European Policy Centre - CEP Belgrade

U jedanaestoj epizodi "REACHing citizens" podkasta razgovaramo sa Jelenom Mihajlović o stavu omladine prema EU integracijama, aktuelnim problemima i potencijalnim rešenjima za trenutno nepoverenje u državne institucije.

U ovoj podkast epizodi, desetoj epizodi u našem "REACHing Citizens" podkastu, razgovaramo sa učesnicom lokalnih građanskih konsultacija u Nišu, Marijom Ružić, o utiscima i stavu građana prema EU i njihovom stavu prema temama poput dobre vladavine, ekologije i EU integracija.

In this episode, we sit down with two participants from our local consultation in Gjakova to reflect on youth perspectives in Kosovo. They share candid thoughts on the rule of law, EU integration, and environmental issues—highlighting both hope and frustration. From mistrust in the justice system to the promise of renewable energy, we explore how young people see Kosovo's future and their role in shaping it. This episode was filmed in Albanian. Link for the English transcript: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:5e63cf14-996f-4eca-bfbc-8d9b82d3d497

Our guest is Ornela Sollakou, one of the participants from our second event in Thessaloniki. We discuss tensions surrounding the 2018 Prespa Agreement, the migration crisis and the integration of migrants in Greek society, and finally how the EU has come to mean something abstract and bureaucratic to citizens. Ornela shares her thoughts on why these things came up in the event and why people felt strongly about them. She also relays when she felt disappointed by opinions expressed and when she related to others.

U ovoj epizodi podcasta "Reaching Citizens" gostuje Gea Rajić, mlada dizajnerica i aktivistica iz Pazina, koja govori o svom sudjelovanju u građanskom savjetovanju u sklopu projekta REACH. Savjetovanje je okupilo 25 građana i građanki Pazina kako bi raspravljali o europskim politikama, zaštiti okoliša, vladavini prava i demokraciji. Gea ističe da su pitanja zaštite okoliša bila među najvažnijim temama rasprave, posebno problem odlaganja otpada u Pazinu i šire u Istri. Govori i o izazovima europskih politika u praksi, naglašavajući da je zelena tranzicija nužna, ali često neusklađena s potrebama i mogućnostima lokalnih zajednica. Gea je aktivna u brojnim inicijativama koje nastoje poboljšati život mladih i potaknuti kulturni razvoj Pazina. Voditeljica je Centra za mlade Alarm Pazin, kroz koji organizira radionice, volonterske akcije i edukativne programe. Također je sudjelovala u pokretanju festival Samanj kulture, koji povezuje umjetnost, aktivizam i lokalnu zajednicu. Tijekom razgovora Gea ističe značaj suradnje između različitih aktera – udruga, kulturnih institucija i gradskih vlasti. Smatra da su male, ali sustavne promjene presudne za dugoročno poboljšanje kvalitete života. Kroz vlastito iskustvo pokazuje kako umjetnost i dizajn mogu biti snažni alati za društvene promjene, a sudjelovanje građana ključno za održivu budućnost.

U ovoj epizodi podcasta "Reaching Citizens" gostuje Irena Hojsak, mlada kulturologinja i aktivistica, koja dijeli svoje iskustvo sudjelovanja u građanskom savjetovanju u sklopu projekta REACH. Savjetovanje je okupilo 25 građana i građanki Rijeke kako bi raspravljali o europskim politikama, zaštiti okoliša, vladavini prava i demokraciji. Irenu je motivirala želja da čuje različite perspektive svojih sugrađana o spomenutim temama. Ističe kako su zaštita okoliša i održivost bile glavne teme rasprave te naglašava važnost osobne odgovornosti u stvaranju promjena u zajednici. Također, govori o svojoj uključenosti u razne inicijative, poput "Kultura svima", Radija Benčić, TripSitters i Urbanog Separea, koje doprinose kulturnom i društvenom razvoju Rijeke. Razgovor se dotiče i izazova s kojima se mladi suočavaju u aktivizmu, ali i mogućnosti koje postoje za njihovo uključivanje. Irena zaključuje da su konkretne, lokalne akcije ključne za dugoročne društvene promjene. Na kraju, govori o svom diplomskom radu na temu pravednost i distribucije resursa u alternativama kapitalizmu, ističući važnost malih, ali održivih inicijativa u zajednici.

Conversation between Milena Mihajlović Denić, Programme Director of European Policy Centre - CEP Belgrade and WeBER 3.0 Team Leader and Peter Vagi, Senior Policy Advisor at SIGMA/OECD. Western Balkan Enablers for Reforming Public Administrations – WeBER 3.0 project is the third consecutive EU-funded grant of the largest civil society-led initiative for monitoring public administration reform (PAR) in the Western Balkans. WeBER 3.0 reinforces participatory democracy by enabling CSOs to actively engage and inclusively monitor PAR outcomes across the WB, advocating for the reforms' consistency with EU requirements. WeBER 3.0 is implemented by six non-governmental organisations, one per each Western Balkan countries. The Centre for Public Administration Research (KDZ) Vienna is a EU-level based partner of the project. The project is supported by the European Commission and Austrian Development Agency - ADA This conversation was recorded in Skopje, North Macedonia, in November 2024, as a fourth episode of the TEN TV Show.

Od 1. novembra 2024. godine, Srbija se suočava sa ozbiljnim previranjima: pad nadstrešnice u kojoj je stradalo 15 ljudi i koja je razotkrila sistemsku neodgovornost, pokrenula je lavinu građanskog nezadovoljstva. Širom zemlje, studenti su se istakli kao pokretači i predvodnici, organizujući proteste, blokade fakulteta i masovne proteste, i u građaninima probudili davno uspavanu nadu. U ovoj podkast epizodi, petoj epizodi u našem "REACHing Citizens" podkastu, sa učesnikom naših lokalnih građanskih konsultacija u Beogradu, Nemanjom Stankovićem, analiziramo kako je ta "vatra" otpora pokrenuta, šta je sve ona osvetlila i kako su studenti uspeli da nas svojim pametnim potezima i energijom iznenade i podsete na ono što kao da smo svi zaboravili - da postoje nadležne institucije i da su te institucije dužne da rade svoj posao. Taj njihov zahtev je na kraju, nakon niza događaja koji je pokrenuo, doveo i do pada Vlade. U trenucima velikih promena, svakodnevnih protesta koji neretko okupe više od 100 000 građana i društvene transformacije u Srbiji, sa našim gostom pričali smo i o budućnosti koja nas očekuje, temi zaštite životne sredine i problemom zagađenja vazduha i iskopavanju litijuma, kao i o evropskom putu Srbije i odnosu evropskih institucija prema institucijama u Srbiji, kao i prema građanima.

Welcome to the fourth episode of "REACHing Citizens", part of the European project REACH – Reinventing Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations, which aims to strengthen citizen participation in shaping policies related to the environment, EU integration, and the rule of law. This initiative is funded by the European Commission under the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) program. In this episode, host Vesa Kroqi, sits down with Agnesa Bytyci, a young researcher and activist from Pristina who participated in the recent REACH local consultation event in Kosovo. Together, they discuss key topics covered at the event, including judicial independence, corruption, EU integration, and environmental challenges in the region. Agnesa shares her insights on how young people in Kosovo perceive the justice system and the country's European path, as well as their growing awareness of environmental issues. The conversation also explores the impact of such events in encouraging civic engagement and creating a platform for open dialogue among youth. How can young people shape Kosovo's future? What concerns them the most about the rule of law? And how can digital platforms help improve collaboration and knowledge-sharing? Tune in to find out!

Od 1. novembra 2024. godine, Srbija se suočava sa ozbiljnim previranjima: pad nadstrešnice u kojoj je stradalo 15 ljudi i koja je razotkrila sistemsku neodgovornost, pokrenula je lavinu građanskog nezadovoljstva. Širom zemlje, studenti su se istakli kao pokretači i predvodnici, organizujući proteste, blokade fakulteta i masovne proteste, i u građaninima probudili davno uspavanu nadu. U ovoj podkast epizodi, trećoj epizodi u našem "REACHing Citizens" podkastu, sa učesnikom naših lokalnih građanskih konsultacija u Beogradu, Milošem Timotijevićem, analiziramo kako je ta "vatra" otpora pokrenuta, šta je sve ona osvetlila i kako su studenti uspeli da nas svojim pametnim potezima i energijom iznenade i podsete na ono što kao da smo svi zaboravili - da postoje nadležne institucije i da su te institucije dužne da rade svoj posao. Taj njihov zahtev je na kraju, nakon niza događaja koji je pokrenuo, doveo i do pada Vlade. U trenucima velikih promena, svakodnevnih protesta koji neretko okupe više od 100 000 građana i društvene transformacije u Srbiji, sa našim gostom pričali smo i o budućnosti koja nas očekuje, temi zaštite životne sredine i problemom zagađenja vazduha i iskopavanju litijuma, kao i o evropskom putu Srbije i odnosu evropskih institucija prema institucijama u Srbiji, kao i prema građanima.

Welcome to the second episode of our podcast series, "REACHing Citizens" part of the "Reshaping Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations (REACH) project". Launched in 2024, this initiative is funded by the European Commission's SAV 2023 program and brings together organizations from across Europe to explore pressing social and political issues. Interviewer: Ioanna (Host) & Nikos (Co-host) Citizens: Emilia, Actress based in Athens, and Omar, Student in France, both of Greek-French nationality and participants in the citizen consultation in Athens In this episode, we take you to Greece, where we hear from Emilia and Homere, two young participants in a recent citizen consultation. Coming from both French and Greek backgrounds, they share their insights on topics such as climate change, EU enlargement, and the rule of law, reflecting on generational and cultural perspectives. They discuss how environmental awareness differs between Greece and France, how young people engage with climate activism, and how freedom of expression in the arts is shaped by political and social realities. Emilia and Homere highlighted that climate change was the most engaging topic for them. They reflected on the differences in environmental education and awareness between Greece and France, noting that Greek youth often lack access to the same level of information and sustainable lifestyle opportunities as their French counterparts. They pointed out that while young people in Greece want to adopt eco-friendly habits, systemic barriers such as poor city infrastructure and social stigmas around sustainability make it difficult. Regarding EU enlargement, both participants were surprised by the fear-driven responses from other attendees. They shared their experiences of hearing concerns about security, economic instability, and the role of military power in the EU. As individuals with dual national identities, they also reflected on the power dynamics within the EU and how different member states perceive integration. On the topic of freedom of expression, Emilia and Homere discussed their experiences as young artists in France and Greece. They noted that while theoretically free speech is protected, they often self-censor due to social and political pressures. They also acknowledged the privilege of artistic expression, emphasizing that some voices are more easily heard than others in both countries. In conclusion, Emilia and Homere emphasized the need for open dialogue and education on these critical topics. They encouraged young people to engage in discussions and consultations, challenge dominant narratives, and advocate for meaningful change.

Welcome to our new podcast series, "REACHing Citizens," part of the "Reshaping Engagement through Affirmative Citizen Consultations (REACH)" project. Launched in 2024, this initiative is funded by the European Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) and brings together organisations from across Europe, including Serbia, Belgium, Kosovo, BiH, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, and Greece. In this first episode, we take you to Bulgaria, where we hear from Giulia-Maria Alberghi, a university student and participant in one of the citizen consultations in Plovdiv. She shares her insights on the challenges of democratic engagement in Bulgaria, focusing on the rule of law, media independence, and the role of critical thinking in the fight against disinformation. Join us as she talks about important topics and explore how civic participation can pave the way for positive change in Bulgaria. Interviewer: Daniela Mineva, Senior Analyst, Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria Citizen: Giulia - Maria Alberghi, University Student of Philosophy, Politicacs and Society, University of Radboud, the Netherlands (nationality: Bulgarian), participant in the citisen consultation in the city of Plovdiv Giulia-Maria Alberghi emphasized that, in her view, the rule of law is the most critical of the three discussed topics. She highlighted Bulgaria's ongoing struggle to elect a stable government, with no resolution even after seven consecutive elections. Voter participation continues to decline, reflecting a broader erosion of trust in democratic institutions. Citizens increasingly distrust the media and question the independence of the Bulgarian judiciary. Giulia noted that while numerous legal and institutional reforms have been implemented under pressure from the European Union, these changes have failed to produce tangible benefits for ordinary people due to pervasive corruption. She referenced the widespread protests in Bulgaria during 2020-2021, pointing out that the grievances that fueled these demonstrations remain unresolved today. Another significant issue raised by Giulia was the lack of investigative journalism in Bulgaria. She explained that mainstream media often avoid publishing investigative reports, largely because of ownership ties to authoritarian or corrupt individuals. While social media provides an alternative platform for journalists, she shared instances where journalists using platforms like YouTube have faced threats. Additionally, both journalists and the public encounter challenges in accessing public data. Giulia also addressed the pervasive lack of critical thinking among the population, noting that people of all ages are susceptible to disinformation and propaganda. This contributes to widespread misunderstandings on topics like the Green Deal and the Euro. The absence of official fact-checking mechanisms on social media further exacerbates the problem. Despite these challenges, Giulia highlighted a positive aspect: many people are eager to discuss political issues. She urged civil society organizations (CSOs) to harness this interest by fostering dialogue and engagement. Platforms like Discord, for instance, host numerous groups dedicated to political discussions. In conclusion, Giulia-Maria Alberghi called for greater efforts to promote citizen discussions and consultations, education, and awareness-raising to address these pressing issues effectively.

In the 79th episode of European Talks, Milena Mihajlović Denić, European Policy Centre - CEP Programme Director, sat down with Rémy Rioux, the Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency (AFD). The conversation brings together key insights on the Western Balkans' opportunities and challenges as it strives for a prosperous, sustainable future. The episode starts by discussing the economic trajectory of the Western Balkans, examining the region's growth slowdown and the roadblocks impeding its full convergence with the European Union. Insights are shared on the importance of accelerating reforms to ensure the region's economic trajectory remains on track and aligns with EU standards. The second segment dives into the need for stronger governance, innovation, and regional cooperation as essential drivers for the Western Balkans' long-term success. The conversation highlights how technology, digital transformation, and fostering innovation can be key enablers of growth, paving the way for the region's integration into the broader European economy. The final part of the episode explores how strengthening local institutions, promoting inclusive development, and fostering strategic partnerships can empower the Western Balkans. With a focus on collaboration between governments, civil society, and international actors, the discussion underscores the importance of building strong, sustainable relationships for lasting growth and prosperity. For more information about AFD, visit: www.afd.fr For more information about CEP, visit: www.cep.org.rs

In this episode of the European Talks, CEP's host Miloš Pavković sits down with Alexandra Karppi, a Policy Analyst at Freedom House and co-author of the latest Nations in Transit report and Nikola Burazer, Program Director of the Centre for Contemporary Politics and the author of the Nations in Transit report for Serbia. Together, they explore the pressing challenges facing democracy globally, with a particular focus on the democratic backsliding evident in Central Europe, Central Asia, and the Western Balkans. Burazer emphasises key democratic challenges in Serbia and analyses the latest Enlargement Package of the EU. Karppi shares insights from the 2023 Nations in Transit report, highlighting a concerning two-decade-long trend of democratic decline. The conversation delves into how authoritarian regimes have grown more entrenched, impacting democratic institutions worldwide and intensifying geopolitical tensions. Karppi discusses the unique regional dynamics observed in the Western Balkans, where issues like weakening independent media, compromised judicial systems, and rampant corruption have led to stagnant or regressive democratic outcomes. This thought-provoking dialogue also addresses the nuanced classification of “hybrid regimes” in the Balkans and how countries like Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia face distinct obstacles that hinder their democratic progression. Pavković and Karppi reflect on the role of international bodies like the European Union and the Council of Europe in addressing these challenges. With a recent EU report grading Montenegro as the region's top-performing democracy, they discuss whether external evaluations and support can spur meaningful reforms. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of the regional and global challenges to democracy and why supporting civil society, independent journalism, and the rule of law remains essential to reversing these trends. Whether you're a policymaker, activist, or simply concerned about the state of global democracy, this episode offers invaluable insights into the democratic resilience needed for the years ahead.

In this episode of WeBER Talks, Miloš Đinđić sits down with Dimitar Vrglevski from North Macedonia's Center for Change Management to discuss the public administration reform in North Macedonia. They talk about the sectoral monitoring process, which evaluates the application of the EU Sigma principles within specific institutions. Dimitar shares his findings from his latest report on the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth in North Macedonia, which provides a data-backed perspective on the challenges of increasing transparency and accountability in the region's public administration. This conversation sheds light on the complex landscape of reform efforts and the role of research in assessing public sector performance in North Macedonia and across the Western Balkans. For more information about Dimitar's institution, the Center for Change Management, please visit: www.cup.org.mk His report, as well as the others reports, will soon be published on www.par-monitor.org

In this episode of European Talks by the European Policy Center, host Miloš Pavković sits down with Stefan Ristovski, a researcher with expertise in regional cooperation, economic reform, and the EU integration of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans. The discussion centres on the European Commission's latest enlargement package, providing a thorough analysis of the democratic landscape, regional reforms, and the future of EU accession for the Western Balkans. Ristovski offers a critical look at the European Commission's evolving approach in its 2024 reports, highlighting both the package's more direct language and its selective focus on certain countries. While Moldova and Montenegro receive positive feedback for electoral reforms, North Macedonia faces concerns about political polarisation and challenges in democratic institution-building. Ristovski reflects on the current political climate in North Macedonia, which has been marked by a recent government change and stalled accession talks due to unresolved issues with Bulgaria, leading to delayed EU negotiations. The conversation also dives into the regional assessment variances between EU, Freedom House, and V-Dem reports, noting the Commission's new “mostly satisfactory” assessment for North Macedonia, compared to Freedom House's classification as a hybrid regime. Ristovski discusses the need for standardised reporting on civil oversight in intelligence sectors and questions the transparency of the Commission's evaluative framework. Looking to the future, Pavkovic and Ristovski explore the potential pathways and challenges for North Macedonia's EU membership, especially in light of the EU's 2030 enlargement target, where Montenegro currently leads. Although optimistic, Ristovski š the importance of North Macedonia's commitment to democratic reform, even if the 2030 goal is ambitious. This episode is supported by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Policy Center, and other regional partners, aiming to foster insightful dialogue on the pressing issues shaping the future of EU integration in the Western Balkans.

This episode of WeBER Talks is dedicated to economic growth challenges and opportunities for the Western Balkans. WeBER 3.0 guest is Nicola Pontara, Country Manager of the World Bank in Serbia. He talked with Milena Mihajlović, CEP Programme Director and WeBER 3.0, about the region's future and how reforms, governance, and technology can propel the Western Balkans toward convergence with the EU. 1. Growth Slowdown & Socioeconomic Divergence: While the Western Balkans experienced solid growth in the early 2000s, the region has struggled to maintain momentum post-2008. Nicola highlights the "golden period" between 2000 and 2008 but warns that without significant reforms, convergence with the EU could stretch as far as 2093 in a pessimistic scenario. 2. Governance Deficit: Poor governance remains a significant roadblock. Nicola emphasizes that countries in the region must focus on improving the rule of law, combating corruption, and increasing government accountability to accelerate growth and reduce the trust gap with their citizens.

This episode explores how design thinking could transform public administration. Come hear from our trainers, Nikola Rajić and Deniz Hoti, as they discuss their observations from a recent two-day design thinking training session with WeBER grantees. Understand design thinking's fundamental concepts, how it may be applied to public services, and how it allows civil society organisations in the Western Balkans to contribute to better governance. This episode is full of insightful lessons, motivational stories, and useful suggestions for anyone looking to modernise public administration using a human-centred methodology. Listen in to learn how design thinking can improve and reinvent public services! More about WeBER: www.par-monitor.org

In this 11th episode of WeBER2.0 podcast, a special edition of European Talks focusing on the EU integration of the Western Balkans, host Miloš Đinđić, Programme Manager of the European Policy Centre, Belgrade, and WeBER Lead Researcher, welcomes a distinguished guest, Professor Kalypso Nicolaïdis. Professor Nicolaïdis is the Chair of Global Affairs at the EUI School of Transnational Governance in Florence, and her contributions to the field of International Relations and European integration are remarkable. During this engaging conversation, Professor Nicolaïdis shares her extensive insights into various aspects of European integration, global affairs, and democratic theory. With her wealth of knowledge in these domains, she explores the relevance of citizens' consultations and the role they play in WeBER's initiatives. The Democratic Odyssey, a groundbreaking project, serves as a blueprint for our discussion, offering valuable insights into the future of citizen engagement in the Western Balkans. Join us in this enlightening conversation as we delve into the exciting realm of democratic participation and its potential to shape the future of the Western Balkan region. We are delighted to have Professor Nicolaïdis on board for this inspiring episode. Visit her website for more information: www.kalypsonicolaidis.com *** www.par-monitor.org

In the tenth episode of WeBER Talks, we welcome Ms. Simonida Kacarska, Director of the European Policy Institute (EPI) in Skopje, a member of the Think for Europe Network and WeBER partner from North Macedonia. With her extensive background in Politics and International Studies, Ms. Kacarska provided unique insights into the world of deliberative polling (DP) and its relevance in our region. Delving into her experience, we explore the inception and implementation of DP, uncovering valuable lessons and takeaways. Simonida highlights the vital resources necessary for successful DP endeavours, discussing the human, financial, and time-related aspects. She also sheds light on the key challenges that Western Balkan CSOs, think tanks and research organizations might encounter when embarking on their own DP journeys. Discover how DP can lead to informed public opinion and affect advocacy in the region, ultimately influencing decision-makers. To learn more about the work of EPI, please visit: www.epi.org.mk. *** www.par-monitor.org

U novoj epizodi ovog serijala, naša gošća je bila Jelena Stefanović, turistički vodič, avanturistička travel blogerka i influenserka. S diplomama iz marketinga i turizma, ona je pravi spoj kreativnosti i ljubavi prema putovanjima. Kako je Jelena završila u Veneciji? Šta je doživela tamo i kako je to oblikovalo njenu viziju budućnosti? Sa njom razgovaramo o iskustvu života u drugoj zemlji, kao i tome gde vidi svoju budućnost, budući da je njena karijera sve samo ne obična - i kako je to imati posao koji nije "od 9 do 5" i koji je ne vezuje za jedno konkretno mesto. Pored toga, Jelena mladim ljudima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje daje savete koji će im sigurno pomoći da donesu odluke koje će oblikovati njihovu budućnost. U serijalu „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

U novoj epizodi ovog serijala, naš gost je bio doktor medicinskih nauka, Vladan Čokić. On je magistrirao na medicinskoj genetici i doktorirao na hematologiji Medicinskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu, a poslediplomske studije obavio na Nacionalnim institutima za zdravlje u Americi, gde je i živeo do 2004, nakon čega se vratio u Srbiju. Sa njim razgovaramo o razlozima njegovog povratka i razlikama između života i rada u Srbiji i u SAD-u, zašto se i kada odlučio za budućnost ovde, kao i šta bi savetovao mladima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje. U serijalu „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

U novoj epizodi ovog serijala, naša gošća je bila Maša Sladojević. Maša od pre nekoliko meseci živi i radi u Srbiji, nakon života provedenog u Austriji. Sa njom razgovaramo o tome kako se Srbija razlikuje od Austrije, zašto se i kada odlučila na budućnost ovde, gde planira svoju budućnost, i šta bi savetovala mladima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje. U serijalu „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

U trećoj epizodi ovog serijala, naš gost je bio Predrag Đorđević. Predrag trenutno živi i radi u Srbiji, nakon završenih osnovnih studija u Srbiji i razmene i mastera u Austriji, Nemačkoj i Italiji. Sa njim razgovaramo o tome kako je živeti i raditi u drugoj zemlji, koliko se druge zemlje razlikuju od Srbije, gde planira svoju budućnost, i šta bi savetovao mladima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje. U serijalu „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

In this episode of WeBER Talks, we host Maja Handjiska-Trendafilova, Director of the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA), a regional organisation that supports PAR in the Western Balkans. Ms. Handjiska-Trendafilova shares her extensive experience in the EU integration and regional cooperation processes, having worked on various policy areas, including the Regional Economic Area and Common Regional Market agendas. She discusses ReSPA's approach to fostering regional cooperation and exchange, as well as the organization's current initiatives, including the Regional CAF Centre, which aims to improve public services through quality management. Join us for this insightful conversation on the importance of regional networking and cooperation in PAR and how ReSPA is contributing to this process in the Western Balkans. For more information about ReSPA, please visit their website at respaweb.eu. For more information about WeBER, visit > par-monitor.org

U drugoj epizodi ovog serijala, naša gošća je bio Katarina Ćuković, Katarina trenutno živi i radi u Danskoj, nakon završenih osnovnih studija u Srbiji i mastera u Nemačkoj. Sa njom razgovaramo o tome kako je živeti i raditi u drugoj zemlji, koliko se Danska razlikuje od Srbije, gde planira svoju budućnost, i šta bi savetovala mladima koji razmišljaju o studijama ili poslu van matične zemlje. Podkast „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” u kojoj razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije.

Dobrodošli u novu kategoriju podkasta „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” u kojoj razgovaramo sa cirkularnim migrantima različitih obrazovnih kategorija i profila i fokusiramo na pronalaženje načina za povećanje broja cirkularnih migranata u cilju prevencije depopulacije. Serijal pruža zanimljiv uvid u iskustva mladih ljudi iz Srbije koji trenutno žive ili su živeli u inostranstvu u prethodnim godinama, kao i u različite perspektive o migraciji i njenom uticaju na društvo. U prvoj epizodi novog serijala, gost je bio Đorđe Dimitrov, trenutno stažista u Centru za evropske politike. Sa njim razgovaramo o njegovom iskustvu boravka u inostranstvu, studiranju i praksama koje je obavio, razlozima za povratak i planovima za budućnost. Projekat „Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije!” sprovode Fondacija za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN i Centar za evropske politike – CEP. Projekat se realizuje uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije. Za više informacija: www.fren.org.rs / www.cep.org.rs

In this episode, recorded within WeBER2.0, our guest is Mr Gregor Virant, Head of SIGMA, an initiative of the OECD and the EU. The Principles of Public Administration were developed by SIGMA in order to define requirements for a well-functioning public administration in each of the core areas. Now, SIGMA principles are being reformed themseves. Why and how? Milena Lazarević, European Policy Centre – CEP Programme Director and WeBER2.0 initiative Team Leader, talks about that in conversation with Gregor, and also discussing the lessons learned after many years of experience in the region. Find out more about WeBER2.0 here: par-monitor.org.

In this episode, recorded on the margins of the Third WeBER Regional "Citizens First" Conference, our guest is Admirim Aliti, Minister of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia. In a conversation with Milena Lazarević, European Policy Centre – CEP Programme Director and WeBER2.0 initiative Team Leader, he reflects on North Macedonia's Public Administration Reform Strategy's achievements. While talking about them, he highlighted that countries should not perform reforms solely for the sake of the EU integration process but primarily for the citizens. Cyber-security issues of digitalized services and the necessity of utilizing the CSO's potential for better policymaking were also discussed. Find out more about WeBER2.0 here: par-monitor.org.

The 2022 Italian general elections were held in Italy on 25 September 2022, after the fall of the Draghi government. The centre-right coalition led by Giorgia Meloni's party, Brothers of Italy, a radical-right political party with neo-fascist roots, won an absolute majority of seats in the Italian Parliament. Why did the right-wing coalition win the majority in Italy? What does this have to do with the events of the past few years? What does this mean for the future of Italy and Europe? Our guest is Marina Dosijanoski, an Italian with Macedonian roots. She is an Alumna of the College of Europe and she is currently pursuing a traineeship at the European Policy Centre(CEP).

Srbija se suočava sa ozbiljnim problemom emigracije. Globalni indeks konkurentnosti 2018–2019. svrstao je Srbiju na 134. mesto od 137 rangiranih zemalja u kontekstu njene sposobnosti da zadrži talenat ili spreči „odliv mozgova“. Mnogi sektori u Srbiji su pogođeni trendom povećane emigracije kvalifikovanih radnika kao što su medicinske sestre, lekari, vozači itd. Bolji uslovi rada i perspektive za razvoj karijere koje se nude u razvijenim zemljama, posebno u EU, su najčešći faktori privlačenja radnika u datu zemlju. Sa Ivanom Brkljačem, direktorom "Tačke povratka" pričamo o cirkularnim migrantima - motivaciji za njihov povratak, preprekama, pomoći koja im je potrebna, programi podrške Vlade, kao i o tome šta "Tačka povratka" radi. Više o "Tački povratka": www.tackapovratka.rs Ovaj podkast je snimljen u okviru projekta "Cirkularne migracije pre depopulacije" koji CEP sprovodi sa Fondacijom za razvoj ekonomske nauke – FREN. Više o projektu: cep.org.rs/projects/cirkularne-migracije-pre-depopulacije

The countries of the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe have been facing several different crises in recent years, which lead to, in some countries, the phenomenon of shrinking space for civil society, populist policies and authoritarian leaders. All this is interconnected with the raising the level of corruption, which is further related to the weakening of democracies, and as a consequence, we have reduced trust of citizens, non-functional and non-transparent public administrations and captured states. Setting the principle of citizens' trust and the supreme value of democracy as the best path that humanity has discovered for building a successful society that has citizens in the focus, and which never reaches the goal but is constantly improving, Mr Ruslan Stefanov, Director of the Economics Program of the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) and manager of the CSD's SELDI network reminds civil society that it is necessary to have responsible leaders at the top, independent institutions that control them, and governments willing to cooperate with civil society and experts. Host: Milos Djindjic, lead researcher of the WeBER2.0 Initiative. SELDI is an initiative of some 30 think- tanks and NGOs in South-Eastern Europe seeking to achieve better governance in the region. Find out more about SELDI's work here: seldi.net Find out more about WeBER2.0 here: par-monitor.org

The European Union and national governments should provide citizens with a safe and democratic digital space in collaboration with civil society actors. The rationale behind the digital spaces should not only be profit-making, but also a public service that strengthens democracy by enabling safe communication and participation as well as protection of people's privacy. In building digital infrastructure, safety, resilience and societal impact on communities should be prioritised. European youth plays an important role in promoting such values. We are proud to present you the last episode of the new mini-series of five podcast episodes within our MladiRini Talks, achieved in cooperation with the EU Balkans Forum. We wanted to give you an opportunity to hear what their experiences were, what they learned, and what are the common problems that young people from the EU and the Western Balkans share. In the last episode, our guests were the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, and Đorđe Manov, a student of the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade. He was included in Working group 5: Many societies, one virtual space. How do the youth see the issue of creating one virtual space as integral to the process of EU enlargement and European integration? Being the most media literate generation, should the youth be completely in charge of this process? Subscribe to European Talks and do not miss our next episodes! More information: www.mladirini.org / www.eubalkanforum.org

We are proud to present you a new mini-series of five podcast episodes within our MladiRini Talks, achieved in cooperation with the EU Balkans Forum. EU Balkans Forum is an opportunity for youth from the entire European continent to discuss common issues, face policymakers and mobilize new energies from below, facilitating the emergence of a young transnational network to engineer new initiatives and bring about fresh views on both the EU and Balkan integration. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Study Center for International Politics from Rome, and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa were involved in the creation and work of the forum. The forum was financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Within this initiative, two university students for each of the 27 UE Member States and four from each of the Western Balkans 6 countries gathered together in Rome to discuss topics on the importance of the Western Balkans and the EU. They were divided into five working groups. Now, you have an opportunity to hear what their experiences were, what they learned, what are the common problems that young people from the EU and the Western Balkans share. In the fourth episode, our guests were the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, and Veljko Ristić, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade. He was included in Working group 4: One Market, Many Challenges. In the WB-6, the public sector does not always serve the needs of citizens and companies, because of a lack of transparency and persistent inefficiencies. All too often, products from the WB-6 face barriers that prevent them from reaching consumers in the EU-27 markets. Youth inactivity rates in the labour market remain high. The prospect of EU integration has lost credibility in the whole region due to profound doubts about admitting new members in some EU capitals, creating a dangerous vacuum for nationalist projects. Did the Western Balkan youth encounter that the participants from the region had different views on the discussed issues from the colleagues from the EU? How hard was it to come to conclusions and recommendations? And what was the main point that youth took away from being participants in this WG? Find out in this episode! The new episode will arrive every Monday at 14.00. Subscribe to European Talks and do not miss our next episodes! More information: www.mladirini.org / www.eubalkanforum.org

We are proud to present you a new mini-series of five podcast episodes within our MladiRini Talks, achieved in cooperation with the EU Balkans Forum. EU Balkans Forum is an opportunity for youth from the entire European continent to discuss common issues, face policymakers and mobilize new energies from below, facilitating the emergence of a young transnational network to engineer new initiatives and bring about fresh views on both the EU and Balkan integration. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Study Center for International Politics from Rome, and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa were involved in the creation and work of the forum. The forum was financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Within this initiative, two university students for each of the 27 UE Member States and four from each of the Western Balkans 6 countries gathered together in Rome to discuss topics on the importance of the Western Balkans and the EU. They were divided into five working groups. Now, you have an opportunity to hear what their experiences were, what they learned, what are the common problems that young people from the EU and the Western Balkans share. In the third episode, our guests were the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, and Dragana Grahovac, student of Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. She was included in Working group 3: One continent, one environment There is a strong disbalance between the adoption and implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. What did youth leaders propose as a solution? Is civil society one of the key stakeholders in the fight against and adaptation to climate change? Find out in this episode! The new episode will arrive every Monday at 14.00. Subscribe to European Talks and do not miss our next episodes! More information: www.mladirini.org / www.eubalkanforum.org

We are proud to present you a new mini-series of five podcast episodes within our MladiRini Talks, achieved in cooperation with the EU Balkans Forum. EU Balkans Forum is an opportunity for youth from the entire European continent to discuss common issues, face policymakers and mobilize new energies from below, facilitating the emergence of a young transnational network to engineer new initiatives and bring about fresh views on both the EU and Balkan integration. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Study Center for International Politics from Rome, and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa were involved in the creation and work of the forum. The forum was financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Within this initiative, two university students for each of the 27 UE Member States and four from each of the Western Balkans 6 countries gathered together in Rome to discuss topics on the importance of the Western Balkans and the EU. They were divided into five working groups. Now, you have an opportunity to hear what their experiences were, what they learned, what are the common problems that young people from the EU and the Western Balkans share. In the second episode, our guests were the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, and Uroš Anđelković, Serbian UN Youth Delegate at Una Serbia. He was included in Working group 2: United In Diversity, Beyond Past Wars. The last 25 years have shown the lack of a real engagement of high-level politicians and governments in supporting and promoting the multi-lateral reconciliation process. That's why, for example, educational systems in many Western Balkan countries have been shaped by mono-national narratives based on the concept of victim vs. antagonist. Being a very sensitive issue within the region, could such topic be adequately discussed with colleagues from the EU? If youth is involved in the reconciliation process as well as the EU integration process, will they be able to get some sense of ownership of their present and future and hence become less sceptic of the process? The new episode will arrive every Monday at 14.00. Subscribe to European Talks and do not miss our next episodes! More information: www.mladirini.org / www.eubalkanforum.org

We are proud to present you a new mini-series of five podcast episodes within our MladiRini Talks, achieved in cooperation with the EU Balkans Forum. EU Balkans Forum is an opportunity for youth from the entire European continent to discuss common issues, face policymakers and mobilize new energies from below, facilitating the emergence of a young transnational network to engineer new initiatives and bring about fresh views on both the EU and Balkan integration. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), Study Center for International Politics from Rome, and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa were involved in the creation and work of the forum. The forum was financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Within this initiative, two university students for each of the 27 UE Member States and four from each of the Western Balkans 6 countries gathered together in Rome to discuss topics on the importance of the Western Balkans and the EU. They were divided into five working groups. Now, you have an opportunity to hear what their experiences were, what they learned, what are the common problems that young people from the EU and the Western Balkans share. In the first episode, our guests were the Italian Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, and Jovana Popova, a master's student from the Faculty of Political Sciences. She was included in Working group 1: The New EU between governmental cooperation and democracy below. How to couple deepening and enlargement? What role can the Balkans play in this? Find out in our new episode! The new episode will arrive every Monday at 14.00. Subscribe to European Talks and do not miss our next episodes! More information: www.mladirini.org

Today we are discussing the use of quality management tools in public administrations in WB, and specifically the EU-promoted Common Assessment Framework (CAF). For the Western Balkan countries this topic is relevant in the context of public sector modernisation, and specifically for making more user-oriented administrations. In the EU accession process, countries in the region are encouraged to apply some of the available QM tools, CAF included, and are also regularly monitored in this regard. For insightful discussion on the importance of QM tools such as CAF, advantages of its application, and experience of WB countries who are using it, we have the pleasure of welcoming Mr Thomas Prorok, Managing Director at the KDZ - Centre of Public Administration Research, and Head of the CAF Centre at the KDZ, who has hands-on experience in supporting administration in the region in the CAF implementation. Mr Prorok is also WeBER Advisory Council member.

"Smallness does not justify corruption," said Professor Tiina Randma-Liiv, guest of the fourth WeBER Talks. She is a member of the WeBER Advisory Council as well as a Chair of Public Management and Policy at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia. Currently, Professor Radma-Liiv also serves as a Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Member of the University Council. She spoke with Milos Djindjic, WeBER Lead Researcher about how more attention must be given to the size of the state in the process of public administration reform. Smaller states have a smaller "pool" of people from which they can choose and hire experts from. Moreover, in smaller states, people know each other much better which can subsequently lead to corruption, as a high-ranking civil servant is often your neighbor or relative. Often, smaller states have a greater number of public servants per capita, making their public administrations larger than states that are bigger. Is a small state an obstacle on the way to a quality public administration or are two variables not correlated? Does the size of the country affect state functioning? WeBER Talks is a special edition of European Talks, a podcast produced by the European Policy Centre - CEP Belgrade. More information: WeBER: www.par-monitor.org CEP: www.cep.org.rs Public governance in small states: from paradoxes to research agenda Small States and Innovation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235347976_Small_states_and_innovation Public governance in small states: from paradoxes to research agenda: https://ams.hi.is/en/publication/10/ Public management and policy-making in small states: https://ams.hi.is/en/publication/12/

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

Welcome to the third episode of our WeBER Talks, in which Jan-Hinrik Meyer-Sahling, Professor of Political Science at the University of Nottingham and a member of the WeBER Advisory Council and Lead WeBER Researcher, Milos Djindjic, discussed what lessons can be drawn from the EU member states and beyond. For more information about Professor's Sahling work, visit: https://meyer-sahling.net For more information about WeBER2.0, visit: www.par-monitor.org

Nove tehnologije i načini rada: Da li smo spremni učiti jedni od drugih? by European Talks

The guest of the 16th episode of our MladiRini podcast is Gabriela Jacomella, journalist and author, co-founder of Factcheckers, one of the first associations to focus on educational fact-checking in Italy. She talked about how the Internet has influenced journalism and what are the positive and negative sides of social networks. For more information about MladiRini, visit: www.mladirini.org

Gost 15. epizode našeag MladiRini podkasta je advokat Anel Ibeljić, najmlađi advokat Regionalne advokatske komore Tuzla i većnik u Gradskom veću Tuzle. On je sa nama pričao na temu vladavine prava u BiH, problemu velike nezaposlenosti mladih, funkcionisanju vlasti na lokalnom nivou i kako povećati učešće i angažman mladih u politici. Više informacija o našoj MladiRini inicijativi pronađite na: www.mladirini.org

In the 14th episode of the MladiRini podcast, our guests are Jelena Lacman and Ivana Čogurić. The two of them launched a series of environmental actions, which is now a strong community called Ecopatriotism. For more info, visit www.mladirini.org

In this week's episode, we have Dona Srdikj Lazarevska, a Young European Ambassador from North Macedonia. We discussed her journey on becoming a Young European Ambassador and her motivation to promote European values in the country. We also discussed several topics of interest of the youth in the Western Balkans, like youth participation and activism, social media and their role in young people's lives and environmental footprints.

Ove nedelje na MladiRini podkastu smo imali tu čast da ugostimo nepobedivi tandem istraživačkog novinarstva, Dušan Čavić i Dušan Šaponja, poznatiji kao Marka Žvaka. Saznali smo šta su oni radili kao mladi, kako su postali ono što jesu, zašto su odlučili da ostanu u zemlji, kako biraju aktere svojih priča, i zašto smatraju da je zaštita životne sredine iskaz vrhunskog rodoljublja. Poslušajte i recite nam da li se slažete sa njihovim stavovima o mladima i njihovom položaju u društvu!

U 11. epizodi našeg MladiRini podkasta ugostili smo biologinju i ekološku aktivisticu iz Tuzle, Amelu Jusufović. Za više informacija o našoj platformi, posetite: www.mladirini.org

Gošća desete epizode našeg MladiRini podkasta je Ivana Antonijević, v.d. direktorka beogradske kancelarije Regionalna kancelarija za saradnju mladih (RYCO). Za više informacija o MladiRini platformi, posetite: www.mladirini.org Za više informacija o RYCO, posetite: www.rycowb.org

Gost devete epizode MladiRini podkasta je Vojin Ćetković, evropski omladinski ambasador mladih u Crnoj Gori. Za više informacija posetite www.mladirini.org

Gost osme epizode MladiRini podkasta je Srđan Hromiš, evropski omladinski organizator mladih u Srbiji i član Nadzornog odbora Krovne organizacije mladih (KOMS). Za više informacija posetite www.mladirini.org