Listening to the people: How the Green Agenda Action Plan can do better for the Western Balkans

Policy Recommendations

  1. To reach desired objectives, the European Union should more closely involve and consult environmental civil society organisations from the Western Balkans and the local population, on all matters related to the Green Agenda, which includes timely and transparent sharing of information in line with the Aarhus Convention.
  2. The European Union should extend the Green Agenda Action Plan to delineate clear responsibilities of all relevant actors in the region, set clear time-frames and targets as well as precise rights and responsibilities of civil society organisations in the consultation process.
  3. It should impose stricter control over governmental action of the Western Balkans to reach the objectives of the Green Agenda and establish a sound monitoring system that will also include the civil society organisations and extend monitoring financing in line with coordinated and participatory bottom-up financing schemes.

The Vulnerability of Women in the Labour Market in Serbia

Policy Recommendations

  1. Including a gender perspective in employment policies.
  2. Introducing comprehensive programmes and measures to support the employment of vulnerable categories of women as well as empowering women by improving the career guidance system and developing mentoring programmes.
  3. Improving the system of employment protection and preventing discrimination.

Yes, EUtopia is possible!

“Europe will be forged in crisis, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted for those crises”

Jean Monnet, founding father of the European project

While the war is raging in Ukraine, we might not even recognize what a paradoxical gift we hold in our hands, which is to live in peace. New security risks for Europe as a whole, but especially for fragile regions such as the Western Balkans, have brought the area back into international spotlight and given it a renewed chance to leave conflicts and frictions behind, thus moving towards a common European future.

Kosovo: ending isolation

Policy Recommendations

  1. The EU member states should be coherent in their attitudes regarding the visa liberalisation of Kosovo.
  2. Kosovo should engage in a bilateral level with sceptic EU member states and work on convincing those who hesitate to provide support for the country in this matter.
  3. Kosovo’s visa liberalisation process, still pending in the Council of the European Union, should be treated as a matter of urgency.

Return Migration in Bulgaria: A Policy Context of Missed Opportunities

Policy Recommendations

  1. Identifying and managing the main obstacles to return.
  2. Ensuring better interconnectedness between the ‘diaspora’ and the policies of return migration in order to facilitate return and re-integration.
  3. Developing a comprehensive package of measures dealing both with decisions to emigrate and return.
  4. Better implementation of the national policies and strategies in the field of migration.

Cultural Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Recognising Culture as an Integration Tool

Policy Recommendations

  1. Creating cultural policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the key element for a sustainable society, especially linking it with education, economic and social policies.
  2. Ensuring the full engagement of cultural professionals, civil society, media, youth organisations and scientific community in the realisation of a new cultural policy.
  3. Strengthening cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, citizens’ participation resulting in the unification of society.