgavetheopportunitytoyoung

Vasiliki MaltasoglouCOMMUNICATION MANAGER, BALKAN BEYOND BORDERS

creatorstoexpressthemselvesbycreatingtheirownshortfilmsandpromotetheirworktoaninternationalaudience.AtBBBShortFilmFestivalyoungpeoplehavetheopportunitytomeettogether,exchangeopinions,improvetheirawarenessuponissuesintheregionandshapeanEUIdentityfollowingtheEFB’saimsaswell.BBBisgratefultohavebeensupportedbytheEFBinordertocompleteitsmission.

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Books

“Serbia Matters: Domestic Re-forms and European Integration“ presentspolicyessaysonSerbia’spost-Miloševićerawrittenbyinter-nationallyrecognisedauthors,policymakers,academicsandpoliticalana-lystsactivelyengagedintheBalkansdiscourse.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanssupportedSerbianeditionofthebook“SerbiaMatters:DomesticReformsandEuropeanIntegration”inSerbianlanguagethroughthegrantwiththepublishinghouseSamizdatB92.

“The Culture Lobby”AnArchiveofCulturalMemory“isacollectionofthepublishedphotographsasacollectiveportraitoftheterritoriesoftheWest-ernBalkans.Sevenartorganisations,representingtheWesternBalkans,col-laboratedintensivelythroughout2009inanexchangeoflocalartistswhosetaskwastocollectthesubjectiveviewsofthecitizensinthecities,townsandvillagesoftheregion.ThisbookisavisualdocumentationofwhatcitizensthinkwillchangeordisappearwhentheirterritoryjoinstheEU.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanssupportedpublishingthebookandtheeventsorganizedthroughouttheregioninformofpresentationsoftheprojectresultsandoutcomes.

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Variety of EFB Activities

“Hijacked Justice: Dealing with the Past in the Balkans”presentstheau-thor'sviewsabouttheeffectsoftransi-tionaljusticeandaccomplishmentsofthestandardssetbytheinternationalnorms.Whatistheappropriatepoliticalre-sponsetomassatrocity?In"HijackedJustice",JelenaSubotictracesthedesign,implementation,andpoliticaloutcomesoftheinstitutionsestab-lishedtodealwiththelegaciesofvio-lenceintheaftermathoftheYugoslavwars.Shefindsthatinternationalef-fortstoestablishaccountabilityforwarcrimesintheformerYugoslaviahavebeenusedtopursueverydifferentlocalpoliticalgoals.Respondingtoin-ternationalpressures,Serbia,Croatia,

andBosniahaveimplementedvariousmechanismsof“transitionaljustice”-thesystematicaddressingofpastcrimesafterconflictsend.Transitionaljusticeinthethreecountries,how-ever,wasguidedbyulteriorpoliticalmotives:togetridofdomesticpoliticalopponents,toobtaininternationalfinancialaid,ortogainadmissiontotheEuropeanUnion.Suboticarguesthatwhentransitionaljusticebecomes“hijacked”forsuchlocalpoliticalstrategies,itfostersdomesticbacklash,deepenspoliticalinstability,andevencreatesalternative,politicizedversionsofhistory.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanssupportedthebook'spublishinginSerbianlanguage.

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Partner organisation for the travelling exhibition “See New Perspectives from Balkan photographers” by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and World Press Photo

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanswasthelocalpartnerorganisationfortherealizationofthetravellingexhibition“SeeNewPerspectivesfromBalkanphotographers”bytheRobertBoschStiftungandWorldPressPhoto.

Intheperiodbetween18thofNo-vember–14ofDecember,2012theArtgetGalleryoftheCulturalCentreofBelgradewastheplacewherethelocalpublichadanopportunitytoseethephoto-essaysofthe15talentedphotographers–AndreiPungovschi(Romania),ArmendNimani(Kosovo),

BevisFusha(Albania),DženatDreković(Serbia),EugeniaMaximova(Bulgar-ia),FerdiLimani(Kosovo),JasminBru-tus(BosniaandHerzegovina),JetmirIdriz(Kosovo),MarkoRisović(Serbia),NemanjaPančić(Serbia),OctavGanea(Romania),PetrutCalinescu(Roma-nia),SanjaKnežević,(Serbia),TomislavGeorgiev(Macedonia),VesselinaNikolaeva(Bulgaria).

TheywerechosentoparticipateinthisprojectbypresentingtheiruniqueanddifferentoverviewsofthemoderneverydaylivinginthecountriesintheBalkanregion.

Everythingstartedbackin2010,whenWorldPressPhotoandRobertBoschStiftunglaunchedthejointproject“SEE New Perspectives: Mas-ter Class for Professional Photogra-phers from Southeastern Europe“.

Theaimoftheprojectwastochal-lengethephotographers’percep-tionsoftheirnativecountriesandtheirregionbyencouragingthemtoexplorenewperspectivesonlifeintheregionbeyondbordersandpre-vailingstereotypes.Themasterclasswasalsoenvisionedtoadvancethephotographersintheirprofessional

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Photo: Eugenia Maximova

Galerija ARTGETKulturni centar BeogradaKnez Mihailova 6, Beograd

18. novembar – 14. decembar 2012. utorak – nedelja: 11.00h – 21.00

Supported by:The European Fund for the Balkans

Kulturni centar Beograda

developmentandtostrengthentheirnarrativeskills.

ThefinalphotoessayswerearecordoflifeintheBalkansin2010and2011.Thetopicsrangedfrommi-grantworkerscommutingbetweenFranceandRomaniathroughmar-riagebrokersinruralSerbiatotheinternationalambitionsofayoungwrestlingchampioninBulgaria.Aspeoplefromtheregion,thephotog-raphersworkedinsideanumberofsubculturestoprovidenewinsightsandtostimulatefreshthinkingaboutaregionwherestereotypesareall

toofamiliar.Thefinalresultwasthiscollectionoftheindividualphoto-impressionsoftheauthorsthatcaughttheattentionofthepublicintheBalkancountriescapitalsandalloverEurope.

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanscreatedthespecialframeworkpro-gramme“FreedomsandBoundaries”consistedof2thematicpaneldiscus-sions(“PhotojournalisminSerbia:NewPerspectives”andTheNewPerspectivesfortheYoungPeopleintheBalkans”),2photoworkshopsand2filmprojections(“Twilightof

Heroes–Croatia,EuropeandtheIn-ternationalTribunal”and“Whoseisthissong”)inordertocontinuethestoryofthephotographersessaysintowiderdiscussiononwhatarethenewperspectivesoftheBalkancountries.Theculturalphenom-ena,trendsandstereotypeswhicharepresentintheeverydaylifeinthewholeregionwerethethingsthatwereusedasstartingpointsandsmallfragmentsinbuildingthewholemosaic.

Photo–Kremikovtzi,Bulgaria©EugeniaMaximova,2012,Bulgaria

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SHARE ConferenceBELGRADE

EuropeanFundfortheBalkanssup-portedtheShareConferencein2011and2012,byactiveparticipationoftwentyEFBCommunitymemberswhowereabletoattendthework-shops,lecturersandhearandlearnaboutnewmediaandnewtechnolo-giesfrominfluentialexpertsindigitalactivism,associatedwithGoogle,Twitter,Harvard,MIT,Obama’smar-ketingteam,etc.

SHAREconferenceisrenownasagatheringspotformorethantwothousandactivists,bloggers,engi-neers,programmersandartistsfromSerbiaandinternationally,inthreedaysofinterestinglectures,work-

shopsandmeetings.Thisplatformisanepicenterofexchangeofprogres-siveideasandknowledgeinthefieldofsociety,technology,Internet,musicandnewmedia.

LeadinginternationalstarsinthefieldofInternetactivismandsocialchanges,cyberdissidentsandworld-classbloggerseducatetheaudi-enceonnewformsofactivismandapproachinuseofnewmediaandadvancedtechnologies.DiscussionsdelvedeepintotheundergroundoftheInternetmovementandexploregroupsthatfightfordigitalrights,protectingtheprivacyoffellowresidents.Withprogressivemusic

andculture,theyglorifytheInternetasopenandfreeterritoryforall.Theconferencewasvisitedby700regionalopinionmakersand15000localandinternationalvisitors.

SincethefirstSHAREwasheldinspring2011,turbulenceofInternetactivismhasshakeneverypartoftheplanet.Arabspring,occupationofWallStreet,fightagainstSOPAandPIPAbillsarejustsomeoflargemovements,whichshowedthattheInternethasagrowinginfluenceandinspiresradicalchangesandcom-munityaction.BytakingpartintheconferencetheCommunitymem-berswereabletobeuptodatewith

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thecurrentachievementandnewapproachesintheInternettechnol-ogyandanyformofnewmedia.ThenexttwoShareConferenceeditionswereheldinBeirutandRijeka.

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EXIT Festival 2010 Agora Stage PETROVARADIN FORTRESS / NOVI SAD / SERBIA 8 - 11 JULY 2010

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanstraditionallycooperateswiththelargestmusicfestivalintheBalkans–EXITFestival,jointlyorganizingdifferenteventsandactivities.InJuly2010theEFBorganizedthepaneldiscussiononDevelopmentvs.EnvironmentDilemmawithintheframeworkofEXITsocialprogramme.

Thispaneldiscussionwasdevotedtotheincreasinggapincreationofsustainabledevelopmentexistingbetweenthedevelopedanddevelopingpartsoftheworld.

ThepanelwasmoderatedbyAndzrejPyrka-GallupEurope.ThepanelistswereNigelJollands-HeadoftheEnergyEfficiencyUnitinInternationalEnergyAgency,MarkoRakar-IndependentanalystfromCroatia,DoritNitzan-HeadofCountryOfficesoftheWorldHealthOrganisationinSerbiaandinMontenegro.

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Council of Europe Network Supported Regional Seminars

TheCouncilofEuropeschoolsofpoliticalstudieswereestablishedtotrainfuturegenerationsofpolitical,economic,socialandculturalleadersincountriesintransition.TheyrunannualcoursesofseminarsandconferencesontopicssuchasEuropeanintegration,democracy,humanrights,theruleoflawandglobalisation,withtheparticipationofnationalandinternationalexperts.

Todaythenetworkincludes16schoolscoveringthewholeofEastandSouth-EastEuropeandtheCaucasus.

TheSchoolsofPoliticalStudiesofferaseriesofone-weekseminarsin

thecountry,withclosingseminarsheldattheCouncilofEuropeinStrasbourg.AnnualseminarcyclesarecomprisedofthreetofourseminarswheredomesticandinternationalexpertscovertopicssuchasEuropeanintegration,democracy,humanrights,theruleoflawandglobalization.Seminarparticipantsareyoungpoliticalleaders,localself-governmentrepresentatives,judges,lawyers,journalists,businessmen/womenandcivilactivists.

TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkanshasbeensupportingRegionalSeminarsintheWesternBalkancountriessince2009.

ENERGY SECURITY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

– NEW ARGUMENTS FOR

REGIONAL COOPERATION

PUBLIC POLICIES AND

POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING

- SHIFTS AND CHALLENGES

IN MAKING POLITICS MORE

RATIONAL

CHALLENGES AHEAD AND

OPPORTUNITIES OF THE

BALKAN REGION

HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

IN WESTERN BALKANS –

BETWEEN THE COMMITMENT

AND THE NECESSITY

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Policy Dialogues

ThepolicydialoguewasaimedatpromotingtheexistingpositiveexamplesofleadershipandengagementoftheBalkanyouththroughapoliticalforumandpresentingthoseinitia-tivestoabroaderpublicinBrussels.ThiseventgavetheopportunitytopresentthevisionoftheBalkansandtheEUthroughtheeyesoftherepresentativesofthenewgen-erationsoftheWesternBalkans.

ThedebatewasdirectedtostrengtheningtheunderstandingamongsttherepresentativesoftheEUinstitutionsandyoungpeopleandtheneeds,thoughtsandproblemstheyen-counter.ThisdirectandopendialoguehostedbytheEuropeanPolicyCentreinspiredboththeguestsandotherparticipantsoftheeventtoproactivelythinkaboutthestatusoftheyoungpeopleintheBalkans,thefutureoftheBalkansandtheEUaccession.

FiveyoungparticipantsfromtheWesternBalkansregionparticipatedinthediscussionwiththeEUofficialswhoareactivelyinvolvedinshapingtheEUpolicytowardstheregion.

The Future of the EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans

BRUSSELS, MAY 2009

FollowingtheEuropeanCommission’sevaluationsofprogressoftheWesternBalkanstowardsEuropeanintegration,thenewGallupBalkanMonitoronpublicopinionintheregionofferedinsightsintocitizens’viewsoftheEU.ItwasoncesaidthattheaimoftheEUpolicyintheBalkanswastomakethem‘boring’countries.ThefindingsofthepublicopinionsurveyshighlightedthatindeedtheBalkancitizensareputtingtheirfearsofwarandethnicpolarisationbehindthemandareinsteadconcentratingontheirowninstitutionsandtheimpactofthefinancialcrisisontheirday-to-daylives.Theyappearedtobefeelingmorerepre-sentedbytheirpoliticiansandperceivecorruptiontobedecreasing.

ThepastyearssawtheEU’sBalkanagendamovingapace,fromvisaliberalisation,theResolutiononKosovo,andtheopinionsexpectedfromtheCommissionontheapplicationsfromMontenegro,AlbaniaandlaterSerbia.HowdothesedevelopmentsaffecttheperceptionsoftheBalkansandtheprospectsoftheaccessionprocessandthefutureofthesepotentialEUmemberstates?

ThesefindingswerediscussedinapanelmoderatedbyNeilMacdon-ald,FinancialTimescorrespondentinBelgrade.ThepanelistswereRobertManchin,CEOofGallupEurope,CatherineWendt,HeadofCommunicationsUnit,DGEnlargement,EuropeanCommission,Edu-ardKukanMEP,Chair,DelegationforrelationswithAlbania,BosniaandHerzegovina,Serbia,MontenegroandKosovo,EuropeanParliament,VetonSurroi,EditorofthenewspaperKohaDitore,andRosaBalfour,SeniorPolicyAnalyst,EuropeanPolicyCentre.

Rocky road towards “normality”: Public opinion in the Balkans

BRUSSELS, MAY 2009

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TheEuropeanPolicyCentre,incooperationwiththeCenterforDemoc-racyandReconciliationinSoutheastEuropeandtheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,organizedthePolicyDialogueonTheEUandtheBalkans–Alongengagementorahappymarriage?onJune28,2012.

Croatiaissettobecomethe28thEUmemberstatein2013,Montenegrowillsoonstartaccessionnegotiations,andSerbiahasbeenofferedcan-didatestatus.Yettheprospectsforaccessionremainuncertain.Reformsandreconciliationeffortshaveyettobeconsolidatedinallthenations,wherethepastoftenmixesuncomfortablywithpresentpriorities.Workonstate-buildingandimprovedgovernanceisfarfromover.WhileitistheresponsibilityofthepeopleoftheBalkanstorisetotheaccessionchallenge,theEUalsohasitsparttoplayinhelpingtheregionsuccess-fullymoveforwardontheintegrationagenda.WhatshouldthemainprioritiesandstrategiesbefortheBalkans?AndhowcantheEUkeepenlargementalive,givenitscurrentpreoccupationwiththecrisis?

TheseandotherissueswillbedebatedafterashortvideopresentationofthedocumentaryseriesOKRUZENJE(Vicinities).PanellistswillincludeEPCSeniorPolicyAnalystRosaBalfour,CorrespondentfortheBalkanswithTheEconomistTimJudah,ExecutiveDirectoroftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansHedvigMorvai-Horvat,DirectorGeneralforEnlargementintheEuropeanCommissionStefanoSanninoandRomanaVlahutin,President’sEnvoyforSouthEastEurope,OfficeofthePresidentoftheRepublicofCroatia.ExecutiveDirectoroftheCenterforDemocracyandReconciliationinSoutheastEuropeNenadSebekwillmoderatetheevent.

The EU and the Balkans – A long engagement or a happy marriage?

JUNE 2012, BRUSSELS

ThestateofplayoftheEUenlargementstrategytowardstheWesternBalkanswasdiscussedinthepolicydialogue“AfterCroatia–Re-energizingtheEUenlargementpolicyontheBalkans”,whichwasorga-nizedbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkans,CentreforSoutheastEuropeanStudiesattheUniversityofGrazandhostedbytheEuropeanPolicyCenteron25thonNovemberinScotlandHouseinBrussels.ThispolicyeventpresentedagoodopportunitytohearthebothsidesinvolvedintheEUIntegrationprocessoftheWesternBalkans.TheopendiscussionoftheeminentpanelistsTanjaMiscevic-Serbia’sChiefEUNegotiator,AleksandarA.Pejovic-Montenegro’sChiefEUNegotiator,ChristianDanielsson-Director-GeneralforEnlargementintheEuropeanCommis-sion,ChristophRetzlaff-HeadofEUEnlargement,NeighbourhoodandEUExternalRelations,ForeignOfficeofGermany,FlorianBieber,ProfessorofSouth-eastEuropeanStudiesandDirectoroftheCentreforSoutheastEuropeanStudiesattheUniversityofGrazandAntonNimac,HeadoftheWorldBank’sViennaOfficemanagedtoraiseaseriesofnewquestionsanddilemmas,butitalsogavesomeanswersandfirst-handinformationaboutthecurrentsituationofthisimportantprocess,whichisseenasadrivingforceofthereformsintheBalkans.

After Croatia – Re-energizing the EU enlargement policy on the Balkans

NOVEMBER 2013, BRUSSELS

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Foundation Week 2010 Balkans 2025: Back to the Future IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE OPEN DAYS WITHIN THE EFC FOUNDATION WEEK

JUNE 2010

Whatdoayoungcivilservant,aguitarist,anartist,acivilsocietyactivistandayoungleaderhaveincommon?

The“Balkans2025:BacktotheFuture“gavetheflavouroftherecentdevelopmentsintheregionoftheWesternBalkansbyinvolvingdirectpartnersandbeneficiariesoftheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansinaneventofexchange,interaction,visionarythinkingandaudaciousideas.Ashortmoviepresenting“TheCultureLobby”,oneofthevariousinitiativessupportedbytheFundwasscreenedasanintroductiontothediscussionwithyoungpeoplefromdifferent

countriesoftheWesternBalkansabouttheir"retrospective"visionofthefutureoftheregionoftheWesternBalkansin2025.Theshortmoviedescribedthehopesandfearsoftheregion’speopleandperfectlysetthesceneforthediscussion.

YoungBalkanresidents,someofwhomhadpreviouslyparticipatedintheEFBProgrammes,werebroughttogethertopresenttheirviewsontheregion’spast,presentandfuture.GallupresearcherAndrzejPyrkahadthejobofmoderatingthedebateandspeakersgavetheirpersonalperspectivesonthefutureoftheregion.

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Waves of Democracy NOVI SAD, SERBIA

2-8 JULY 2010

WavesofDemocracyisaprojectrunbyIUC-EuropeandGlobalCitizenincooperationwiththeEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandtheEuropeanMovementSerbia.TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansfinanciallysup-portedtheproject.

AhundredyoungEuropeansfromtheEUcountriesandtheWesternBalkansmetinNoviSad,Serbiatodiscussthechallengesandpossibili-tiesthatWesternBalkansfacesinEuropeandintheworld.TheyoungstudentsfromtheWesternBalkancountrieshadanamazingopportu-nitytomeettheirpeersfromtheEUcountriesandinaspecificintercul-

turalatmospherediscusshowtheycanbenefitfromeachother.Theoverallaimofthisgatheringwastopromotepeaceandunderstandingandtogiveacontributiontoabet-terfutureforcominggenerations.Throughtheirparticipationinthissummerschool,participantsbecameapartofanextensivenetworkofyoungEuropeans.Theywereeducat-edasyouthambassadorsandGlobalCitizeneditorsandanumberofthemwillbeinvolvedintheIUCfutureactivitiesintheregionandinDK.

ThesummerseminarinNoviSadincludedmanyvariouslectures,presentations,plenarydebates.

TheoverallstrategywastheModelEuropeanParliament(MEPcon-cept),whichhasbeendevelopedbystudentsandteachersinvolvedintheMEPsessions.Theworkwasorga-nizedin10groupsandfivedifferentcommittees(1.EnergyandClimateChange;2.RegionalDevelopment;3.CultureandEducation;4.NewMediaandDemocracy;5.ActiveCitizen-ship),whichwererunbyexperiencedstudents,whopreviouslyparticipatedininternationalseminars.

AttheendofthesummerseminarparticipantsjointlypreparedtheconclusionsandrecommendationsinformofCitizensAgenda.

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TheEuropeanStoryFundisainnovativeinitiativethathasbeensetupbytheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansandBalkanandco-financedbytheBalkanTrustforDemocracytosupportthecostsofproducingstoriesonrelevantEuropeanthemesbythejournalistsfromthroughouttheWesternBalkans,aswellasthejournalistsbasedinBrussels,reportingonWBissues.Theproducedstorieswerethansharedandbroadcastbymultiplemediahouses/TVstationsfromthroughouttheWesternBalkans.

TheFundprovidessmallgrantstocontributetotheadditionalcostsofmakingstoriesforbroadcastingonEuropeanissuesrelevanttothecountriesoftheWesternBalkans.

BACKGROUND

ThisinitiativeaimstoimprovepublicunderstandingoftheEuropeanaccessionprocessanddebateontheEUintegrationintheWesternBalkans.ItestablishesaflexiblecooperativenetworkofworkingTVjournalistsfromthroughoutthe

The European Story Fund2009 – 2011

region,regardedasthebestintheirfieldthatsharetheirideasandknow-howaswellasjointheirresourcesinthestoryproductionandsharingprocess.

TheinitiativewasinitiallyproposedbythejournaliststhemselvescomingfromdifferentcountriesoftheWesternBalkans.Itisanexampleoflocallydrivenregionalcooperation.

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1Productionofstoriesthatimprove

publicunderstandingoftheEuropeanaccessionprocessanddebateonthe

EUintegrationintheWesternBalkans 2

Exchangeofmaterial withinagrowingnetwork

ofjournalists 3

Planningofjointinterviewbidsandcommissioningmaterialfromthefreelancecameraoperatorsand

journalistsfundedbythe StoryFund 4

Shootingandsending viaFTPshortstatementsor interviewsuponrequest

fromvarious journalists 5

Commonworkin requestinginterviewswithofficials

usuallywithlessaccessibility forthelocalmediaworkingon

theirown

Stefan Fühle's first day at workDusanGajic,SEETV-Brussels

Slovenia shares EU Accession Experience with Fellow Balkan Countries DusanGajic,SEETV-Brussels

Trade Unions + Pensioners + TV marketGoranRotim,HTV-Zagreb

Independent Living for Disabled People MajaDivac,Evronet-Belgrade

Slovakia: From laggard to front-runner – lessons for the Balkans?DusanGajic,SEETV-Brussels

EU is…not to hide who you love AnaBogovac,ProTV

Parliament’s Role in European Democracies BorjanJovanovski,Skopje

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Theconference“GoodGovernancefromacross-sectoralperspective”,whichwasorganizedbytheEuro-peanFundfortheBalkansandtheRegionalResearchPromotionalProgramme,gathered60partici-pantsfromtheregioninexchangingexperienceandpracticesduring9paneldiscussions,2interactiveses-sionsand3break-outsessions.

Theagendawasdesignedtoap-proachthediscussionofthestatusandperspectivesofgoodgover-nanceintheWesternBalkansfromacross-sectoralperspectiveandthroughjoiningtherepresentativesofthethreekeysectors:administra-tion,academiaandpolicyresearchorganisations.

Sincethegoodgovernanceconcepthasbeenaprominenttopicdur-ingthelastdecadeintheWesternBalkans,theconferencewasagoodopportunitytojoinforcesanddis-cussthissubjectwhichisoneofthekeyimperativesfortheregionwhichisstillgoingthroughtransitionandaimingtojointheEuropeanUnion.

Thisdiscoursegatheredpolicymak-ers,socialscienceresearchersandpolicyanalyststodiscusscomplexquestionsrelatedtotheWesternBalkanregion,itscurrentstatus,obstaclesandperspectivestomoveforward.

Itwasconcludedthatinordertoachieveprogressintheareaofgood

governance,anevidence-basedap-proachtopolicymakingneedstobeaccepted.Thisinturnrequiresstronginputsofpolicyresearchintothepolicycycle,whichisstillasystemicdeficiencyofmostgovernmentsandsectorsintheWesternBalkanscountries.Inordertocreateastron-gerdemandfor(policy)researchasabasisforpolicymaking,strongerlinkagesbetweentheadministration(policymakers),academicandpolicyresearchcommunitiesneedtobecreatedandbenefitsofanevidencebasedapproachtopublicpolicyneedtobecommunicatedandadvocated.

Enhancingthecommunicationbe-tweenscientists,politiciansandre-searchersandwiththeassistanceof

Conference Good Governance From A Cross-Sectoral PerspectiveCROATIA NOVEMBER 2013

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014


mediaandcivilsociety,theresultwillbeawell-informedpublic,reliableandverifieddatebasedpolicesandamoreinclusivesystemofpolicy-making,necessaryinthisregion’stransitionalcontext.

Allthisisnecessaryinordertocre-ateahealthyclimateforpotentialcooperation,implementationoftheprinciplesofgoodgovernanceandbetterEUperspectiveoftheWesternBalkanscountries.

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WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

4 FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES

56 SUPPORTED THINK TANKS

115 SKILLED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

203 YOUNG LEADERS

120 SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS

338 COMMUNITY MEMBERS

150 SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS

120 PARTNERSHIPS

30 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

5 BOOKS

95 PANEL DISCUSSIONS

35 GROUP PROJECTS

50 POLICY TALKS VIDEOS

15 SUMMER SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES

250 DIFFERENT EVENT AND

PROGRAMME REPORTS

70 POLICY PAPERS

20 SURVEYS

75 CALLS

21 ROADSHOW MEDIA EVENTS

1 REGIONAL TV SHOW

60 DEBATES

2 BALKAN FESTIVALS

3 ONLINE PLATFORMS

20 STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS

1 SEE ART EXHIBITION

3548 EFB FACEBOOK PAGE FRIENDS

1 COMMUNITY CONFERENCE

50 EFB PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS

5 GENERAL EVALUATIONS

2 EFB FACEBOOK AND

LINKEDIN GROUPS

EFB ACHIEVEMENTS IN NUMBERS 2007–2014

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Geographical scope of the EFB programme reach

137

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Founding Partners TheEuropeanFundfortheBalkansisestablishedandsupportedbyfour

mainfoundations:

TheFundiscurrentlyhostedbytheNetwork of European Foundations

- NEF(Brussels)whichprovideslegalandadministrativeassistance.

MinistryofForeignAffairsoftheCzechRepublic

BritishEmbassy Belgrade

EFBdevelopedmanyotherfruitfulpartnershipsandwassupportedby:

Publishedby:European Fund for the Balkans

Address:Resavska35,11000BelgradeTelephone:+381(0)113033662E-mail:[email protected]:www.balkanfund.org

Forthepublisher:Hedvig Morvai, Executive Director of European Fund for the Balkans

Editor:Elena Petkovska Gjorgjievska, Programme Assistant and Communications

Proofreading:Dzenana Huseinovic

Designandlayout:Predrag Nikolic / Ninja Boy Creations, Novi Sad

Printedby:Repro Print, Novi SadMay 2014Printrun:500

european fund for the balkans: report 2007-2014

Documents

western balkans countries

erste foundation

regional actor

regional cooperation

nongovernmental organisations

king baudouin foundation

robert bosch stiftung

different stakeholders