European Fund for the Balkans: Report 2007-2014 by Predrag Nikolić

Table of Contents

004 INTRODUCTION 007 Introduction by Hedvig Morvai - A Possible Guide through the European Fund for the Balkans Report 2007-2014 013 The FUND - Structure 014 The Fund - Secretariat 015 The Fund: Steering Committee 020 EFB Overview in a Long Run 026 EFB Team 028

PROGRAMME AREAS

030 032 034 037 038

PRACTICING EUROPE Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance Fellowship Programme 2008-2014 Fellowship Programme Introspection Fellowship Programme Inspection EFB Fellows - Change Makers in the Regional Public Administration

044 ENVISIONING EUROPE Think and Link - Regional Policy Programme 046 Think and Link 2008-2014 048 Introspection/Feedback Corner 050 Contributions by Think and Link Participants 056 Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans 058 Research Fellowship 2008-2014 060 Introduction 062 Contributions by Research Fellows 064 066 068 070

EXPERIENCING EUROPE Southeast Europe and the EU Leadership Development Programme LDP 2006-2014 Letter from Partners LDP Group Projects

072 074 076 078 080 082 084

EFB COMMUNITY EFB Community 2009-2014 Reflections about the EFB Community – A Look from Outside A Look from the Inside First EFB Community Conference Traditional Joint Fellowship Trainings EFB Community Website

086 088 090 092 096 104 106 108

SUPPORTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT Gallup Balkan Monitor From Yugoslavia to the European Union: 20 Years after 1991 – The Tale of Two Generations- Survey Balkan Peer Exchange Regional TV-Show Vicinities Balkans in Europe Policy Group Balkans in Europe Policy Blog Policy Talks

110 112 114 116 120 122 124 126 128 130 132 134 136

SUPPORTED INITIATIVES Feedback Corner: EurActiv.rs Belgrade Security Forum Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival Books Exhibition “See New Perspectives from Balkan photographers” Share Conference EXIT Festival Policy Dialogues Foundation Week 2010 - The Balkans 2025: Back to the Future The European Story Fund Good Governance from a cross-sectoral perspective EFB ACHIEVEMENTS IN NUMBERS 2007-2014

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PARTNERS

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INTRODUCTION

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

European Fund for the Balkans

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Initiative for strengthening democracy and fostering European integrationâ&#x20AC;? 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 WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

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 Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Capacity Development Development Developing a policy platform for bringing the policy making into public view and debating the major issues of Europe today

Supporting excellence and leadership potentials

Community Building

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

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

A possible guide through the European Fund for the Balkans Report 2007 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2014

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Hedvig Morvai EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This report gives insight into the vivid and exciting life of this special endeavor, the European Fund for the Balkans. An initiative for regional development, a lively and flexible platform for learning and exchange, demonstration of power of collaboration, interest-based network of highly motivated people.

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It was seven years ago when a group of enthusiastic individuals from leading European private foundations designed the outlines of the EFB. Seven years were enough to fill the given framework with relevant content. It became vibrant, dynamic, and colorful. It became a powerful instrument of change. It became a

place to be. It became a community. On behalf of the EFB team, I would like to thank to all who believed in the European Fund for the Balkans and who honoured us with their presence, commitment, time and engagement. We count on your support for the next exciting sevenyear period again!

„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

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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 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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“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

“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

“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

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Therefore, a way to start with exploring this book is to look at the quotations above and try to match those with the short statements of the EFB friends, collaborators, supporters, grantees, donors, staff members; among these people you might find names whose comments will provoke your interest

With this report we wish to awake your imagination by giving voice to people who are at the heart of the Fund and to showcase the main images and impressions from its 7 years of existence

 Then see the collection of photos of special EFB moments showing the atmosphere of our seminars, trainings, conferences, networking activities

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 And for understanding the EFB programme intervention logic, we provided a scheme that will guide you through the following pages of our activities

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For those with a more structural approach, we inserted a short description of the EFB at the beginning and we summarized the EFB's achievements in numbers at the end

Lists, maps and charts help in visualizing what we have done and achieved

 Whether you start from its beginning, or from its very end; whether you only fly through it catching a few images, we hope that these pages communicate to you a special EFB message

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2007 – 2014

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The Fund

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Structure

ď&#x192;¨ The Fund is managed under the authority of a Steering Committee, which is responsible for the strategic orientations of the Fund and oversees the work of the Secretariat. The Steering Committee is the official decision-making body of the Fund. Each of the foundations constituting the Fund has one representative in the Steering Committee. The Belgradebased Secretariat, led by the Executive Director serves as the Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters. The Fund is currently hosted by the Network of European Foundations - NEF (Brussels) which provides legal and administrative assistance.

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The Fund

Secretariat

ď&#x201E;˝ The Secretariat of the European Fund for the Balkans is based in Belgrade, from where it covers the Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities throughout the Western Balkans region. It is run by a small but experienced group of people, who actively seek out and incorporate expertise from a wide variety of sources, as well as experts to add to their numbers.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The Fund

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Steering Committee

ď&#x201A;&#x2026; The Fund is managed as a separate entity under the authority of a Steering Committee that oversees the project as a whole.

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The Steering Committee operates based on an eighteenmonth rotating Chair, appointed by the founding partners.

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Fabrice de Kerchove PROJECT MANAGER, KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR

One of the main strengths of the European Fund for the Balkans, which has been built since its inception in 2007, is its capacity to successfully combine consistency and flexibility. Consistency in maintaining its clear and relevant focus on the future integration of the Balkan countries and societies into the EU and flexibility in its ability to adjust programmes according to an ever changing environment. This sound strategy has enabled the Fund to become an important player whose action to foster good governance, democratic development and the formation of policy expertise is widely recognized both in the Balkans and in Brussels. This strength will prove to be especially useful as the Fund faces two main challenges for the

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

near future. First of all, recent developments within the EU and in the Balkans have made the European integration process far more uncertain than in 2007. Secondly, after seven years of operations, the Fund is engaged in a process aimed at securing its sustainability as an independent organization in the longer term. The King Baudouin Foundation is confident that by building upon its outstanding results so far, and more especially the investment in the region’s emerging generation of ‘motors of changes’, the Fund is well equipped to consolidate its future development and to reach these ambitious goals. We therefore look forward to our continuing involvement in this stimulating endeavour.

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

The Compagnia di San Paolo is one of the largest independent foundations in Europe and one of the main private funders of research in the fields of the EU affairs and international relations. Our overall goal is to foster a truly European debate on the main issues the EU faces, thus encouraging the emergence of a European political space. It is against this background that the Compagnia decided to become a founding member of a historic initiative of regional cooperation, the European Fund for the Balkans, set up with three other European foundations – the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the King Baudouin Foundation and the Erste Stiftung – with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the administration of the countries of the Western

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Balkans, with a view to their integration in the EU. I had the privilege to serve two terms in the Steering Committee of the Fund and to enjoy the great creativity that surrounded the launch and start of such a huge project. As someone correctly remarked when we commissioned an interim report on the perception of the Fund after its first three years of activity, if the EFB had not existed, someone should have invented it. So, I sincerely hope that equipped with its impressive array of activities developed over the past years, the EFB will continue to intensify the dialogue among key European stakeholders – both institutional and from civil society – with the goal of strengthening the Balkans natural path towards Europe’s integration process.

018

Franz Karl Pr端ller MEMBER OF THE BOARD ERSTE STIFTUNG MEMBER OF EFB STEERING COMMITTEE

In the last seven years the European Fund for the Balkans has built a large body of young professionals who today are shouldering responsibility for a European and democratic development of their countries. In a still volatile economic and social climate the fact that every year the EFB contributes dozens of motivated young officials to the political leadership, public administration and civil society who have had the opportunity to experience the workings and challenges of the EU, helps to strengthen the democratic developments and European vision of the countries of Southeast Europe. The dedicated work of the EFB team and their wide-ranging contacts and networks not only ensure that each year more talented and dedicated young people join

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

these ranks but that research and analysis into issues of critical importance for a truly European perspective for their countries are supported and are leading to concrete policy outcomes. As one of the founding Institutions, ERSTE Foundation is proud of and happy for the achievements of the EFB, and we are looking forward to continuing working with the Fund in helping it shape and orient its vision and work to the needs and aspirations of the people of Southeastern Europe. In the future, making their voices heard in the EU and keeping a sense of urgency about the accession of their countries alive and burning in the EU will be one of the main challenges of the EFB.

I wish the team around Hedvig Morvai all the best and lots of success in this important work.

019

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

Since its inception in 2007 the European Fund for Balkans has evolved into an independent player in the region which supports democratic development and European integration in all Balkan countries. A vast number of young people have experienced the “spark” which the fund ignites through its programmes and they have become “motors of change” in their countries. We are proud that we have helped in building this community and look forward to seeing it grow further and stronger! The past years have seen many changes in the Balkans with the Kosovo agreement and Croatia’s accession to the European Union serving as milestones on an imaginary road to the EU. Nevertheless, we are convinced that

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the mission of the Fund remains highly relevant today. First of all, European integration and accession to the EU are not synonymous. Accession is neither the endpoint of an integrative process, nor is it a necessary requirement for such a development. The EFB will continue to foster good governance, democratic development and the formation of policy expertise in and about the region in all countries of the Balkans – no matter what their individual perspectives of accession may be. We are convinced that in doing so the Fund will contribute to forming a unified Europe of which the Balkans will be an integral part of. We at the Robert Bosch Stiftung greatly look forward to continuing our successful cooperation.

020

EFB OVERVIEW IN A LONG RUN

Kristie D. Evenson EXTERNAL EVALUATOR OF THE EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

The European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) has experimented with a variety of assistance and interventions in the past seven years of engagement in the Western Balkans region. These have included a set of tools to support capacity development and research policy development, and through this the building of a community of young professionals in the region to reach European standards and be more fully engaged into European integration efforts. Taken together, the EFB’s efforts have resulted in a clear uptick in ability and have focused the interests of young professionals on how to articulate a European future. Particularly the young government officials’ capacity development programme has brought together

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

a cadre of aspiring and determined government officials who share and view a similar future as collegial neighbours, and in many cases, as new friends. The EFB’s support of policy research and in pushing forward different media for communicating thoughtful and evidence grounded policy discussions has been a key component of this work. The need for support of timely research and advocacy efforts continues to increase, making the need for flexible and innovative donor efforts in this area particularly critical. The EFB’s stocktaking in its last year has brought together a set of lessons learned in operations and programme design. Combining these with being responsive to the donor

and changing political context of the region, the EFB should be well positioned to further its vision of assisting the region and Europe to be more closely integrated.

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Peggy Saïller EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NETWORK OF EUROPEAN FOUNDATIONS (NEF) BELGIUM

The European Fund for the Balkans is an ambitious example of cooperation between private European foundations that work to “bring the Balkans closer to the European Union”. Set up in 2007 to be both operational and grant-making, the Fund has been able to develop in the region by investing in fields such as the media with its “Vicinities” talk show, and by seeking the right partners to develop exciting programmes. Thanks to a light structure, the Fund is in a position to react to political opportunities and find relevant entries to progress its agenda. And all of this despite a difficult context: European integration is at stake, marked by the widening gap

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between the European citizens and the Europe project. However, the Fund has steadily built a network of active individuals within the EFB Alumni Network, which will reach around 400 members by 2015. This growing community is making positive changes in the Western Balkans and beyond, and can be considered one of the main assets of the EFB.

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Goran Svilanovic SECRETARY GENERAL, REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL

The European Fund for the Balkans (EFB), with its pivotal role in bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union through its regional programmes for governments, think-thanks, institutes and civil society organisations dealing with research in European public policies, has made a difference during the 6 years of its existence. A difference has been made for many initiatives from the Western Balkans in creating inclusive policies and in initiating numerous researches and projects relevant to fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria and dedicated to strengthening the capacities at the regional level, all in support of the European integration processes. I would especially emphasize the EFB programmes Practicing, Envisioning and Experiencing

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Europe dedicated to improving professional and administrative capacities and skills of young government officials, future leaders and decision makers that will shape the future regional and European cooperation. The accumulation of human and social capital starts at a young age. In order to make the citizens of the Western Balkans region competitive in terms of functioning state administration and professionals, the EFB has made that additional effort in performing an excellent job. In this respect, and with the help from its founding partners, the EFB gave the young, talented people from the Balkans the necessary support in building and strengthening their capacities while preparing for the challenges their countries are facing on their way to EU membership.

I would like to add, on a very personal note, how highly appreciated the events organized by EFB that I have witnessed were. It was a great pleasure for me to engage in open and frank discussion with those young leaders, to witness first-hand how happy they were to be provided with the opportunity to meet their counterparts from different countries, to establish professional contacts and continue sharing their expertise. The investment made by the EFB into the administrative capacity of the enlargement countries will provide long-term effects in the accession process and I sincerely hope also in their countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance once they join EU. The human capacity the EFB has built in the last seven years will mark the future of the Western Balkan members of the European Union.

024

Erhard Busek JEAN MONNET PROFESSOR AD PERSONAM

I have had the opportunity to cooperate with the European Fund for the Balkans in different capacities. First of all, I am a part of the EFB programme for training Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans. Here my assisting is not only to find trainee jobs in different governments, but also to teach this group by giving them different perspectives for their future professional career. I had an excellent impression, especially concerning the selection of those involved in this training process. Also I am cooperating on behalf of the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe, in the joint project of CDRSEE and EFB – the first regional News Talk Show “Vicinities”. This is an excellent example for creative regional

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cooperation that is directed to better mutual understanding and support of the education matters in the region, which are of great importance for the future. On behalf of the European Forum Alpbach I am also in close cooperation with the EFB, because we have a lot of young students from the region participating in the summer meetings and all other exercises. I especially wish to outline the university course on European Law, where we are always getting nominees from the European Fund of the Balkans. Last but not least, as a chairman of the Advisory Board of the Erste Foundation I can say it is an excellent cooperation that we have on the different programs of the foundation

supporting the issues of the EFB. I do not want to be emotional, but if the EFB would not exist, it would be necessary to establish it.

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Ivan Krastev CHAIRMAN CENTRE FOR LIBERAL STRATEGIES

The European Fund for the Balkans is one of the initiatives that start changes. In the very beginning the EFB started with the idea to contribute to 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. The decision to bring together the most influential European Foundations aiming to make the Western Balkans integration to EU an inevitable development for the region is a good example of how common efforts make real difference. The main EFB programs cover large spectrum - gaining knowledge for the region, creating common vision for Europe and working on ways of its realization.

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The Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials proved to be a very useful and efficient tool for creating a common, practical and durable vision among key Balkan decision makers about their path to Europe. The Think & Link Regional Policy Programme strengthened the regional policy expertise and narrowed differences between the policy debates in different countries. Together with the Leadership Development Programme, it helped in bringing the key debate on the future of Europe closer to the public of the region. In times of difficult, but crucial decisions for the EU which will have direct impact on the enlargement process, keeping an informed and realistic perspective for the future of the Balkan region is of essence for the Balkan societies.

Six years are not enough to complete the ambitious goals, but I am sure that the brilliant start will help us to continue our work for supporting the Integration the Western Balkans in the European Union.

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EFB

Team Hedvig Morvai Executive Director

Igor Bandovic Senior Programme Manager

Branka Panic Programme Manager

Elena Petkovska Programme Assistant and Communications

Natasa Smiljanic Office Manager

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PROGRAMME AREAS The Fund’s strategy was 1. PRACTICING EUROPE

2. ENVISIONING EUROPE

Contributing to the development of effective and efficient state administrations in the region

Supporting research and policy development projects as well as media outreach initiatives

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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3. EXPERIENCING EUROPE

4. SUPPORTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Supporting decisive leadership models and promoting the European values by allowing the young generations in the Western Balkans to experience and learn more about Europe

Boosting new policy ideas which can accelerate the reform process of the societies in the region and promoting increased public engagement

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 Balkans The reform of the state administration is one of the major challenges that the countries of the Western Balkans are faced with in their democratization. This crucial restructure is mainly driven by the EU integration process, irrespective of the prospective date of accession. Knowing that both the EU integration and the performance of the Balkan countries within the EU will depend on the qualified and experienced human resources who will be guiding and shaping the whole future of the region, in 2008 the Fund decided to launch its Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from

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the Western Balkans as one of its flagship operational programmes. The conception was a direct reaction to the omnipresent need that each public official responsible for the European domain should acquire practical experience in different European member states over an extended period of time, in order to better support institutional reforms and meet requirements their country needs to meet for the EU membership. The programme was designed to contribute to the development of effective and efficient state administrations in the Western

Balkans by offering a tailor-made seminar and training programme to 20 highly qualified young professionals from the top state authorities each year. The three-month duration of the Fellowship entails a stay and work in the host EU country and state institutions (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France (from 2012), Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain) and 3 seminars which bring together the group of Fellows at the beginning, middle and the end of the Fellowship programme.

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

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Receive training on their respective field of expertise

Serve as ambassadors of their respective countries

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Acquire leadership and management skills at seminars

Participate in an alumni network

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Receive training on the EU (and other international) issues

Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues from the region and the EU

Create links between administrations through individual networking

 Gain professional experience in the EU countries’ federal or state government agencies

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2008–2014 6 750 115

GENERATIONS APPLICATIONS FELLOWS

HOME COUNTRIES

HOST COUNTRIES

ALBANIA

AUSTRIA

SERBIA

BELGIUM

MACEDONIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

MONTENEGRO

GERMANY

KOSOVO

ITALY

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

PORTUGAL

CROATIA

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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Introspection

Branka Panic PROGRAMME MANAGER EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

The development of effective and efficient state administration has been one of the major challenges of the democratization processes in our region and as such has been set as the main goal of the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials. Over the last six years the Programme has involved more than a hundred most qualified and motivated officials from throughout the Western Balkans. They were offered an opportunity to gain professional experience in the EU countries and to receive an advance training on the EU and specific good governance issues, as a tailor-made preparation for their future leadership roles. The unique contribution of this Programme is an opportunity to professionally

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engage with colleagues from the region and the EU and to create links between administrations through individual networks. After receiving the advanced training and working experience in the European Union, these young individuals are becoming ready to lead the EU integration and broader democratization processes in their countries. Although the region itself is already advanced in its EU integration process, the continuous and more intensive work in this direction is still highly needed. The additional value and a particular asset of this Programme is the fellowship community, a unique contribution of professional and personal relationships. Working closely with every generation and listening carefully to their needs,

we focused our efforts on creating a community of and for fellows during and after the programme. With every selection of participants we intentionally choose individuals different in age, experience, expertise and personality, in order to develop diverse and dynamic groups, which resulted in forming an active network with a great potential for further networking, communication, social and professional cooperation. Developing an advanced and innovative Programme, which is leading in ideas and visions for the capacity and community building, is a challenging task. The successful implementation so far has been a reflection of ever-increasing dedication and enthusiasm of programme partners, associates

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and friends. Each of you made a significant impact in making this experience the â&#x20AC;&#x153;life changing oneâ&#x20AC;? for many Fellows. With your help, support and professionalism you contributed to bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union and through your openness and friendliness also to bringing the EU closer to our region. Furthermore, a special tribute goes to those who are in the very centre of the programme, who made it a

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true success story, to the Fellows themselves. For many of you this story was a memorable one in many ways and we hope the EFB will continue to play an important role in your future professional and personal advancement. With gained knowledge, developed skills, values and confidence you are actively becoming change-makers in your institutions and societies. Hence this is a firm confirmation of the clear need and motivation for the

European Fund for the Balkans to continue with the programme. We are very much looking forward to merging our efforts, sharing new insights and innovating ideas in upcoming EFB path of strengthening democracy and fostering European integration.

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Inspection

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

“Young Government Officials as key harbingers of change in their regions” The EFB’s Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance provides and has provided more than 100 officials with clear capacity development and community building impacts. Fellows exhibit learning gains and enthusiasm for their professional efforts and the community of fellows they are part of. Both such outcomes are generally positive and attributed to the EFB’s solid management to date. The fellowship has attracted a wide spectrum of government officials from across the Western Balkans region. This is its strength and its

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drawing factor. Within this mix, age, experience, country and specialization are secondary considerations to the attitude and the potential that fellows demonstrate in the applicant interview. At the same time, all ministries to some degree require alignment with EU standards, and fellows coming from different line ministries display a similar commitment to reform processes in their ministries and administrations. Here it is notable that fellows coming from such diverse offices as gender mainstreaming to judicial institutions felt and saw a need for such opportunities and learning. To some extent, such fellows even more so saw the opportunity as critical, since most did not have other such opportunities that might be available to colleagues more closely connected to European integration processes.

The complexity of the programme and the need to often be flexible and creative means that this type of programme is not a typical foundation or grants management program. The resources for keeping such a programme functioning at its current level should be maintained. There are few donor programs like the EFB fellowship programme which target young officials as individuals that are key harbingers of change in their regions. Most notably here is the ability of the EFB to more comprehensively build on fellowship experiences, successes and communities for further advocacy and policy efforts both in the region and vis-a-vis the EU. Revisiting these, as well as considering how to apply these more focused objectives to a refined design, should ensure that the fellowship programme continues to be both a unique and valuable experience for its participants.

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EFB Fellows

Change makers in the regional public administration The EFB has also been successful in its building of a fellowship community. The uniqueness of the fellowship community of alumni is a particular asset of the program. Intentional group selection to develop dynamic generations of fellows has resulted in a vibrant and engaged regional network. Such a network, with a potential for a more professional and formal cooperation, is a resource for the programme and its further growth. The fellowship network is not an average network of either professional or personal relationships. Rather it is a quite

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

unique combination of both. This community is designed to be both a professional and social community. Its objectives are also two-fold in that it hopes to create a set of like-minded government officials who can call on each other and support each other in their professional efforts. The outcomes to date are also linked to the social portion of this community.



The request to contribute to this publication arrived during quite a busy period as we were preparing the programme for the Introductory Seminar to the EFB Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials. In our five years of cooperation with the EFB, I have worked closely with the team, experiencing a unique partnership characterized by the development of close working relationships and also by the EFB’s high standards for their programmes. It is the challenge of these standards as well as the team’s openness to try new and sometimes even unconventional formats that make us go the extra mile in the development of seminars and innovative teaching.

To:

EFB TEAM From:

KERSTIN ALTHERR Trainer at the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials Coordinator of Short-Term Programs, Potsdam Center for Policy and Management (PCPM) University of Potsdam Subject:

HAPPY 7TH ANNIVERSARY EFB!

Hence, apart from offering challenging, interesting seminars to the EFB Fellows, it is safe to say that, as an organisation offering postgraduate education in the fields of policy and public administration, we have benefitted equally from this cooperation, be it through the exchange of organizational cultures or the effects of basic intercultural learning (e.g. where can you get the best cheese cake in Potsdam and how is a traditional dinner served in the Macedonian mountains?). It is this approach, paying attention to the constant strategic development of the entire programme areas as well as the charming details, that creates a special atmosphere in which a growing number of civil servants from the Western Balkans have come to shape a unique network providing them with opportunities for learning and exchange in a wide variety of ways. Being in the privileged position of having met all the Fellows, I dare say that I am convinced that, no matter in how many different and individual ways they have benefitted from their Fellowship, the EFB has made a difference in all of their lives. We are happy to be a part of it. All the best wishes for the EFB’s future!

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Elidona Durmishi BUDGET 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 Miceski PROGRAMMING 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 Tripkovic SENIOR ADVISER AT THE MONTENEGRIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICEMONTENEGRO FELLOW 2011/2012

The European Fund for the Balkans offered me a unique opportunity of gaining threemonth 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 Pejic HEAD 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 Uka SENIOR 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.

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.

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 participant’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 programme for a very long time. Being with EFB since the beginnings 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 opportunity 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 successful programs for the region.

Elona Varfi EU POLICY CONSULTANT AT THE ALBANIAN CENTRE FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ALBANIA FELLOW 2012/2013

As a fellow of The Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance 2012/13, I would classify this programme as significantly positive and rewarding. In my opinion this fellowship signifies the region wrapped up in one Programme, where like-minded young professionals share experiences, discuss ideas, build perspectives and bond. This programme takes regional cooperation to the highest level and I, as part of the remarkable 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.

Ivana Ivkov ADVISER 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.

Bojana Bulatovic ADVISOR 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 threemonth 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.

Migena Kalthi EXPERT AT MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND ENERGY - ALBANIA FELLOW 2008/2009

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.

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.

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.

Dejan Radic ADVISOR 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.

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High spirit and involvement of EFB programme managers Throughout the mentioned period I was involved as a trainer in opening and final seminars. I highly value the fact that EFB was always striving to get the most out of every single programme slot. I witnessed an extremely supportive attitude in co-developing programmes, schedules, contents. This was a very helpful condition for the constant evaluation and evolution of content and methods including perspectives from trainers, programme coordinators as well as participants systematically. This makes an educational approach professional! Incredible focus on target group for tailor-made input

To:

EFB TEAM From:

BERND-FRIEDRICH VOIGT Trainer in the Fellowship Programme Subject:

EFB CONTRIBUTION LETTER FOR THE 7 YEAR REPORT

From the very minute of a selection decision in every year it was clearly obvious that the interplay of each year`s group of participants, their specific expatriation experiences, a fit of suitable training sessions and socializing events was tailor-made in a twofold manner: Firstly, the guiding programme philosophy influenced the selection of participants as well training contents in an equally stringent way. Secondly, a differentiation was made for every generation even along the way, as it was possible to gain more insights on how each participant of the group as such would perform. Only from this, it was possible to establish a Stunt team building with amazing impact and at the same time a professional evolution of a leadership self-portrait module. Nice balance between content and socializing As I perceive it, a special characteristic of the EFB is the balancing quality with regards to the social and the professional parts of a programme. This is in many ways made possible by the innovative attitude and daring trust of the coordinators for new approaches in training. It is also a true fact that EFB has shown a spectacular interest and perfect instinct in finding supporting locations. Best wishes for the future endeavours! Bernd-Friedrich Voigt

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Envisioning Europe Think & Link Regional Policy Programme In order to encourage various debates on the challenges, costs and opportunities of building a genuine EU member-state, the European Fund for the Balkans launched its region-wide policy programme: â&#x20AC;&#x153;THINK AND LINKâ&#x20AC;? - Regional Policy Programme in 2008. The programme seeks to foster inclusive and evidence-based policy making in the Western Balkans by initiating and supporting individual and collaborative research projects on the chosen annual programme topic, embedded in the regional seminar programme cycle.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Emerging think tanks, policy oriented NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, independent policy institutes and policy relevant research groups are encouraged to participate in the programme cycle (capacity building and networking seminars, mentoring) and conducting a research project which will analyze the in-country policies against the needs and requirements derived from the EU acquis, necessary to ensure effective and complete compliance. Twelve organisations from the Western Balkans are financially supported to perform research on the proposed topic, different for each programme year.

Based on their research results, they develop concrete policy proposals, policy advice or policy alternatives. To support policy transformation, policy proposals should provide a feasible strategy for change. An effective and efficient dissemination strategy is a crucial element of the programme. Outreach activities are expected to be an integral part of the research proposals. On the other hand, to obtain feedback and dissemination results, the EFB will involve policy-makers, nonstate stakeholders and develop complementary promotion activities.

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Objectives:

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Fill the crucial gap between the political and technical debate

Foster inclusive and evidence – based policy making in the region

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Link emerging policy institutes from the Balkans with the EU – based think tanks

Build up research capacities and support constant learning

Policy papers based on sound research

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Public debate triggered by innovative, effective and efficient outreach activities

New cooperation and communication channels within the regional think-tank scene

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2008–2014 5 565 115 56 150

GENERATIONS APPLICATIONS FELLOWS SUPPORTED ORGANISATIONS AND POLICY PROJECTS SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Think & Link Network ď&#x201E;&#x2018; Network countries

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Igor Bandovic SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

The EFB Think and Link Programme has provided organisations with a means and a set of methods to carry out policy research and advocacy on EU related reform processes throughout the Western Balkans. During the past six years more than 50 organisations have been engaged with the programme to address a wide-range of challenges facing their countries in a manner that has encouraged more thoughtful and evidence based discussions around these reform undertakings. Managing the programme of this unique kind and the intervention was challenging task and enriching experience for me. Meeting people from policy oriented organisations from the region, discussing their strengths and weaknesses, discussing the ways

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

in which they can grow, personally and in terms of organisations, and by developing their analytical and advocacy skills, we managed to create active scene of organisations working in the area of EU integration and EU policies field. These organisations, now, I am sure of that, represent the actors capable of ensuring that the process of building evidence-based policy making systems in the region progresses. I am very proud of the fact that regional cooperation and joint activities of research and advocacy between think tanks and policy research centers in the region have become legacy of this programme. It is the moment after six years of intensive work with think tanks to pursuit new goal of impact guided, influential projects with clear policy objectives and we are looking

forward to continue working with them.

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

“Europe“ for the people of the Western Balkans is a chimera, it is a wonderful land where the orderliness and prosperity that we so much crave awaits us. But we know little of its structure and hardly anything about its detail. It is hugely important that the chimera becomes a much more concrete vision, so that we become able to create our European countries to our own and Europe’s image - both true to each one of us, and truly European. The EFB’s work is preciously helping us achieve just that. Center for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES) has had the privilege of directly experiencing EFB’s Envisioning Europe by benefiting from its Think and Link Programme, aiming to build knowledge on member-state building and policy research capacity at the same time. This is exactly what Think and Link accomplished for us:

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it helped us build an understanding of how Europe views, develops and regulates entrepreneurship, and lay a critical building block in the foundations on which CEVES capacity to help Serbia’s society change stands today. When I speak of CEVES, I speak of one of the many teams of young, enthusiastic people, who EFB helped learn about research methods and meet other young people from the region like themselves. These are the region’s future leaders. Envisioning Europe is only one of the components of the EFB’s programs, the others dealing with policy making, policy makers and youth more directly, and all of them leaving a palpable trail of new practical knowledge, critical for the transformation that the Western Balkan countries need. I hope and

wish the EFB to not only continue doing this important work in the years to come but that it expands it, because we need it. My warmest congratulations to the EFB on its seventh birthday!

Milena Lazarevic

Megi Llubani

SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER, EUROPEAN POLICY CENTRE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CEP, SERBIA

RESEARCHER AT ALBANIAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, ALBANIA

THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT

GENERATION 2012/2013

As a part of the Think&Link Programme of the EFB, the European Policy Centre (CEP) team greatly benefited from capacity building as well as networking activities. On the one side, the team members improved their research skills and grasped methods for advancing the communicability of our policy products, while also on the other side, we created new and extremely useful contacts with other think tanks in Serbia and in the region. The opportunity we had to get to know and connect with think tanks from other Western Balkan countries is an equally great value of the Programme as the research capacity building itself. Moreover, thanks to the Programme, CEP widened and deepened its reach to the donor community, and initiated cooperation with partners in the country and the region, with whom it remains in contact and is currently developing and implementing joint projects. I must say that the EFB team was very supportive and responsive throughout the Programme.

The first time I heard about the European Fund for the Balkans, was when I applied for the EU and Southeast Europe Leadership Development Programme (LDP), one of my very first regional experiences of this kind. The second time, I applied for the Think and Link Regional Policy Programme, on behalf of the think tank where I work, the Albanian Institute for International Studies. And the latest, but hopefully not the last, cooperation I had with the EFB was the Think and Act as a European workshop in Budapest. From the Think and Link project I greatly valued the training element, which is almost always missing with other donors and projects, and which helped me improve my policy research skills. From what I have noticed, the EFB has a vast network of collaborators and partners and the members of the EFB community have had access to this network, which for many of us has been crucial in our professional development. I also appreciate the ability of the EFB to inspire. Through all its programs and activities the EFB not only offers training, professional and academic opportunities for development, but also inspires people to be the best person they can. What I can say in conclusion is that the EFB is, in my opinion, one of the leading organisations in the Balkans and their efforts have thus far been successful, offering great opportunities, especially for passionate and committed young people and young professionals.

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Todor Milchevski RESEARCHER AT FOUNDATION NEW BUSINESS EDUCATION, MACEDONIA THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT GENERATION 2011/2012

I had the privilege of conducting a research entitled “Improving Regional Development Policies – Sharing the German and Slovenian Experience” together with a research team composed of senior and junior researchers part of the New Business Education (NBE) Foundation, under the Call for Proposals “Think and Link” – Regional Policy Programme 2012/2013. The funding provided by the European Fund for the Balkans, included contributions for the research team members, conducting two study trips to Germany and Slovenia for four and three research team members respectively, and publishing a policy paper together with a policy brief in both English and Macedonian. The European Fund for the Balkans was an excellent opportunity for our growing organisation to improve its project portfolio, learn important information for constructing policy papers and policy advocacy, as well as spread its network with other grantees from the Balkan region. An exceptional opportunity for networking was provided at the two training seminars, organized throughout the project period. The EFB in the past seven years has done an amazing job in providing opportunities for newly established CSO’s and thinktanks to conduct research in a vast variety of areas and establish connections for potential future collaboration. Its diligence, vision, capability, and support is an example for others to follow. Speaking in the name of our organisation, it was a pleasure to be a part of the EFB network.

Igor Novakovic RESEARCH FELLOW AT INTERNATIONAL AND SECURITY AFFAIRS CENTRE - ISAC FUND, SERBIA THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT GENERATION 2011/2012

International and Security Affairs Centre – ISAC Fond is proud that its research team took part in the Think and Link programme of the European Fund for the Balkans. For our research team, it was beneficial to be a part of the training phase for policy oriented research and advocacy. But, more importantly, our participation in T&L provided us with a chance to build a stepping stone for our activities in the period that is to come, namely monitoring and providing support to Serbia’s negotiations in Chapters 30 and 31. ISAC’s T&L project and its results – a policy study, one policy brief and an online public survey on B92 web portal prepared grounds for several spin-off projects that we are currently preparing. During our participation in the programme, we were also impressed by the selection of other projects, which covered almost all important issues that fall into the scope of the EU accession process. And precisely that is the value of this program: building capacities of various research oriented think-tanks and CSOs for monitoring and support to reform process of all of the Western Balkans in a moment when political elites are lacking an actual wish to undertake needed comprehensive reforms in almost all of the EU chapters. Examples of the consequences could be found in our neighboring EU member states. For these reasons, we would like to once again emphasize how important of an experience it was for our team to be a part of the programme. EFB was of great help during the entire process and we are more than grateful for the support that was provided to us. We hope that the EFB will continue to grant opportunities of this kind to other think-tanks and that they will as useful to them as they were to us.

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Ilina Mangova PROJECT MANAGER AND RESEARCHER AT THE INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY SOCIETAS CIVILIS (IDSCS), MACEDONIA THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT GENERATION 2011/2012

I collaborated with the European Fund for the Balkans as the main researcher from the Institute for Democracy “Societas CIvilis” – Skopje (IDSCS) on the project “Is the Anti-Corruption Model Delivering Results in Macedonia?” implemented in 2012. The research produced a comprehensive policy study of the Macedonian anti-corruption model, its weaknesses and needs for improvement, and it is the only study of its kind that has been published in Macedonia. The study was distributed to policy makers of all political parties and it is placed in the Knowledge Database of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI). This was also the first project and research in the area of anti-corruption IDSCS has implemented and significantly assisted the organisation to position itself as one of the most relevant organisations that work in the area of anti-corruption. The funding and the support of the European Fund for the Balkans had a vital importance in assisting IDSCS achieve this position. In addition to this, through the work on this research I have personally strengthened my expertise in anti-corruption and policy making. Throughout the cooperation with the EFB, the staff of the EFB was extremely professional, helpful and a pleasure to work with. The participation in the Think and Link Programme also assisted us to network with other CSOs in the region and in Macedonia and the impact of the EFB has been visible in the work of these CSOs in Macedonia.

Marko Sosic PUBLIC POLICIES RESEARCHERS AT INSTITUTE ALTERNATIVE, MONTENEGRO THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT GENERATION 2010/2012

Think and Link Programme of the European Fund for the Balkans was very important for us, partly because we had the opportunity to take part in it early on in the development of our organisation. It enabled us to do research on two topics, which we thought were extremely important, but whose significance was not so clear to other donors at the time. The EFBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focused support to the work of think tanks let us deal with these topics in a way that we thought was the most appropriate, it provided assistance and guidance in the research and advocacy process as well as enabled us to meet our peers throughout the region, create links and networks. Our first T&L project was concerned with the strengthening of the impact of the State Audit Institution in Montenegro and the second was dealing with ways of enhancing the role of the Montenegrin Parliament in the process of EU Integration. Policy papers that were produced in the framework within these two projects made an impact: using them as tools we managed to achieve changes in Montenegro. Moreover, these papers are still a resource we use to advocate changes and build upon their findings with new research initiatives. Networking with other think tanks in the region was also very important for us, both because we got to know our peers and learn from their work, and because we made partnerships that in some occasions evolved into formation of formal networks or joint project applications.

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Gledis Gjipali EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EUROPEAN MOVEMENT IN ALBANIA THINK AND LINK PARTICIPANT GENERATION 2009/2010

European Movement in Albania (EMA) is a think tank organisation devoted to the democratization and EU integration process of the country. Focusing on research and advocacy in our areas of interest it is always difficult to find understanding for the difficulties of the research community and financial support to overcome the problems. The EFB through the Think and Link Programme since its establishment has been addressing both issues in the right way. Listening to the problems related to policy research, shaping the appropriate tools for intervention and providing the needed support. The strong capacity-building component attached to the financial support produced sustainable results for organisations like EMA that go beyond a project implementation cycle. The EFB is also one of very few partners with which EMA has collaborated that provided support for the communication and dissemination strategy of policy research. This support was ensured in two main directions: firstly by direct mentoring and capacity building and secondly through financial support for dissemination activities. EMA’s team, composed from both senior and junior researchers, benefited a lot from the seminars organized by the EFB, where a particular attention was paid to the effective manners of communication and dissemination of a policy product to target groups and public opinion in general. The information and instruments provided were useful for EMA’s staff not only in the framework of projects implemented at that time but also to improve EMA’s profile in this context. EFB has become over the years an indispensable actor for the research community in the Western Balkans. We hope that this 7th anniversary will be one of many milestones on its journey.

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Envisioning Europe

Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans

In 2010, the European Fund for the Balkans, in cooperation with the Think Tank Fund of the Open Society Institute (Budapest), launched the Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans with the aim to contribute to further capacity building and professional development of the policy researchers from the region of the Western Balkans. This initiative was created in order to provide

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

opportunities for exchange of knowhow and building networks across Europe through fellowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paid visits and work in the other policy research institutions and think â&#x20AC;&#x201C; tanks in the EU and other countries of the Western Balkans.

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 To equip junior researchers with tools necessary for effective influencing on the policy-making processes and developing innovative and quality policy products





To contribute to institutional development of think tanks by broadening their professional networks, improving the junior employee skills and increasing their motivation for better participation and generation of new ideas

To enrich portfolios and networks of think tanks by bringing in researchers with different backgrounds

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2008–2014 4 100 20

GENERATIONS APPLICATIONS RESEARCH FELLOWS

HOME COUNTRIES

HOST COUNTRIES

ALBANIA

BELGIUM

SERBIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

MACEDONIA

GERMANY

MONTENEGRO

GREECE

KOSOVO

ITALY

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

SLOVENIA

CROATIA

THE NETHERLANDS

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

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

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.

ď&#x201E;&#x2018; Home countries ď&#x201E;&#x2018; Host countries

Residential stay at Host Institution

Continuation of work at Home Institution

Opportunity for the Fellow to engage in the ongoing policy research projects and develop concrete policy products, guided by senior policy analysts from the host institution.

After returning to home institution, the Fellow continues to work on the final report from both the mentor and the Fellow, which will be presented to the EFB at the end of the Fellowship.

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Introduction

Goran Buldioski DIRECTOR, THINK TANK FUND ACTING CO-DIRECTOR, HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM, OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS 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 six years the European Fund for the Balkans has proven that four parent institutions when coupled with talented staff, could gain relevance quickly and press beyond many critical junctures. I am sure soon we will celebrate 10, 15 and more years of your Fund. The Think Tank Fund of the Open Society Foundations and the European Fund for the Balkans have successfully implemented a joint fellowship programme that enabled a dozen of young policy researchers to spend up to three months in peer institutions. Not only did they improve their analytical skills, these people forged relations that spearheaded

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

joint collaborations beyond the initial grant period. The placement in another think tank made many of these young gifted individuals stay in the policy sector. Together, we have also spearheaded and successfully organized the Balkan Peer Exchange for Think Tanks and Advocacy Organisations. This was perhaps the most ambitious gathering of 100 participants from these two types of organisations in the region. I wish we had the energy and time to follow up this event given the demand it created for continuous action. Perhaps we will do it before your 10th anniversary. I wish you great celebrations, but also boost of new energy and inspiration and look forward to our continued cooperation. Congratulations!

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Baisa Sefa

Zoran Nechev

EXTERNAL LECTURER AT THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF TIRANA, ALBANIA

PROGRAMME MANAGER, ASSOCIATION FOR DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES – ZENITH, MACEDONIA

RESEARCH FELLOW 2010

RESEARCH FELLOW 2013

In my personal and professional opinion, the collaboration with the EFB is an unforgettable experience. It was unique and challenging at the same time. Unique because the participation in one of EFB programmes “Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans Region”, offered me the opportunity to deepen my professional interest on the EU pre-accession assistance by developing both theoretical and practical approach at the Center for EU Enlargement Studies, Hungary. This experience enabled me to work independently in a foreign professional environment, where coping with the responsibilities and deadlines was a challenge. In this regard, I am grateful to the EFB for the opportunity it provides to young professionals like me to develop their career by boosting their managerial and communications skills at the same time.

The Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from the Western Balkans Region has been a great experience for me in terms of gaining additional knowledge, expanding my professional network and exchanging opinions and ideas with experts in the field of the EU enlargement. The extensive list of the EU think tanks and other information provided by the European Fund for the Balkans were sufficient for me to choose and contact an organisation with interest in my research.

The fellowship programme was a great chance to establish a fruitful cooperation with the host organisation, which later on was transformed into a concrete collaboration. Currently, the cooperation set up during the fellowship period is embodied into an institutional collaboration, in the framework of a joint project on sharing experiences towards European integration. This experience was unique also in terms of opportunities provided to explore a new culture and to further develop my spirit of adventure. It resulted in being such thanks to the vision and support provided by the EFB staff members, who were always ready to assist me in this process. I am grateful for the willingness and passion shown, as well as the excellent communication skills that turned this experience into an unforgettable event. If I have the chance, without any doubt I will go for it again!

The Fellowship Programme contributed to my professional development as a policy researcher, since I was given an opportunity to experience the methods and approaches used in conducting research in an internationally renowned organisation such as the Netherlands Institute for International Relations “Clingendael”. Round table debate was organized in order to discuss the recommendations of the policy brief “Bolstering Rule of Law in the EU Enlargement Process towards the Western Balkans” which was the final output of the fellowship. Representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Montenegrin and Macedonian ambassador to the Netherlands as well as the former EU ambassador to Macedonia attended the event, among others.

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Mentor Vrajolli

Emina Cosic

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

POLICY RESEARCHER, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

RESEARCH FELLOW 2012

RESEARCH FELLOW 2011

It is my pleasure to express my personal views and also the KCSS' views with regards to the European Fund for Balkans (EFB). My first experience with the EFB was through the Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers from Western Balkans Region (2011). This programme provided me with a highly valuable opportunity to be hosted by one of the leading European institutions and gain a valuable experience from them. During this fellowship I chose the International Center for Democratic Transition (ICDT) in Budapest as host organisation. As a well-known global institute, during my period at ICDT I was able to learn a lot about their approach towards different regional and global security crises and processes which they were involved in. I was particularly engaged in their activities related to ISAF Afghanistan and Visegrad Group (V4). My work on this project allowed me to expand my comparative abilities. I used the perspectives gained from both these projects in the Policy Paper titled “Kosovo’s Challenges to Enter NATO Integration Processes” which I drafted while I was hosted in Budapest. In addition to that, back home I shared different good ideas and practices used by ICDT with my Colleagues at KCSS in order to improve the performance of my organisation. Therefore having in mind this positive experience, I consider the Fellowship Programme and the support provided by the EFB pivotal for my career development. Indeed, unlike other Grant donors who tend to overburden the process of grant implementation with different unnecessary and complicated procedures, the EFB’s main concern was the quality part, respective the successful completion of the fellowship with an aim to develop my professional and personal capacities through learning from direct experiences in one of the most prominent think tank institutions operating in the EU. I am very much looking forward to continuing my cooperation with the EFB.

I had the privilege to participate in the EFB Programme Area Envisioning Europe - Think and Link and Fellowship Programme for Policy Researchers. Both programs have been beneficial in terms of learning new techniques relevant to policy research, especially experiencing the work dynamics in an EU based think tank. Working in Brussels has influenced my thinking and understanding policy making processes, the role a Think Tank has, as well as helping me place this role in the context of my own work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beyond the direct benefits to myself, I would take this opportunity to underline the components that, in my modest opinion, make the EFB activities most successful and beneficial to both the region and the EU. Most importantly the EFB manages to facilitate continuous networking, knowledge exchange, and building of trusting professional relationships amongst both WB and EU based think tanks and individuals. That is accomplished through the design of the programs for which the EFB provides grants, making the former grantees and experts part of their regional events and conferences, research and reports, promoting the outputs of their affiliates either on institutional or individual level, supporting mobility of individuals and organisations and continuous follow-up and communication with the alumni. As a donor, the EFB has demonstrated the necessary patience, understanding, support, and flexibility to the organisations/ individual still in the development process. The flexibility and responsiveness contributes to overall goals of the EFB, and circumvents the loss of quality linked to strictness of procedure and administration focused expectations.

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Experiencing Europe

Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme The Leadership Development Programme was launched in 2006/2007 by the College of Europe and the TRANSFUSE Association. The European Fund for the Balkans began financing the programme in 2008 and since 2009 it has been organizing it jointly with the College of Europe and the TRANSFUSE Association. With the aim of promoting European values for the future generations, the Fund has supported this programme, which was envisioned as a catalyst for the emerging change-makers and leaders in the Balkan societies and

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

the EU. By encouraging the spirit of cooperation and identifying the new connecting tissues for the young generations of the region and the EU, the programme managed to produce a wide network of young ambassadors. 30 graduate students from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Turkey are selected each year to take part in the eightmonth long “Southeast Europe and the EU – Leadership Development Programme”. A limited number of

participants are selected from the other European countries. The LDP is led by an Academic Dean, who guides the participants through the different elements of the programme – Summer Academy, Group Activities and Spring Seminar.

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Objective Contribute to the development of open-minded and progressive leaders who have the ambition to play an active role in the future of their countries by offering a tailor-made programme in leadership training.

 Develop leadership skills

 Create links with the like-minded peers from the Western Balkans and Europe

 Acquire knowledge about the EU, EU - Western Balkans relations and international relations

 Become young ambassadors of their countries

 Join the EFB Community

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2008–2014

MACEDONIA MONTENEGRO MOLDOVA NETHERLANDS POLAND

7 2131 203

GENERATIONS APPLICATIONS YOUNG LEADERS

HOME COUNTRIES ALBANIA AUSTRIA

PORTUGAL ROMANIA SERBIA SLOVENIA SWEDEN TURKEY UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BULGARIA CROATIA

GERMANY

SUMMER ACADEMY AND SPRING SEMINAR

GREECE

GERMANY

HUNGARY

AUSTRIA

ITALY

BELGIUM

KOSOVO

SLOVAKIA

CYPRUS DENMARK

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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

To:

EFB TEAM

My experience with the EFB was mainly, as you know, with the Leadership Development Programme - SEE and the EU. I was Academic Dean of the Programme for five years. During this time, I was highly impressed with the professionalism and dedication of the EFB staff with whom I worked. They were exacting both on themselves, and on the participants of the programme who were held to the highest standards both academically and personally. The programme was minutely organized down to the last detail, and delivered with efficiency, patience and cheerfulness, which were greatly appreciated both by me and the participants, as their feedback unfailingly showed. The collaboration with the College of Europe was particularly good, and I am sure it was helpful to the EFB at the outset as the new organisation was finding its feet. The collaboration flourished due to the shared interest of both partners in the LDP project, and I hope it continues today and in future.

From:

JUDY BATT Academic Dean of the Leadership Development Programme Subject:

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

I particularly appreciated the care and rigour of the process of selecting LDP participants, and the scrupulous attention to gathering and analyzing participants’ feedback at each stage of the programme in order to constantly improve it. LDP had clearly became recognized as “state of the art” in the region, and was drawing huge numbers of applicants for its 30 places. More and more young people from the region were travelling and studying abroad, and had established friendships across the region. I think the EFB staff set an excellent example of what they were trying to achieve with the LDP participants - responsible, self-motivated members of civil society with highly developed skills of building and sustaining collaborative networks across the Western Balkans and the EU. I am very happy to write a few words about my experience with the EFB. First of all, congratulations on reaching your 7th anniversary and I wish you many more years of success!



To:

EFB TEAM From:

JESÚS BALLESTEROS Deputy Director, Development Office College of Europe - Partner organisation of LDP Programme Subject:

CONTRIBUTION LETTER FROM COLLEGE OF EUROPE

Even if I was not present when the Leadership Development Programme was born, I can say that I have seen it growing and becoming an “adult” in terms of success and maturity. Concerning the latter, we could realize at an early stage how things are never perfect and that we can improve in each minor detail. These seven editions of the LDP programme have been a constant overcoming and exercise of pulling boundaries for the entire team. However they have as well given us the opportunity of growing professionally and transferring this knowledge to the programme year after year. As for the success of the programme, I am extremely glad to have been a part of an initiative which brought together very talented, professional and unique people from the region of the Western Balkans and beyond. We must be grateful to all of them (more than 200) because they shared with us their hopes, dreams and expectations, so we could give them something in return and that something was - the best programme we could organise every year. Finally I only have words of admiration and gratitude to the entire EFB team. They are not only high level dedicated professionals, but incredible human beings who it is a pleasure to work with. We worked together hard for this programme and I believe that it has paid off. From the long lasting meetings of the selection process or the so long nights of the team finalizing every single detail to the challenges of the debates and discussions or the visits to the EU Institutions, the team had to face a large number of difficulties and overcome tough situations. Nevertheless, all these drawbacks made us just realize how well we could work together and support each other as a team even if we belong to different institutions having a unique and common goal.

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 eightmonth 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 regionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 Programme (LDP), under Experiencing Europe EFB’s programme area, was for most of the participants the first high-level academic programme after our undergraduate 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 familiarize us with all these issues. And such a programme couldn’t be a better beginning. The excellent 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 generations 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 community 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 opportunity to learn many useful and interesting things through summer 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 Cone PR-MANAGER, ROMANIA LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013

I would like to say that I feel very proud to be a part of the LDP community. It was an honor for me to be selected to take part in this programme. It was an extraordinary experience that I would highly recommend to all the students that are engaged in making changes in their society. I think that LDP was a complex experience, 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 appreciated most speakers that were present in the Summer Academy. Although most of the EU information 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 appropriate, due to our common history and future political plans. The second part of the programme, 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 coordinate, 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 experience. 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 Jovanov

Judith Schulte

CIVIL ACTIVIST AND PRESIDENT OF THE YOUTH CSO “YOUTH CAN”

PROJECT COORDINATOR IN SCHUELER HELFEN LEBEN FOUNDATION, GERMANY

LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013

LDP PARTICIPANT 2010/2011

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!

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 Abusara SENIOR 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.

Adnan Ovcina RESEARCHER AND FOUNDER OF CENTRE FOR REGIONAL RESEARCH, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA LDP PARTICIPANT 2012/2013

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.

Aleksandra Georgievska VICE PRESIDENT “STEP4INCLUSION”, FREELANCE SOCIAL ECONOMY EXPERT, MACEDONIA LDP PARTICIPANT 2006/2007

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.

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REPORT: 2007 - 2014

LDP Group Projects

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EFB

Community

 PEOPLE

In 2009, the European Fund for the Balkans launched its new initiative EFB Community.

strong EFB network which would perpetuate and further enforce the core goals and values of the Fund.

The mission of the EFB Community is to serve the interests of the EFB Community members by providing a forum for networking, communication and collaboration. In order to fulfill its commitment to strengthen the cohesion between members, the EFB sponsors and organizes initiatives and events, including the community members in a variety of EFB activities.

In 2014 the EFB Community has grown into a 338 member network, which includes all the participants who have successfully completed one of the EFB Programmes.

They receive an electronic EFB Newsletter and EFB Event Calendar, for constant newsfeed, photos and video materials regarding the EFB activities and programmes.

Within the EFB Community specific groups have been created having in mind the origin of the participants and their specific interest due to strong connections which have been developed during their participation in different EFB programmes. These specific groups are addressed with specific issues besides the general approach to the EFB Community.

In addition to the numerous networking opportunities, the EFB Community offers an opportunity for further cooperation through participation in different EFB activities as speakers, panelists, trainers.

Through its programmes the European Fund for the Balkans has the opportunity to support individuals as well as organisations in a variety of ways. It is crucial that this support is not a one-time investment, but only the first step on the road toward a long-term mutual cooperation. The EFB Community has been created to provide a venue for this cooperation and thus be the basis for the formation of a

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The EFB Community programme with its special approach to its members now serves as a platform for different EFB events and joint initiatives, where the community members are active participants, promoters and information sources.

 PEER LEARNING

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VISI

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YOU PERSPE



NE EMER IDE

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ION



UTH ECTIVES



EW RGING EAS

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NETWORKING

HOPE

MOTIVATION







INNOVATION

CONNECTION

ENERGY







EMULATION

COMMITMENT

DIVERSITY

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2009–2014 338 203 115 20 26

MEMBERS LDP PARTICIPANTS CIVIL SERVANTS

ITALY

RESEARCH FELLOWS

KOSOVO

COUNTRIES

MACEDONIA

HOME COUNTRIES

MOLDOVA MONTENEGRO

ALBANIA

THE NETHERLANDS

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

POLAND

BULGARIA

PORTUGAL

CROATIA

ROMANIA

CYPRUS

SERBIA

DENMARK

SLOVENIA

FRANCE

SWEDEN

GERMANY

TURKEY

GREECE

UNITED KINGDOM

HUNGARY

UNITED STATES

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Geographical scope of EFB Community member ď&#x201E;&#x2018; Home countries

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Reflections on the EFB Community

A LOOK FROM OUTSIDE REPORT: 2007 - 2014

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Fabrice de Kerchove

Andrew Rasiej

Eóin Young

CHAIR OF THE EFB STEERING COMMITTEE, KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION

FOUNDER OF PERSONAL DEMOCRACY MEDIA, USA

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR & SENIOR TRAINER, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLICY ADVOCACY

„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.“

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„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.“

„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 decisionmaking process.“

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Branka Panic

Hedvig Morvai

EFB COMMUNITY COORDINATOR, EUROPEAN FUND FOR THE BALKANS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 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.“ REPORT: 2007 - 2014

„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.“

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Igor Bandovic SENIOR 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.“

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A LOOK FROM THE INSIDE

Blerta Derhemi ALBANIA

Tamara Brankovic Natasa SERBIA Kulakowski

FELLOW 2010/2011

LDP PARTICIPANT 2011/2012

CROATIA

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.

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.

FELLOW 2011/2012

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.

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.

Dejan Radic

Daniel Gjokeski

Teuta Peja

Ivan Jovetic

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

MACEDONIA

KOSOVO

MONTENEGRO

FELLOW 2009/2010

LDP PARTICIPANT 2011/2012

LDP PARTICIPANT 2008/2009

LDP PARTICIPANT

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Konstantina Karydi

ROMANIA

Alexandra Nastase

GREECE

LDP PARTICIPANT 2010/2011

ROMANIA

LDP PARTICIPANT 2008/2009

LDP PARTICIPANT 2011/2012

The EFB Community is a an umbrella platform for meeting the participants from the other generations 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 Toma

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 Belcheva MACEDONIA 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 Buha BOSNIA 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 important EU integration process of the Western Balkans. This development and the evolution is not only individual: 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 leaders, connected with strong, both professional and private ties. My significant experience with similar international programmes and activities 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 applicability 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.

Edvard Mitevski MACEDONIA 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.

Milos Djindjic SERBIA 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

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.

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First EFB Community Meeting

The successful launch of the first EFB Community Meeting in Zagreb in the period of October 11-14, 2012 was an excellent starting point for the realization of the idea for bringing all the EFB community members in one place. 100 Community members from all over the Balkans and the rest of Europe + 13 Programme generations + 26 participating countries were joined together under the motto of the First EFB Community Meeting â&#x20AC;&#x153;People, ideas and Networksâ&#x20AC;?. Different generations of the EFB Community members, partners, collaborators, political and civil society activists, researchers, consultants, professors, policy advocates, trainers, students

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

and invited guests were active participants in the three-day programme. Series of fresh topics, brainstorming and exchange of ideas unfolded during the thee days, which were also filled with other dynamic activities from the EFB agenda. The EFB Community meeting offered stimulating exchange of opinions and an opportunity to share thoughts with popular speakers about the current issues in Europe. The fruitful plenary sessions, discussions and open space communication served as an engine for developing new creative solutions, visions and concepts for bringing the Western Balkans closer to the EU and vice versa.

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Traditional Joint Fellowship Trainings The realization of the EFB goal of strengthening and expansion of the network of civil servants in the Western Balkans and creating foundation for their future cooperation began with the launch of the joint trainings of the government officials from the EFB Fellowship Programme, that are now held traditionally every year in the period between June/July. In 2010, the Fellows from the Fellowship Programme from Young Government Officials from Generations 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 joined forces and participated in a one-day real life simulation of a business game with typical working environment challenges “Management Challenge - World of Employment”. The EFB idea was to foster the sharing of knowledge and exchange of experiences between the EFB Fellows, who had an opportunity to test their leadership, communication and cooperation skills and show

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

the real team spirit in making the right decisions with their colleague Fellows. In 2011, the EFB organized the Fellowship Joint Conference – “Challenges for the Civil Service in the Western Balkans”(Mavrovo, Macedonia, July 1-3, 2011).The joint training day gathered three generations of the Fellowship Programme for an interactive and communicative team-event with one main objective – networking. The overall setting of the joint training was organisation and realization of the regional conference "Challenges for the Civil Service in the Western Balkans", including presentations, panels and discussions. In 2012, the Fellows from the previous 4 generations of the Fellowship Programme participated in the EFB Community Networking Event and Joint Training “A New Cohesion Initiative for the Western Balkans“. The idea of this networking

event was to integrate different backgrounds and individual expertise of the EFB Community members and to encourage and strengthen the development of not only a “social”, but a “knowledge and expertise” network. The exchange of personal knowledge, expertise and lessons learnt with peers enabled the Fellows to come up with a new vision of cohesion and cooperation. In 2013, fellows from the five generations gathered for another joint fellowship training “Croatia and the Future of the Western Balkans Enlargement” which was symbolically held in Croatia (28 of June- 3 of July), as the next member state of the EU family. With this strategic choice of the EFB team, the fellows were also given an opportunity to witness the July 1st ceremony in Zagreb which marked Croatia’s accession to the EU, as a historical event and a success story for the entire region of the Western Balkans.

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EFB Community Website

In March 2011 the EFB Community website www.community.balkanfund.org was launched. It serves as an online database and an interactive platform for networking and cooperation between all the Community members. On this website the registered Community members can search for other members, latest Community news or information about EFB Programmes.

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COMMUNITY MEMBERS

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3548 FACEBOOK

ONLINE PLATFORMS

PAGE LIKES

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1 LINKEDIN

FACEBOOK GROUP

GROUP

 319 NEWSLETTER

SUBRCRIBERS

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Supporting Policy Development

Supporting Policy Development seeks to serve policy researchers, think tanks, NGOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and governments that are interested in being engaged in policy developments and the EU integration process in the Western Balkans. The programme aims to facilitate transfer of knowledge and expertise with evidence-based approach for addressing complex societal challenges the countries of the region are facing on their way to the EU membership.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Through Supporting Policy Development, the Fund boosts new policy ideas which can accelerate the reform process of the societies of the region, create synergies and multiply the impact through innovative approaches, promote increased public engagement and support decisive leadership models.

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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

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VICINITIES FIRST EVER SEE CURRENT AFFAIRS REGIONAL TV TALK-SHOW

POLICY TALKS

Supporting Policy Development 088

Balkan Monitor 7CITIES 3 SURVEYS 100 QUESTIONS 21 DISCUSSIONS In 2008 the European Fund for the Balkans formed a partnership with Gallup Europe in order to launch the “Balkan Monitor”, which aimed at providing all-encompassing data on people’s perceptions in the Western Balkan region, creating thereby a one-stop shop that delivers strategic insights based on evidence-based social research in the region. Covering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, Balkan Monitor asked more than 100 general and country-specific questions and explored a series of key issues including:

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

 Migratory patterns and the future: outlook and aspirations





Social and economic conditions

Employment prospects, business conditions





Attitudes and perceptions of the EU and international community

Good governance



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Corruption

Ethnic & cultural identities and perceptions of other ethnic groups

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Crime and Safety

Religion

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Political activity in the region

Well-being & life satisfaction

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The research was conducted annually, thereby providing an up-to-date assessment on the socioeconomic, sociopolitical, and multicultural dimensions of the Balkan region. In order to present and widely acknowledge the results of the Balkan Monitor, the EFB in cooperation with Gallup Europe organized series of events in the form of public discussions in the capitals of Western Balkan countries, where the survey results were presented and discussed with leading analysts, journalists, government officials, academics, representatives of CSOs and think tanks from the region. The results served as a basis for the discussions on the future of the Balkans, its European aspirations and the potential of “attitude change” and Europeanization of the societies in the region. Seven events were organized in the capitals of Western Balkan countries every year (Zagreb, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Skopje, Podgorica, Prishtina and Tirana). The road-show events were escorted with campaigns with the most interesting results in each country where the road show-event took place.

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Supporting Policy Development 090

From Yugoslavia to the European Union: 20 Years After 1991 – The Tale Of Two Generations Survey The year 2011 marked the twentieth anniversary of the dissolution of the Yugoslav federation – two decades of wars and conflicts that left a deep scar on the Balkans and its people. The many analyses of events, leadership, or transformation processes have often overlooked the human dimension of regional disintegration. The last Yugoslav generation of 1971 was in its formative years when the conflicts started, the first twenty years of its adult life cut short by wars. Those born in 1991 are too young to remember conflicts, war and the

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

fall of the old system. Isolated from each other, they are now coming of age to shape the future of their countries. The survey examined the perceptions of two generations, those born in 1971 and 1991 (the last Yugoslav generation of 1971 was in its formative years when the conflicts started, the first twenty years of its adult life cut short by wars. Those born in 1991 are too young to remember conflicts, war and the fall of the old system). Based on the survey results, a policy paper was written by young representatives from the Western Balkan countries.

REALIZATION: Field research conducted in the period from, 25 September to 17 October, 2011. COUNTRIES: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia SAMPLE FRAME: Citizens of the countries born 1971 and 1991 TYPE OF SAMPLE: Quota sample: Quotas were dispersed geographically and by type of settlement (urban/rural) by defined starting points (varying between countries in dependence of the sample size, form minimum of 32 to 42 starting points) TYPE OF SURVEY: Face to face in respondent’s households

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WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF YUGOSLAVIA?

IS THE YOUNGER IS THE FUTURE OF GENERATION A THE REGION IN THE NATURAL DRIVER OF EU? THE EU INTEGRATION?

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

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

HAVE YOU TRAVELLED TO OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE REGION?

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

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WHAT WOULD BE THE SITUATION TODAY IF YUGOSLAVIA SURVIVED?

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Balkan Peer Exchange

9 COUNTRIES 70 THINK TANKS AND ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS

10 DONORS 100 PARTICIPANTS 9 WORKSHOPS 3 IN-DEPTH DEBATES 3 PARALLEL SESSIONS

In 2012, Balkan Peer Exchange brought together a representative group of think tanks, advocacy organisations and donor organisations to address burning issues in the sector and open new avenues for future cooperation and systematic and structured exchanges of know-how and experience. Its organizers (European Fund for the Balkans, Think Tank Fund, Balkan Trust for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Grants Programme,

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The National Endowment for Democracy, Fund for Open Society Serbia), did not have any preconceived ideas to float and impose, nor to spearhead the establishment of networks and regional platforms. The goal was to offer the participants an opportunity to suggest new ideas and forge new partnerships through thematic panels, parallel sessions and workshops.

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.

Geographical scope of Balkan Peer Exchange conference ď&#x201E;&#x2018; Participant countries

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Supporting Policy Development 094

Gordana Delic DIRECTOR, BALKAN TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY, SERBIA

It is with distinct pleasure that the Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD), a project of the German Marshall Fund of the U.S., congratulates the European Fund for the Balkans on seven successful years of supporting the development of think tanks and advocacy organisations to further the European integration of the Western Balkans. During the conception and development of the EFB, BTD saw both the need and opportunity for the development of a uniquely European fund based in the Balkans that would promote regional collaboration, leadership development, scholarship programme and policy research while recognizing the unique path being taken by each country towards the EU. BTD has had the pleasure of collaborating with the EFB and its staff in a number of areas

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

over the years. While the EFB and BTD certainly pursue distinct methodologies and programming strategies, we share common values and goals and use a complementary approach to work with similar organisations and stakeholders, and build upon and support each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts. A significant joint collaboration with the EFB was the Balkan Peer Exchange in 2012, co-financed and planned by OSF, NED, and BTD, that brought together more than 70 key think tanks and advocacy organisations from throughout the region to examine the new paradigm of open data with its opportunities to enhance analysis and researchbased advocacy. This successful event became a touchstone for a number of successive regional

events, substantially influencing the way many organisations approach policy, advocacy and citizen engagement efforts. The EFBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flexibility and desire for innovation were instrumental to making the Balkan Peer Exchange the success that it was. It also once again demonstrated the value of collaboration and the exchange of ideas and practices between BTD and the EFB. BTD looks forward to continued cooperation with the EFB, believing that future well-considered and effective investments in policy development and strengthening of the EFB community in the region are key to an improved and strengthened European future.

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 

Sharing opinions / analyses on relevant topics such as the EU integration, governmental transparency and accountability, economic policy, social and integration policies

Exchanging relevant experiences and good practices on topics specifically linked to these types of organisations (access to information, fiscal transparency and abuse of state resources, political system and transparency of government decisions, quality standards for policy-relevant research)



 Presenting and promoting good practices of policy research designs / monitoring and advocacy

Providing participants with general awareness, knowledge of basic tools and language to formulate and communicate their ideas on how to use data / analysis for effective communication and effective advocacy in order to be able to search and identify tools and partners for their implementation.

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Supporting Policy Development 096

Vicinities - First Ever SEE Current Affairs Regional TV Talk-show Television is a universally accessible and powerful medium which should be used by the civil society to educate, enlighten, engage and inform the public. With that vision of fostering reconciliation in South Eastern Europe by approaching the wider audience in the region and offering a frank exchange of ideas in an open debate on the issues which are badly affecting the neighbouring countries, the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in SEE (CDRSEE) decided to join forces in creating the first ever SEE current affairs regional TV talk-show “Vicinities”. Starting from April 2012, the five-part TV programme series was broadcast during prime time on a weekly basis in 5 countries throughout the region on 8 major national and local TV stations. As the first pilot series surpassed all

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

set expectations, it evolved into a more ambitious project with a second season consisting of a series of new debates, which were also supported by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the first time in a regional TV show, people from the vicinity discussed sensitive issues in an open, honest and constructive manner. These issues were, until recently, only discussed within smaller and closed groups on a national level. Vicinities (Okruženje) provided the opportunity to bring the discourse out into the open, especially as the TV programmes were broadcast both on public and private televisions and were accompanied by major articles in the most respected weekly and daily national newspapers. The final 17 shows from the 2 seasons brought together well-

respected and unbiased special regional quests from a wide field of social sciences, and included the EFB alumnae as a participating audience which additionally strengthened the regional dimension of the initiative. "Vicinities" has proven itself as a successful tool for enabling sincere exchange, interaction and communication in the Western Balkans, but also as a positive media example for attracting the attention of the public in recognizing the similarities and differences that exist in this common space. Encouraged by this success, both the EFB and CDRSEE are now in the process of planning the next seasons of this exciting regional TV series.

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STEREOTYPES HOW TO SURVIVE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS? MEDIA—DO THEY HELP OR HINDER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING? THE GREAT POWERS AND THE BALKANS WWW.BALKANFUND.ORG

TO BE YOUNG AND TO LIVE IN THE BALKANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE IDENTITY THE EUROPEAN UNION BETWEEN LAMENT AND RHAPSODY

VICINITIES THROUGH CARICATURE OUR HISTORY VS. YOUR HISTORY VIOLENCE OF YOUTH OVER YOUTH ABOUT SPORT IN SPORTS MANNER LGBT POPULATION THE CIVIL SOCIETY

IN THE COUNTRIES FROM THE VICINITY WAR CRIMES THE CHURCH – HOW SEPARATED IS IT FROM THE STATE? GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION ETHNO MUSIC

Supporting Policy Development 098

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

For the past seven years I have had both the privilege and the pleasure of working closely with the European Fund for the Balkans. Sometimes as a keynote speaker, moderator or workshop coordinator for their events and in the past three years, also as a co-producer of the hugely successful regional television show "Vicinities". I have also taken part in the selection process for the EFB fellowships and met successive generations of fellows. And, I have taken part in numerous other international events with the Executive Director, Hedvig Morvai. It is really a pleasure to work with the EFB. It is an admirable team, which combines competence with human touch and care for the projects. All successes in the civil society field come as a result of

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teamwork, but great teamwork is a process that needs to be built up.

good idea and support a grassroot initiative with quick funding.

In these seven years, the EFB has established itself as a major and most relevant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not just generator - but also locomotive of ideas and initiatives whose goal is to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU and to speed up the long and arduous process of Euro Atlantic integration. The programmes of the EFB are genuinely designed and implemented for the betterment of the region and have both short and long-term impact on the societies the EFB operates in. It is difficult to determine the best, but my personal favourites are the Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials and the TV show "Vicinities". No less important is the EFBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to swiftly recognise a

In regard of our joint TV project, I would like to emphasize that with its 2 Seasons and 17 episodes, "Vicinities" is no longer just a comet in the media sky but a planet that has placed itself solidly and found its orbit. We tackled tough topics and dilemmas and we had guests from four or five countries in every show, to help in the quest for answers. The European Fund for the Balkans and the CDRSEE are resolved to continue with the show in 2014 and beyond.

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Zvezdana Kovac EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF VICINITIES

As an employee of the CDRSEE, I was excited to observe the preparation and realisation of the first series of Vicinities, which then became a creative challenge when the CDRSEE tasked me with running the project. It was a pleasure to work on the 12 episodes in which many painful subjects were discussed, mostly because people from different countries met and talked at one place. Studio co-host Nenad Šebek and myself, we both have views on every topic that we broached. However, we refrained from arguing for them or directing our guests to any particular course. Hearing people from the region who for well-known reasons were not given an opportunity to speak for a long time in countries where their own language is well understood is a privilege that we were able to offer.

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And, we listened to them carefully in return, delighted like viewers across the region. That is the uniqueness of "Vicinities" that I could not resist. We showed that we could discuss such topics as identity, war crimes, the role of the church and so on even when our guests had completely opposite views. However, their views on universal values were the same, allaying concerns that civilised dialogue could come under threat. “Vicinities is, after all, a kind of agora to which we keep returning, to talk and to be heard,” said Balša Brković who gave an introduction with four other journalists and writers. I hope that we will be back to your favourite television channels for many years. That will depend on us as well as you.

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RESULTS FROM THE CONDUCTED POLL ON OKRUZENJE.NET

84+14+2A 64+18+A REPORT: 2007 - 2014

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

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WATCH VICINITIES NEXT YEAR? 83.3% YES 13.3% NO 1.7% MAYBE

DO YOU APPROVE OF OUR CHOICE OF GUESTS? 63.6% YES 18.2% NO 18.2% MAYBE

Broadcasts of the regional political talk show "Vicinities" enabled viewers of HRT to hear views on issues of common interest through a very dynamic debate. The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impartiality and its professional and open approach were visible in the treatment of sensitive topics and in the selection of different but relevant guests from the region. The show was assessed as good and interesting in the reports that reached me. Since HTV4 is broadcast free-to-air, the show is available to viewers in Europe. The shows that have aired to date produced a definite interest for continuing cooperation, so I use this opportunity to confirm that. HTV4 is always open to projects of public interest like "Vicinities".

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Vladan Micunovic

Anamari Repic

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TV VIJESTI (MONTENEGRO)

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, RTV IN KOSOVO

Broadcasting the second season of "Vicinities" in the prime-time slot clearly shows the importance that TV Vijesti has attached to the talk show. The show will not top our viewership ratings, but they will definitely have an audience that will not have sundry farms and grand parade shows served aggressively and insolently instead of real-life concerns. That was a powerful reason why we decided to broadcast "Vicinities", even though we are a commercial television station. Vicinities is far better, more open and of higher quality than the surrounding. We do not see this show a longing for bygone times or a way to renew something that is most likely lost forever, but as an opportunity to help viewers to better understand each other and to live and cooperate more sincerely, through the experiences of the wise people.

RTV Kosovo, our public broadcaster, agreed immediately and with pleasure to air "Vicinities" on one of its channels. We decided it would be the new channel in Serbian, the RTK2, and a new show in Kosovo on a new television channel. It is a new approach that breaks down local barriers and develops stories through dialogue, debate, and a regional approach to topics which surround us. Unemployment, unpunished crimes, life for young people in any country and in the region cannot but intertwine and affect our lives wherever we are. We face and get to know topics and problems we are familiar with in a new way, we identify with them and become involved.

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

RTS is the biggest media house in the area that broadcasts independent productions as well as its own extensive programming. Vicinities came to RTS through a public competition that it won owing to its freshness, innovation, approach and topics. After 12 shows, I can say that our expectations have been met in full, and our viewers are happy to see a new form of the old television talk-show genre. Vicinities has let our viewers hear the voices and opinions of people from across the region, which added to what they hear or see or read every day in their own milieu, with opinions from â&#x20AC;&#x153;the other side,â&#x20AC;? and to learn something new, break down prejudices and shift their usual discourse.

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RESULTS FROM THE CONDUCTED POLL ON OKRUZENJE.NET

78+3+19A 88+3+9A REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Vladimir Vodusek DIRECTOR OF TOP TV SLOVENIA

DOES VICINITIES HELP US UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER? 78.4% YES 2.7% NO 18.9% MAYBE

ARE THE TOPICS DISCUSSED ON VICINITIES INTERESTING AND TOPICAL? 87.5% YES 3.1% NO 9.4% MAYBE

Cooperation on "Vicinities" was a favourable experience for us because topics from the region are always interesting for viewers in Slovenia even though it has been a member of the EU for nine years. The selection of guests and topics, the professional guidance of the anchors and the production were a positive surprise for us and proof that topquality television production and journalism still live in this part of the world.

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Dzenana Karup â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Drusko ACTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DANI NEWSMAGAZINE, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

First of all, the importance of the project "Vicinities" is that it is regional and that every show featured guests from the region whose statements sometimes showed that identical problems troubled the countries created from the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. And, sometimes they discussed their differences and pointed to possible solutions. The choice of topics was quite good, indicative of issues that concern our societies, mostly for similar reasons, such as public administration or religious communities. In short, I believe that our differences have narrowed slightly thanks to the project Vicinities.

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Veseljko Koprivica

Hamdi Rasiti

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, MONITOR NEWSMAGAZINE, MONTENEGRO

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, ALSAT-M TELEVISION, SKOPJE, MACEDONIA

Topical, interesting, and civilised. Put in one word - professional. Why praise the Vicinities series? Because the show is different from sundry television programmes that we are inundated with, that bomb viewers with propaganda, primitivism, ignorance, lengthy talks for the self-promotion of anchors and guests. "Vicinities" is immune to that. It is easy to see that the shows were carefully prepared, through a selection of topical and interesting topics and its guests, and cleverly wrapped up in 45 minutes. Everything is done with balance. I was pleased to hear that the shows were widely viewed in Montenegro, and I did not hear any objections to the content. Cooperation between "Vicinities" and Monitor is perhaps rare for this region, an example of successful cooperation between an electronic and print media. We are happy to continue this cooperation and our pages are open for Vicinities.

"Vicinities" is a mirror of the region, and the series was carried out in a very positive way, dealing with issues that are of daily concern for us. It shows that people in the region have essentially the same social and political problems and look over into the neighbourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawn, replicate and apply a good practice in order to move on to the EU that we aspire to and which ought to be our future. "Vicinities" helps us surround ourselves with people who have a recipe for change for the better, or will find it with us. Through face-to-face dialogue, "Vicinities" voices the good and the bad and thus overcomes the distrust that is still among us. And for media to make a contribution as well as connect the diversities, help build mutual confidence and at least round off the narrative for the well-being of their citizens, it is because they are worth it.

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Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group

Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group on the Balkans was established in 2013 as a cooperation of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and Centre for the Southeastern European Studies of the University of Graz with the aim to assist in the transition of the Balkans from the stage of unconsolidated democracies and weak economies to the stage of the EU accession and to help the European Fund for the Balkans in deepening its efforts in this process, channeled through the Fund's core activities and in identifying new areas of engagement which are aligned with the EFB's overall goals. Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group analyzes and debates the

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existing mechanisms and political skills of the EU and the region to successfully bring to an end the project of Europeanization of the Balkans as promised at the Thessaloniki Summit in June 2003. The Group is composed of young researchers from the Western Balkans and wider Europe that have established themselves for their knowledge and understanding of the Western Balkans and the processes that shape the region. The work of this group will benefit greatly by inclusion of new research and analytical methodology offered by social and humanities academia, at the same time holding on to the advantage of preserving the

promotional empirical gathering skills of the senior researchers, intellectuals and journalists. The aim of the group is not to reinvent the wheel, but build on former and current strategies of the Europeanization of the region, having in mind also the motto of the European Fund for the Balkans, â&#x20AC;?To bring the Western Balkans closer to the EUâ&#x20AC;?, but also the EU closer to the Western Balkans. The main tasks of Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group will be to translate the findings into proposal for further programming of the European Fund for the Balkans and to draft specific policy recommendations for the region, and for the European Union.

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 Conventional and alternative models of development of the region and its relations with the European Union

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Draw conclusions for future strategies of the European Fund for the Balkans and its programmes

Reconsider recent and current policies of the European institutions, member states and the governments in the region, their strategies, goals and indicators

 Provide specific policy recommendations for stakeholders involved in the process.

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Supporting Policy Development 106

Balkans in Europe Policy Blog

The Balkans in Europe Policy Blog is a forum for current debate on the EU integration and reform processes in Southeastern Europe. The blog is a part of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group, a joint initiative of the European Fund for the Balkans and the Centre for Southeast European Studies of the University of Graz. It is a space for in-depth discussions for an interdisciplinary group of young researchers with and expanded group of civil society activists, analysts, intellectuals and scholars from all parts of the region

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

and the EU, beyond the usual format of a workshop or a conference. The Balkan Policy Blog seeks to promote debate and divergent views, based on the exchange of analysis and research. It thus promotes the communication between the policy and the academic community. The initial list of blog contributors are the members of the Balkans in Europe Policy Group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Florian Bieber, Arolda Elbasani, Corina Stratulat, Dejan Jovic, Dimitar Bechev, Leon

Malazogu, Marko Kmezic, Milan Nic, Nebojsa Lazarevic, Nenad Koprivica, Nermin Oruc and Vedran Dzihic, but also external contributors and VIP Bloggers like Tim Judah, Doris Pack, Stefan Lehne, Petra Roter, Christian Danielsson.

L Florian Bieber DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF GRAZ The blog is a part of a project of the Centre for Southeast European Studies in Graz and the European Fund for the Balkans based on the observation that the EU enlargement process is currently lacking broad support in the EU and that the countries in the Western Balkans often do not pursuing accession as vigorously as they could. Thus, the blog is about promoting a debate on how the EU integration of the region could be accelerated and given new dynamism. The core goal of the Balkans in Europe Policy Group and the related blog is to achieve democratic, prosperous member states of the EU in the Western Balkans. Thus, the key goal is to promote the consolidation of liberal democracies in the region, including a strong regard for

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tolerance. It is understood that the EU accession is a tool to achieve this goal, not an end in itself. We seek an open an pluralist debate and believe that discussing new ideas, giving a voice to relevant policy proposals and research is what is needed to carry the debate forwards. While we promote the goal of liberal prosperous democracies in the EU, we do not promote a single way to achieve this goal and seek a diversity of opinions. Only debate, including controversy can help to reinvigorate this process. In fact, the reduction to a mere technical process of the EU accession risks by-passing the inherently political nature of reforms which have to reduce opportunities for abuse of office, a more effective economic policy and strong institutions.

B O

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Supporting Policy Development 108

Policy Talks

Policy Talks is long-term European Fund for the Balkans' initiative, which is a part of the Supporting Policy Development Programme Area. It is envisaged as a series of short interviews conducted with the researchers from Western Balkans policy research organisations, think-tanks and institutes, which participated in the Think and Link â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Regional Policy Programme cycles 2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, supported by the European Fund for the Balkans.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The concluding final seminar of the Think and Link Programme serves as an excellent opportunity to get the best answers and insights into all the important questions, concerning the separate regional projects and the policy influenced perspectives of the produced policy papers. In the same time, this platform is used for sharing the videos from the policy events, conferences and meetings organized by the European Fund in the Balkans, both in the region and in the EU.

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3 Editions

Videos

Projects

10 Countries

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Supported Initiatives 2

Total initiatives supported in 2008

Total initiatives supported in 2009

Total initiatives supported in 2010

Total initiatives supported in 2011

Total initiatives supported in 2012

Total initiatives supported in 2013

Every year the European Fund for the Balkans supports various initiatives and projects within the Discretionary Fund scheme. Taking the flexible approach towards the ideas and concepts which require rapid response, the European Fund has

created a small network of supported organisations/institutions. By helping the realization of these projects which are in line with the Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priority programme areas, the Fund has also supported a significant number of individuals from its own community.

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Slovenian EU Presidency 2008 – a chance for the Western Balkans

Advocacy for Young People in Kosovo

“Ljubljana Agenda for new phase of the Stabilisation and Association Process” European Movement in Serbia

Think Young

Alpbach Summer School on European Integration

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

Initiative Group Alpbach Belgrade

ISAC Fund

The European Rails of Peace

Enhancing Women’s Role in Governance

Travels and Freedom Cultural Association

Towards White Schengen ListRoad Maps Monitoring - Western Balkan Regional Response Group 484

Serb – Croat Relations – Political Cooperation and National Minorities Dialogue - Researcher’s association Centre for Promotion of Scientific Dialogue

Is a New Gas Crisis Approaching? European Movement in Serbia

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

Ten years of normalization of relations, ten years of Igman Initiative Centre for Regionalism

The Culture Lobby, And Archive of Cultural Memory

Academy of Political Studies

Exchange for leaders in the region

The Balkans and the EU – New Realities GLOBSEC Bratislava Security Conference 2012

SHARE Conference 2 SHARE Foundation

Civil Trust Building Project

Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, European Movement in Serbia, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy

International Justice – Global Equity European Forum Alpbach

Civil Bridge-Building – The Hungarian 2011 EU-Presidency and the Western Balkans Association of Local Democracy Agencies, Subotica and the European House, Budapest

Share Conference 1 SHARE Foundation

Summer School in Comparative Conflict Studies Center for Comparative Conflict Studies (CFCCS)

Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival 2012 Balkan Beyond Borders

The Centre for Southeast European Studies, University of Graz

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EAPS

Belgrade Security Forum

Live from Europe An inside Europe experience for 6 TV journalists from the Balkans SEETv

The European Association of Political Consultants conference

Find Your Way through the Enlargement Labyrinth

Kosovo Civil Society Foundation

EU Integration School

European Forum Alpbach

EUCLID Network

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

KIOSK

Alpbach Political Symposium 2012

Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival 2013 Balkan Beyond Borders, Greece

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

Belgrade Security Forum 2013 Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, Serbia

EurActiv.rs Beta Press ltd

Good Governance from a Crosssectoral Perspective Regional Research Promotion Programme

Summer School in Comparative Conflict Studies Center for Comparative Conflict Studies (CFCCS)

Young Leaders Forum GLOBSEC Bratislava Security Conference 2013

Alpbach Summit of Emerging Leaders 2013 European Forum Alpbach

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Feedback Corner 112

Project: EurActiv.rs

The project envisaged media production on the EurActiv.rs specialized portal dedicated to Serbia’s association with the EU, Serbia’s preparation for negotiations on the EU membership and consequences the talks will have upon the entire Western Balkans region. The portal’s experienced journalists prepared detailed reports on all key aspects of the talks. EurActiv.rs gathers experienced and expert journalists, recipients of several awards for professional reporting on European topics and

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

the European integration process. Owing to years of experience and well-established connections, they are relying on expert opinions and analyses of representatives of the expert public, institutions, and organisations. In its work, EurActiv. rs also relies on positions and activities of the civil sector, as well as on scientific analyses and lectures delivered at various universities and by successful businesspeople.

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Milica Solunac PROJECT MANAGER, EURACTIV.RS

Thanks to the European Fund for the Balkans which has recognized the need for relations between Serbia and other countries in the region – involving, among other, economic and social issues and joint efforts against organized crime and corruption – to be tackled thoroughly, a special section entitled EU and the Western Balkans was opened at EurActiv.rs, a specialized portal launched by the Beta News Agency. From the media point of view this has also opened new reporting areas that will demand greater and more diversified expertise concerning Serbia’s and the region’s alignment with the EU acquis and a consistent following and explaining of various technical procedures in the negotiations between Serbia and

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the EU on the country’s full-fledged membership. Most media, at least in Serbia, still focus on the political criteria in the process, while only a few, like EurActiv Serbia, report competently on the very essence of the talks, and the importance and the nature of reforms in Serbia and other countries in the region. The project that was supported by the European Fund for the Balkans involved a media production on the EU and the Western Balkans in the period of five months. The production was made available to the public via the EurActiv.rs portal, specializing in EU integrations, social networks, and BETA’s General News Service. Because of the financial crisis in Serbia no state institution can afford

to support the EurActiv.rs portal and its projects. Since monitoring developments in the EU is of essential political importance for Serbia, assistance from donors was sought. We would like to use this opportunity to express our gratitude to the European Fund for the Balkans for all its help, hoping that our successful cooperation and natural partnership will continue in the future.

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Project: Belgrade Security Forum

The European Fund for the Balkans has supported 2 editions of the Belgrade Security Forum – “The Balkans and Global Security: What Do We Have in Common, What Sets Us Apart?” (2011), and “Is the state under de (construction)?-Risks and responses from the Balkans and beyond"(2013). The main objective of the project is to build a genuine security community of people and states of the Balkans region, through a region-wide debate carried out by

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

political leaders and members of the international community, civil society and research community. The specific objectives of the Belgrade Security Forum aim at: bringing the European and global security debate to the Balkans, discussing Balkan security issues within the European and global security framework, and presenting Balkan achievements and dilemmas to the participants in the European and global security debate. The organizers of the Belgrade Security Forum – three well-known civil society organisations (Belgrade

Fund for Political Excellence, European Movement in Serbia, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy) – do their best to turn this event into an high-level regional hub for policy dialogue that will contribute in a meaningful way not only to the development of the security community in the region, but also to the ongoing European and global security and foreign policy debates.

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Sonja Licht PRESIDENT OF BELGRADE FUND FOR POLITICAL EXCELLENCE

I vividly remember the launch of the European Fund for the Balkans in Sarajevo. An exciting moment full of expectations. How will this new initiative shape a new way of civic intervention in the Western Balkans? Will it contribute to the strengthening of civil society and the European perspective of the whole region? The Balkan Trust for Democracy of the German Marshal Fund left three years of very successful activities behind already, thus, a new European funded similar initiative was both welcomed and necessary. The Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence feels honored to be a continuous partner of the EFB. In many major events that we organized, the EFB was present as a genuine supporter: from Belgrade Security Forums to the marking of our tenth anniversary by supporting

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the conference “In Search of Responsible Democracy”. In my opinion, all the founders of the EFB should be proud that they made the right decision in the right moment – when the Thessaloniki Agenda needed a genuine bottomup support. This is what the EFB has been fulfilling from its very inception, and I sincerely hope it will continue to do so in forthcoming future.

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Project: Balkan Beyond Borders Film Festival Focusing on the Art of short film and new media, Balkan Beyond Borders flagship activity is the organisation of an annual thematic short-film festival, the Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival. The Film Festival takes place in a different Balkan city each year. It celebrates Balkan diversity and engages audience and creators to reflect on pressing contemporary issues through the medium of short film. The Fund has supported the first BBB Short Film Festival in the frames of the EFB Leadership Development Programme, as well as the BBB Short Film Festivals in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 the Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Fest travelled to Tirana, Albania, between September 21 and 23 under the topic “Talk to Me”,

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

multilingualism and communication. The three days of the festival were also framed by other cultural events like film workshops, photo exhibitions, visual art events, live bands, graffiti activities. The 2013 edition of the festival “Reinventing Bridges” took place in Bucharest on October 11-13 at Muzeul Taranului Roman, an alternative art space located in the centre of Bucharest, which has become a true meeting point for young people interested in culture. The museum offered a possibility to project films both in its newly renovated cinema and outside, in its courtyard. The additional activities included round table discussions, photo exhibitions, concerts and after-screening parties. Round table discussions (2 during the

three days) brought together young film-makers from Romania and other countries from the region to discuss topics such as: crowd sourcing for film festivals, the impact of documentaries on perceptions of historical events, the influence of history on everyday life in the Balkans. A photo exhibition was organized with the best stills from preselected and projected films.

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Vasiliki Maltasoglou COMMUNICATION MANAGER, BALKAN BEYOND BORDERS

Balkans Beyond Borders would not have existed without the SEE and the EU Leadership Development Programme as it was created during LDP 2009. Through Leadership Development Programme (LDP), EFB has managed to create a real network of young professionals, devoted to improving their region’s reality and who very often support each other in organizing activities. LDP gave motive to 6 young professionals from 5 different countries of Southeast Europe to create BBB in order to enhance cooperation among Balkan peoples’ and the Balkans closer to the European Union through the art of Short Film making and the use of New Media. The EFB’s contribution has been crucial for BBB as it helped us in

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organizing two successful short film festivals - one in 2012 and the other in 2013, as well as the first BBB Short Film Festival through LDP. Every year BBB organizes Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival that travels from city to city in the Balkans and has a different thematic which is inspiring for the young film makers. Its mission is to give motivation, inspire, enhance mobility and cooperation and of course foster EU Identity. With EFB’s support BBB managed to continue its mission by organizing the 3rd and 4th BBB Short Film Festival which took place in Tirana and Bucharest respectively. The 3rd Short Film Festival had as thematic the title: “Talk to meMultilingualism and Communication” and the 4th: “Reinventing Bridges”. Thanks to the EFB’s support, BBB gave the opportunity to young

creators to express themselves by creating their own short films and promote their work to an international audience. At BBB Short Film Festival young people have the opportunity to meet together, exchange opinions, improve their awareness upon issues in the region and shape an EU Identity following the EFB’s aims as well. BBB is grateful to have been supported by the EFB in order to complete its mission.

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Variety of EFB Activities 120

Books

“Serbia Matters: Domestic Reforms and European Integration“ presents policy essays on Serbia’s post-Milošević era written by internationally recognised authors, policy makers, academics and political analysts actively engaged in the Balkans discourse. The European Fund for the Balkans supported Serbian edition of the book “Serbia Matters: Domestic Reforms and European Integration” in Serbian language through the grant with the publishing house Samizdat B92.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

“The Culture Lobby” An Archive of Cultural Memory“ is a collection of the published photographs as a collective portrait of the territories of the Western Balkans. Seven art organisations, representing the Western Balkans, collaborated intensively throughout 2009 in an exchange of local artists whose task was to collect the subjective views of the citizens in the cities, towns and villages of the region. This book is a visual documentation of what citizens think will change or disappear when their territory joins the EU. The European Fund for the Balkans supported publishing the book and the events organized throughout the region in form of presentations of the project results and outcomes.

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“Hijacked Justice: Dealing with the Past in the Balkans” presents the author's views about the effects of transitional justice and accomplishments of the standards set by the international norms. What is the appropriate political response to mass atrocity? In "Hijacked Justice", Jelena Subotic traces the design, implementation, and political outcomes of the institutions established to deal with the legacies of violence in the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars. She finds that international efforts to establish accountability for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia have been used to pursue very different local political goals. Responding to international pressures, Serbia, Croatia,

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and Bosnia have implemented various mechanisms of “transitional justice”the systematic addressing of past crimes after conflicts end. Transitional justice in the three countries, however, was guided by ulterior political motives: to get rid of domestic political opponents, to obtain international financial aid, or to gain admission to the European Union. Subotic argues that when transitional justice becomes “hijacked” for such local political strategies, it fosters domestic backlash, deepens political instability, and even creates alternative, politicized versions of history. The European Fund for the Balkans supported the book's publishing in Serbian language.

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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 The European Fund for the Balkans was the local partner organisation for the realization of the travelling exhibition “See New Perspectives from Balkan photographers” by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and World Press Photo. In the period between 18th of November – 14 of December, 2012 the Artget Gallery of the Cultural Centre of Belgrade was the place where the local public had an opportunity to see the photo-essays of the 15 talented photographers – Andrei Pungovschi (Romania), Armend Nimani (Kosovo),

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Bevis Fusha(Albania), Dženat Dreković (Serbia), Eugenia Maximova (Bulgaria), Ferdi Limani( Kosovo), Jasmin Brutus (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Jetmir Idriz (Kosovo), Marko Risović (Serbia), Nemanja Pančić (Serbia), Octav Ganea (Romania), Petrut Calinescu (Romania), Sanja Knežević, (Serbia), Tomislav Georgiev (Macedonia), Vesselina Nikolaeva (Bulgaria). They were chosen to participate in this project by presenting their unique and different overviews of the modern everyday living in the countries in the Balkan region.

Everything started back in 2010, when World Press Photo and Robert Bosch Stiftung launched the joint project “SEE New Perspectives: Master Class for Professional Photographers from Southeastern Europe“. The aim of the project was to challenge the photographers’ perceptions of their native countries and their region by encouraging them to explore new perspectives on life in the region beyond borders and prevailing stereotypes. The master class was also envisioned to advance the photographers in their professional

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Galerija ARTGET and to strengthen their development Kulturni centar Beograda Knez Mihailova 6, Beograd narrative skills. 18. novembar – 14. decembar 2012. utorak – nedelja: 11.00h – 21.00

The final photo essays were a record of life in the Balkans in 2010 and 2011. The topics ranged from migrant workers commuting between France and Romania through marriage brokers in rural Serbia to the international ambitions of a young wrestling champion in Bulgaria. As people from the region, the photographers worked inside a number of subcultures to provide new insights and to stimulate fresh thinking about a region where stereotypes are all

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Photo: Eugenia Maximova

too familiar. The final result was this collection of the individual photoimpressions of the authors that caught the attention of the public in the Balkan countries capitals and all over Europe. Supported by: The European Fund for the Balkans Kulturni centar Beograda

The European Fund for the Balkans created the special framework programme “Freedoms and Boundaries” consisted of 2 thematic panel discussions (“Photojournalism in Serbia: New Perspectives” and The New Perspectives for the Young People in the Balkans”), 2 photo workshops and 2 film projections (“Twilight of

Heroes – Croatia, Europe and the International Tribunal” and “Whose is this song” ) in order to continue the story of the photographers essays into wider discussion on what are the new perspectives of the Balkan countries. The cultural phenomena, trends and stereotypes which are present in the everyday life in the whole region were the things that were used as starting points and small fragments in building the whole mosaic.

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SHARE Conference BELGRADE

European Fund for the Balkans supported the Share Conference in 2011 and 2012, by active participation of twenty EFB Community members who were able to attend the workshops, lecturers and hear and learn about new media and new technologies from influential experts in digital activism, associated with Google, Twitter, Harvard, MIT, Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marketing team, etc. SHARE conference is renown as a gathering spot for more than two thousand activists, bloggers, engineers, programmers and artists from Serbia and internationally, in three days of interesting lectures, work-

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

shops and meetings. This platform is an epicenter of exchange of progressive ideas and knowledge in the field of society, technology, Internet, music and new media.

and culture, they glorify the Internet as open and free territory for all. The conference was visited by 700 regional opinion makers and 15 000 local and international visitors.

Leading international stars in the field of Internet activism and social changes, cyber dissidents and worldclass bloggers educate the audience on new forms of activism and approach in use of new media and advanced technologies. Discussions delve deep into the underground of the Internet movement and explore groups that fight for digital rights, protecting the privacy of fellow residents. With progressive music

Since the first SHARE was held in spring 2011, turbulence of Internet activism has shaken every part of the planet. Arab spring, occupation of Wall Street, fight against SOPA and PIPA bills are just some of large movements, which showed that the Internet has a growing influence and inspires radical changes and community action. By taking part in the conference the Community members were able to be up to date with

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the current achievement and new approaches in the Internet technology and any form of new media. The next two Share Conference editions were held in Beirut and Rijeka.

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Variety of EFB Activities 126

EXIT Festival 2010 Agora Stage PETROVARADIN FORTRESS / NOVI SAD / SERBIA 8 - 11 JULY 2010 The European Fund for the Balkans traditionally cooperates with the largest music festival in the Balkans â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EXIT Festival, jointly organizing different events and activities. In July 2010 the EFB organized the panel discussion on Development vs. Environment Dilemma within the framework of EXIT social programme. This panel discussion was devoted to the increasing gap in creation of sustainable development existing between the developed and developing parts of the world. The panel was moderated by Andzrej Pyrka -Â Gallup Europe. The panelists were Nigel Jollands - Head of the Energy Efficiency Unit in International Energy Agency, Marko Rakar Independent analyst from Croatia, Dorit Nitzan - Head of Country Offices of the World Health Organisation in Serbia and in Montenegro.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Council of Europe Network Supported Regional Seminars

The Council of Europe schools of political studies were established to train future generations of political, economic, social and cultural leaders in countries in transition. They run annual courses of seminars and conferences on topics such as European integration, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and globalisation, with the participation of national and international experts. Today the network includes 16 schools covering the whole of East and South-East Europe and the Caucasus. The Schools of Political Studies offer a series of one-week seminars in

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the country, with closing seminars held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Annual seminar cycles are comprised of three to four seminars where domestic and international experts cover topics such as European integration, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and globalization. Seminar participants are young political leaders, local self-government representatives, judges, lawyers, journalists, businessmen/women and civil activists.

ENERGY SECURITY AND

The European Fund for the Balkans has been supporting Regional Seminars in the Western Balkan countries since 2009.

HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

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

IN WESTERN BALKANS – BETWEEN THE COMMITMENT AND THE NECESSITY

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Policy Dialogues The Future of the EU Enlargement in the Western Balkans

Rocky road towards “normality”: Public opinion in the Balkans BRUSSELS, MAY 2009

BRUSSELS, MAY 2009 The policy dialogue was aimed at promoting the existing positive examples of leadership and engagement of the Balkan youth through a political forum and presenting those initiatives to a broader public in Brussels. This event gave the opportunity to present the vision of the Balkans and the EU through the eyes of the representatives of the new generations of the Western Balkans. The debate was directed to strengthening the understanding amongst the representatives of the EU institutions and young people and the needs, thoughts and problems they encounter. This direct and open dialogue hosted by the European Policy Centre inspired both the guests and other participants of the event to proactively think about the status of the young people in the Balkans, the future of the Balkans and the EU accession. Five young participants from the Western Balkans region participated in the discussion with the EU officials who are actively involved in shaping the EU policy towards the region.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Following the European Commission’s evaluations of progress of the Western Balkans towards European integration, the new Gallup Balkan Monitor on public opinion in the region offered insights into citizens’ views of the EU. It was once said that the aim of the EU policy in the Balkans was to make them ‘boring’ countries. The findings of the public opinion surveys highlighted that indeed the Balkan citizens are putting their fears of war and ethnic polarisation behind them and are instead concentrating on their own institutions and the impact of the financial crisis on their day-to-day lives. They appeared to be feeling more represented by their politicians and perceive corruption to be decreasing. The past years saw the EU’s Balkan agenda moving apace, from visa liberalisation, the Resolution on Kosovo, and the opinions expected from the Commission on the applications from Montenegro, Albania and later Serbia. How do these developments affect the perceptions of the Balkans and the prospects of the accession process and the future of these potential EU member states? These findings were discussed in a panel moderated by Neil Macdonald, Financial Times correspondent in Belgrade. The panelists were Robert Manchin, CEO of Gallup Europe,Catherine Wendt, Head of Communications Unit, DG Enlargement, European Commission, Eduard Kukan MEP, Chair, Delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo, European Parliament, Veton Surroi, Editor of the newspaper Koha Ditore, and Rosa Balfour, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre.

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

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

JUNE 2012, BRUSSELS

NOVEMBER 2013, BRUSSELS

The European Policy Centre, in cooperation with the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe and the European Fund for the Balkans, organized the Policy Dialogue on The EU and the Balkans – A long engagement or a happy marriage? on June 28, 2012.

The state of play of the EU enlargement strategy towards the Western Balkans was discussed in the policy dialogue “After Croatia – Re-energizing the EU enlargement policy on the Balkans”, which was organized by the European Fund for the Balkans, Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz and hosted by the European Policy Center on 25th on November in Scotland House in Brussels. This policy event presented a good opportunity to hear the both sides involved in the EU Integration process of the Western Balkans. The open discussion of the eminent panelists Tanja Miscevic-Serbia’s Chief EU Negotiator, Aleksandar A. Pejovic - Montenegro’s Chief EU Negotiator, Christian Danielsson - DirectorGeneral for Enlargement in the European Commission, Christoph Retzlaff-Head of EU Enlargement, Neighbourhood and EU External Relations, Foreign Office of Germany, Florian Bieber, Professor of Southeast European Studies and Director of the Centre for Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz and Anton Nimac, Head of the World Bank’s Vienna Office managed to raise a series of new questions and dilemmas, but it also gave some answers and firsthand information about the current situation of this important process, which is seen as a driving force of the reforms in the Balkans.

Croatia is set to become the 28th EU member state in 2013, Montenegro will soon start accession negotiations, and Serbia has been offered candidate status. Yet the prospects for accession remain uncertain. Reforms and reconciliation efforts have yet to be consolidated in all the nations, where the past often mixes uncomfortably with present priorities. Work on state-building and improved governance is far from over. While it is the responsibility of the people of the Balkans to rise to the accession challenge, the EU also has its part to play in helping the region successfully move forward on the integration agenda. What should the main priorities and strategies be for the Balkans? And how can the EU keep enlargement alive, given its current preoccupation with the crisis? These and other issues will be debated after a short video presentation of the documentary series OKRUZENJE (Vicinities). Panellists will include EPC Senior Policy Analyst Rosa Balfour, Correspondent for the Balkans with The Economist Tim Judah, Executive Director of the European Fund for the Balkans Hedvig Morvai-Horvat, Director General for Enlargement in the European Commission Stefano Sannino and Romana Vlahutin, President’s Envoy for South East Europe, Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe Nenad Sebek will moderate the event.

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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

What do a young civil servant, a guitarist, an artist, a civil society activist and a young leader have in common? The “Balkans 2025: Back to the Future“ gave the flavour of the recent developments in the region of the Western Balkans by involving direct partners and beneficiaries of the European Fund for the Balkans in an event of exchange, interaction, visionary thinking and audacious ideas. A short movie presenting “The Culture Lobby”, one of the various initiatives supported by the Fund was screened as an introduction to the discussion with young people from different

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

countries of the Western Balkans about their "retrospective" vision of the future of the region of the Western Balkans in 2025. The short movie described the hopes and fears of the region’s people and perfectly set the scene for the discussion. Young Balkan residents, some of whom had previously participated in the EFB Programmes, were brought together to present their views on the region’s past, present and future. Gallup researcher Andrzej Pyrka had the job of moderating the debate and speakers gave their personal perspectives on the future of the region.

Waves of Democracy

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NOVI SAD, SERBIA 2-8 JULY 2010

Waves of Democracy is a project run by IUC-Europe and Global Citizen in cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans and the European Movement Serbia. The European Fund for the Balkans financially supported the project. A hundred young Europeans from the EU countries and the Western Balkans met in Novi Sad, Serbia to discuss the challenges and possibilities that Western Balkans faces in Europe and in the world. The young students from the Western Balkan countries had an amazing opportunity to meet their peers from the EU countries and in a specific intercul-

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tural atmosphere discuss how they can benefit from each other. The overall aim of this gathering was to promote peace and understanding and to give a contribution to a better future for coming generations. Through their participation in this summer school, participants became a part of an extensive network of young Europeans. They were educated as youth ambassadors and Global Citizen editors and a number of them will be involved in the IUC future activities in the region and in DK. The summer seminar in Novi Sad included many various lectures, presentations, plenary debates.

The overall strategy was the Model European Parliament (MEP concept), which has been developed by students and teachers involved in the MEP sessions. The work was organized in 10 groups and five different committees (1. Energy and Climate Change; 2. Regional Development; 3. Culture and Education; 4. New Media and Democracy; 5. Active Citizenship), which were run by experienced students, who previously participated in international seminars. At the end of the summer seminar participants jointly prepared the conclusions and recommendations in form of Citizens Agenda.

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The European Story Fund 2009 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2011

The European Story Fund is a innovative initiative that has been set up by the European Fund for the Balkans and Balkan and co-financed by the Balkan Trust for Democracy to support the costs of producing stories on relevant European themes by the journalists from throughout the Western Balkans, as well as the journalists based in Brussels, reporting on WB issues. The produced stories were than shared and broadcast by multiple media houses/TV stations from throughout the Western Balkans.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

The Fund provides small grants to contribute to the additional costs of making stories for broadcasting on European issues relevant to the countries of the Western Balkans.

region, regarded as the best in their field that share their ideas and knowhow as well as join their resources in the story production and sharing process.

BACKGROUND

The initiative was initially proposed by the journalists themselves coming from different countries of the Western Balkans. It is an example of locally driven regional cooperation.

This initiative aims to improve public understanding of the European accession process and debate on the EU integration in the Western Balkans. It establishes a flexible cooperative network of working TV journalists from throughout the

Stefan Fühle's first day at work Dusan Gajic, SEE TV - Brussels

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

Trade Unions + Pensioners + TV market Goran Rotim, HTV - Zagreb

1 Production of stories that improve public understanding of the European accession process and debate on the EU integration in the Western Balkans

Independent Living for Disabled People Maja Divac, Evronet - Belgrade

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

EU is…not to hide who you love Ana Bogovac, ProTV

Parliament’s Role in European Democracies Borjan Jovanovski, Skopje

3 Planning of joint interview bids and commissioning material from the freelance camera operators and journalists funded by the Story Fund

5 Common work in requesting interviews with officials usually with less accessibility for the local media working on their own

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2 Exchange of material within a growing network of journalists

4 Shooting and sending via FTP short statements or interviews upon request from various journalists

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Conference Good Governance From A Cross-Sectoral Perspective CROATIA NOVEMBER 2013 The conference â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good Governance from a cross-sectoral perspectiveâ&#x20AC;?, which was organized by the European Fund for the Balkans and the Regional Research Promotional Programme, gathered 60 participants from the region in exchanging experience and practices during 9 panel discussions, 2 interactive sessions and 3 break-out sessions. The agenda was designed to approach the discussion of the status and perspectives of good governance in the Western Balkans from a cross-sectoral perspective and through joining the representatives of the three key sectors: administration, academia and policy research organisations.

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

Since the good governance concept has been a prominent topic during the last decade in the Western Balkans, the conference was a good opportunity to join forces and discuss this subject which is one of the key imperatives for the region which is still going through transition and aiming to join the European Union. This discourse gathered policy makers, social science researchers and policy analysts to discuss complex questions related to the Western Balkan region, its current status, obstacles and perspectives to move forward. It was concluded that in order to achieve progress in the area of good

governance, an evidence-based approach to policy making needs to be accepted. This in turn requires strong inputs of policy research into the policy cycle, which is still a systemic deficiency of most governments and sectors in the Western Balkans countries. In order to create a stronger demand for (policy) research as a basis for policy making, stronger linkages between the administration (policy makers), academic and policy research communities need to be created and benefits of an evidence based approach to public policy need to be communicated and advocated. Enhancing the communication between scientists, politicians and researchers and with the assistance of

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media and civil society, the result will be a well-informed public, reliable and verified date based polices and a more inclusive system of policymaking, necessary in this regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transitional context. All this is necessary in order to create a healthy climate for potential cooperation, implementation of the principles of good governance and better EU perspective of the Western Balkans countries.

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EFB ACHIEVEMENTS

IN NUMBERS 2007–2014 4 56 115 203 120 338 150 120 30 5 95 35 50 15 250

FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES SUPPORTED THINK TANKS SKILLED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS YOUNG LEADERS SUPPORTED RESEARCHERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS PARTNERSHIPS INTERNATIONAL EVENTS BOOKS PANEL DISCUSSIONS GROUP PROJECTS POLICY TALKS VIDEOS SUMMER SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES DIFFERENT EVENT AND

PROGRAMME REPORTS

REPORT: 2007 - 2014

70 20 75 21 1 60 2 3 20 1 3548 1 50 5 2

POLICY PAPERS SURVEYS CALLS ROADSHOW MEDIA EVENTS REGIONAL TV SHOW DEBATES BALKAN FESTIVALS ONLINE PLATFORMS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS SEE ART EXHIBITION EFB FACEBOOK PAGE FRIENDS COMMUNITY CONFERENCE EFB PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS GENERAL EVALUATIONS EFB FACEBOOK AND

LINKEDIN GROUPS

Geographical scope of the EFB programme reach

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Founding Partners The European Fund for the Balkans is established and supported by four main foundations:

The Fund is currently hosted by the Network of European Foundations - NEF (Brussels) which provides legal and administrative assistance.

EFB developed many other fruitful partnerships and was supported by:

British Embassy Belgrade

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Published by: European Fund for the Balkans

Address: Resavska 35, 11 000 Belgrade Telephone: +381 (0)11 30 33 662 E-mail: info@balkanfund.org Web: www.balkanfund.org For the publisher: Hedvig Morvai, Executive Director of European Fund for the Balkans Editor: Elena Petkovska Gjorgjievska, Programme Assistant and Communications Proofreading: Dzenana Huseinovic Design and layout: Predrag Nikolic / Ninja Boy Creations, Novi Sad Printed by: Repro Print, Novi Sad May 2014 Print run: 500