Regional Framework for development and European Integration

Western Balkan

2

business, academia, local governments and NGO’s

BTD
Open Society Fund
East East programme of OSI

European Movement in Montenegro,
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED),
Center for Institutional Development  - CIRa,
Albanian Institute for International Studies,
Institute for International Relations – IMO

Countries of the region are expected to gradually takeover full responsibility and ownership for future regional cooperation in the framework of the European integration process. For the success of the regional ownership process it is very important to inform and raise understanding of wider circles in the countries of the region.
There is evident lack of information and lack of understanding about the role of regional cooperation, in general, and particularly about the opportunities for economic development, job creation and poverty reduction within above-mentioned regional processes and projects.

Overall aim of the project is twofold:

• To promote the role of regional cooperation in South Eastern Europe as important instrument aimed to support faster European integration, sustainable development and poverty reduction.
• To promote cooperation and coordination of reform and integration efforts across the region.

EMinS and partners systematized information and presented existing regional projects and initiatives, particularly in the fields of trade, infrastructure, energy, SMEs, ICT, education and research and environment in a brochure “Regional cooperation for development and European integration”, which was published in all regional languages as well as English and promoted all over Western Balkans.

Desk research: European Movement in Serbia prepared and designed a special brochure on regional cooperation in SEE for dissemination on the occasion of Info days and afterwards.

Regional workshops: three regional workshops were organized were different aspects of regional cooperation were analyzed and details concerning the final outcome of the project agreed upon.

Presentations: EMinS organized total of three presentations in Serbia while partners in the region promoted the publication at thematic workshops in their capitals as well. Each time there were present guests from the region, recruited among the partners.

Western Balkans – Regional response to visa liberalization issue

Serbia

28 300 e

Jelica Minić
Vladimir Grecić
Maja Bobić
Brankica Grupković
Milorad Ivanović
Miodrag Shresta

1

Policy makers, ministries, expert community and wider population in Western Balkans

BTD
Open Society Fund

Institute for international politics and economics (leading partner)
Group 484

The goal was to support the process of reforming the Western Balkan countries’ systems towards their approximation to EU standards, support WB countries in their efforts to join the EU white visa list, to further strengthen and support measures/activities/initiatives towards a visa liberalization that have already been launched or implemented in the region.

1. To develop recommendations to the governments in the region for the reforms necessary in the domain of free movement of people
2. To exert pressure and influence the governments to conduct the reforms and law harmonization, as well as its efficient implementation
3. To create a network of experts and stakeholders dedicated to this task at national and regional level
4. To stimulate an intensive citizen engagement in the decision making/policymaking processes;
5. To create a more active collaboration between the government and civil society;
6. To promote an active citizenship, political reform, civic education, and monitoring of government performance;
7. To ensure a greater transparency of government institutions, so that citizens may hold governments accountable for their actions.

4 national round tables

• Balkan countries as a source and transit countries for migration towards EU, January 25th
• European Integration and Readmission, February 20th
• European Integration and the Reform of the Visa Regime of Serbia and Montenegro, March 13th
• Integrated border management and EU standards , April 12th

1 regional round table

• “The Western Balkans: Regional Response to Visa Liberalization Issue“, 18-19 May 2006

The Roundtable proceedings and recommendations as well as the conclusions of the national round tables (held from January-April 2006) were published in Serbian and English language “Visa policy and Western Balkans”

Free movement of people and goods in Serbia, Kosovo and EU

Serbia

N/A

50%

3+3

Citizens of Serbia and Kosovo, especially youth and SMEs, respective governments, UNMIK, international community – EU

Joint study of EMinS and KIPRED strives to explore some of the common challenges shared by Albanian and Serbian communities both within Kosovo and Serbia and between Kosovo and Serbia in the area of free movement of people and goods.
The overall research is based on the premises that establishing EU standards in the liberalization of the movement of people and goods in Serbia and Kosovo is an incentive for economic growth and normalization for the region and its integration into EU structures. The study “A Joint European Vision: Free Movement for People and Goods in Kosovo and Serbia” is comprised of two mutually complementary parts – the free movement of people (based on the legal review and opinion pool survey) and free movement of goods (in-depth analysis of the customs database and an extensive legal review of the existing customs regulations).
The study containing analysis, conclusions and recommendations was published in three language edition (Albanian, Serbian and English) and presented in Brussels, Belgrade and Pristina during December 2005, followed by intensive media and advocacy campaign.

• Desk Research
• Opinion Pool Survey
• Advocacy and presentations of the findings in the region and to the international community (Belgrade, Pristina, Brussels)

Constitutional Documents of the European Union

Serbia

4.980

80

8

Policy makers including wider domestic interested public (academics, professionals, students, etc.)

Serbia and Montenegro European Integration Office; Ministry for International Economic Relations

Serbia and Montenegro European Integration Office

Regarding the countries orientation toward the European Union, Treaty of Nice was for the first time presented to the public in Serbia and Montenegro. The EMinS expert team, guided by Dusko Lopandic, Ph.D., translated and prepared the Treaty of European Union and Treaty of Nice with all amendments for the wider public.

• Publication "Constitutional Documents of the European Union"
• Presentations of the book

The Social Dialog

Serbia

15.585

30

7

Trade Unions, State, Employers, Public, Media

Freedom House

Center for Economic Development, Balkan Institute on Labour and Social Policies

The project »The Social Dialog as an Instrument for Tensions Resolving in Transition Countries« was a result of a need for developing social dialog - an instrument of social tension minimization in a transition period.

Developing and fostering social dialog between key subjects of social life is one of most important conditions for modern societies stabile functioning.

Goal

• Final Policy Paper and Action Plan – developed through social dialogue
• Facilitation of social dialogue and monitoring of policy implementation
• Book "Towards Stability and Prosperity"

Serbia and Montenegro on the Road to the European Union – Two Years Later

Serbia

n/a

80

2 + 35 experts

Policy makers including wider interested public (academics, professionals, students, etc.)

Fridrich Ebert Stiftung

Institute of Economic Sciences

Serbia and Montenegro on the Road to the European Union – Two Years Later is a follow-up of the project “Preparing Serbia/FR Yugoslavia for the Integration into EU”, which started in 2000 when the European Movement in Serbia has published the study "Preparing Yugoslavia for European Integration", and Institute of Economic Sciences has printed the translation of `The White Book` published by the European Commission.

The aim of the Conference was to discuss the reform agenda in Serbia/Yugoslavia taking into account objective institutional and political prerequisites for the faster integration into the European Union, in the framework of the Stabilization and Association Process. After two years of transition in Serbia and Montenegro, necessary for the EU accession and one of main foreign policy long-term objectives, it is the right time to consider what steps have been taken until now and which steps should follow.

The Conference was high visibility event that brought about attention of State officials, representatives of the political parties, representatives of international organisations, experts, media and wider public on crucial institutional issues facing the reforms.

The results of the Conference have been published in the book “Serbia and Montenegro on the Road to the European Union – Two Years Later”.

• International conference "Serbia and Montenegro on the Road to the European Union – Two Years Later"
• Conference papers were published in the book "Serbia and Montenegro on the Road to the European Union – Two Years Later" (in Serbian and English)

The Preparations of FR Yugoslavia and Serbia for European Integration

Serbia

35.970

100

12 (part time)

Government of FR Yugoslavia, Government of Serbia

European Commission, Fridrich Ebert Stiftung

This project, envisaged to last for years, was initiated in 1999 for the purpose of gathering the expert public and mobilising the general public, under the unfavourable circumstances of the international isolation of FR Yugoslavia, with a view to involving them in activities that would lead to our participation in the process of European integration. Following the political changes in Belgrade next year, the project represented a convenient basis for the preparation of an official strategy of joining the European Union.

The preparations of FR Yugoslavia and Serbia for European integration will continue and as the next step, there is a new study - “Towards Joining the EU” as well as organising of a series of round-table discussions and seminars in Serbian towns, with the participation of National Councils of the International European Movement, entitled “The European Forum – Serbia in Europe”. It is a course with various topics in connection with European integration (the future of EU, its expansion, the accession of FRY, etc.). The project has received the support of the International European Movement.

• The publishing of the expert study (in Serbian and English) "The preparations of FR Yugoslavia for European Integration" with contributions of 15 prominent experts from the NGO sector. The study deals with the fundamental political, economic and legal issues and sectors whose reform is a precondition for a speedier integration with the EU.
• International conference "The preparations of FRY for European integration", which produced conference documents and publishing "The White Book – The Entry of Central and Eastern European Countries in the Internal EU Market"

Early Warning System "Challenges to the implementation of reforms: one year after the victory of democracy"

Serbia

46.000

100

16

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP

Centre for Political Studies and Public Opinion of the Institute of Social Sciences

EMinS experts have conducted a research project entitled “Challenges to the implementation of reforms: one year after the victory of democracy”, the results of which have been presented in the “Early warning system” annual report of the United Nations Development Program”, UNDP as well as in other (7) bi-monthly reports. The research was conducted in the July 2000-October 2001 period, encompassing the final three months of the previous regime (July-September 2000), the three-month period of cohabitation (October-December 2000) and the period of democratic consolidation of the new regime (January-October 2001). Results were made available to United Nations and international community as well as to the democratic governments after October 2000.

• Applied policy research based on UN methodology
• Reports have been prepared on the basis of eight successive public opinion polls on the territory of Serbia and subsequent analyses of data by the EMinS expert team in the following areas: POLITICAL PUBLIC OPINION, ETHNIC RELATIONS, MACROECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR MARKET AND THE GREY ECONOMY, SOCIAL-ECONOMIC STABILITY, CRIME AND CORRUPTION.

The cooperation and integration potential of regional initiatives in the Balkans

Serbia

41.455

80

8

Regional initiatives, experts, different NGOs from Balkan countries

European Commission, Open Society Fund

Institute for Market Research (Bulgaria), the Centre for Political Economy (Romania), The Institute for International Studies (Albania), “FORUM” (Macedonia)

Cooperation of different network of experts and with different NGOs from Balkan countries for the purpose of exchanging opinions and producing a study on the effects of the "Stability Pact" and other regional initiatives.

The main aim is intensification of "local participation" in the process of initiating and developing regional initiatives in South-eastern Europe.

• Improving forms of across-the-border cooperation of non-governmental organisations, businessmen’s associations and others
• Organising workshops for exchange of opinions and the preparation of a regional project
• Integration within the region, across-the-border cooperation, the forms and ways of expanding neighbourly cooperation in the region
• International conference “The effects of regional initiatives in South-eastern Europe”
• The publication of “Regional initiatives in South-eastern Europe”

JSouth Eastern Europe 2000 – A View from Serbia

Serbia

9.500

100

2 + 10

International policy makers including wider domestic interested public (academics, professionals, students, etc.)

Open Society Fund, Freedom House

lkan was experiencing one more cruel war as well as so far unprecedented mode of international intervention in the post-war Europe. The question has been raised on the consequences of the recent events. How will they influence the future of the whole region, whether and to what extent the current destruction and suffering would be a brake or a spur for the intrinsic turnover in political, economic and security structures and relations?

Тhe study South Eastern Europe 2000 – A View from Serbia which resulted in the publication of the same name the group of experts tried, at least partly, to answer these questions. All the available views on the recently developed situation and possible solutions have been taken into consideration. New topics that were believed to be very important in the future have been included likewise: importance of the infrastructural reconstruction of the region, the cross-border cooperation among regions and local communities and the role of nongovernmental sector and its cooperation within the region. In these three areas the opening of intensive cooperation and integration processes may be expected, which could contribute by their quality and dynamics to the forthcoming, inevitable political and economic transformation of the region.

The Structure of Research:

• Program of the Reconstruction and Developemet in Southeastern Europe – political goals and economic mechanisms, by Jelica Minic
• Changes in the International Political and Security Framework of the Region, by Ranko Petkovic
• Kosovo Determinants of Security in Southeastern Europe, by Miroslav Hadzic
• Policy of the EU Enlargement – Place of Southeastern Europe, by Branislava Alendar
• Achievements and Prospects of Regional Initiatives and Integration Arrangements in Southeastern Europe, by Dusko Lopandic
• Changes in the Demographic Structure of the Region, by Srdjan Bogosavljevic
• Distortions of Trade Flows, by Goran Cetinic
• NATO Intervention - Effects on Yugoslav and Regional Transportation Infrastructure, by Olga Cvetanovic
• Importance of Cross-border Cooperation – Integration at the Level of Local Communities and Regions, by Predrag Jovanovic
• Development of Nongovernmental Organizations in Southeastern Europe and Their Role in the Process of Integration, by Danijel Pantic

• The publication “South Eastern Europe 2000 – A View from Serbia” (in Serbian and English)
• Promotions of the book in Belgrade, Niš, Kikinda, Pirot, Zrenjanin and Novi Sad

How to Support SMEs in Yugoslavia

Serbia

n/a

80

2 + 20

International policy makers including wider domestic interested public (academics, professionals, students, etc.)

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Institute of Economic Sciences; Ekonomska Politika

EMinS organized and International workshop “Policy Recommendations for Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship” in Zrenjanin, 1997. Over 60 experts, half of them from foreign countries presented the experience of the development of private SMEs in FRY and former republics, countries in transition and developed countries, as well as international organisations. It was discussed in about problems, achievements, limits and prospects of developing the SMEs in FRY between entrepreneurs, experts and representatives of local, republican and federal governments. The main result of the workshop was the Action Plan for the Development of Private SMEs in FRY, and the papers presented on the workshop are collected and published in this book. Task force of EMinS was undertaking activities for the implementation of the Action plan. Parallel with preparations for the meeting, EMinS visited Svilajnac, Vranje, Cacak, Novi Pazar, Vrsac, Zrenjanin, Podgorica and Budva and produced case studies for several municipalities which had achieved good results in the development of the SMEs at the local level. All of the activities undertaken in preparation for the International workshop are referred to as the “Zrenjanin Initiative”.

• Filed travel to Svilajnac, Vranje, Cacak, Novi Pazar, Vrsac, Zrenjanin, Podgorica and Budva for the preparation of the international workshop and producing case studies
• International workshop “Policy Recommendations for Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship” in Zrenjanin (1997)
• "Zrenjanin Initiative" and its presentation in 5 towns
• Workshops and training programms

EU Enlargement – Yugoslavia and The Balkans

Serbia

n/a

80

2 + 23

International policy makers including wider domestic interested public (academics, professionals, students, etc.)

Fridrih Ebert Stiftung

Institute of Economic Sciences; Ekonomska Politika

The publication EU Enlargement – Yugoslavia and The Balkans is a collection of papers which resulted from the international conference “Yugoslavia after the Sanctions – Economic Cooperation with the EU”. The Conference has been held in Belgrade in May 1996, as one of the activities undertaken to mark the Europe Day. The authors addressed a wide spectrum of issues, indicated that the institutionalization of the country relations with the EU, although inevitable, will be a very painful and slow process due to the predicaments fo the former and demands of the later. The book contributes to the analyses and assessment of relations between FRY and the EU as well as with the Balkans in general.

Opening Speaches
European Option for Yugoslavia, by Mirko Tepavac; Conditionality Framework for Accession, by Max Ambuhl; Urgent Reforms, by Dragoslav Avramovic; and EU Enlargement – the Greatest Challenge, by Michael Graham
New Regionalism and the EU Enlargement Policy
The New Regionalism and the Balkans, by Bjorn Hettne; the Intergovernmental Conference of 1996 and the SEE, by Dusko Lopandic; and Towards a New Architecture of Europe, by Franz-Lothar Altman

Regional Arrangements for the Balkans
Post-Dayton Economy – Is the European Model of Reconstruction Possible for the Balkans?, by Jelica Minic; Challenges in Search for the Place in the Community’s New Hierarchy of Non-members: the Case of Yugoslavia, by Branislava Alendar; Reflections on the Place and Role of the Central and SEE Countries in the New Architecture of the Cooperation Relations on a Regional and Global Scale, by Marcel Moldoveanu; The Balkans Market and the Position of the FRY – A Theoretical Approach, by Evangelos Karafotakis; Balkan Cooperation – Regional Approach of the European Union, by Mile Njegovan; Possibilities for Economic Integration in SEE, by Danijel Pantic; Trade and Economic Connections with Central European Countries, by Tomas Novak; Accession to the EU – Problems and Achievements, by Andrej Kumar and FRY and the Process of European Integration – Overview of Institutional and Economic Relations, by Boran Karadzole

The Yugoslav Predicament
Yugoslav Economic Crisis and its Social Consequences, by Aleksandra Posarac; Yugoslavia’ Prospects for Sustained Growth, by Danica Popovic; Economic Reforms in the FRY: Privatization Results and Current Debates, by Milica Uvalic; Yugoslav Banking System – Convergence with the EU, by Dragana M. Djuric; Conditions for Further Development of the Financial Market, by Djordje Djukic; the FRY Capital Goods Exports at the Beginning of 1996, by Goran Cetinic; and The Role of Yugoslav Migrants in the EU in the Rebuilding of Economic Cooperation, by Vladimir Grecic

• International conference “Yugoslavia after the Sanctions – Economic Cooperation with the EU”, Belgrade, May 1996
• Publication “EU Enlargement – Yugoslavia and The Balkans”

Facing the Future

Serbia

OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro

Student Union of Serbia

Purpose of the project is to create a public space in Serbia where open discussions can take place among the youth on the need to confront Serbia's recent past, in the context of how this impacts Serbia's future.
Seven months interactive and policy oriented exercises engaging students and young intellectuals of the six Serbian Universities to discuss the way forward for Serbia by raising awareness about importance of issues related to dealing with Serbia's past. The six round tables at university centers in Serbia will bring together students and intellectuals in Serbia with appropriate high level official representation from within Serbia and abroad. Detailed reports from all these events will be submitted, discussed, and compiled at a closing conference in Belgrade, where a series of conclusions and plan of action will be tabled. Conclusion from the panels will be presented in a form of messages from students and line of proposed activities which will contribute to creation of space in Serbia in order to initiate process of reconciliation of Serbia with recent past on the way to better future.

Students' Essay Contest on the topics "On guilt, truth and change in Serbia" and "Inter religion dialogue as a tool for reconciliation", including the importance of facing the recent past, recognition of legal, political and moral responsibilities as the precondition for integration in community of international democratic countries. The Contest aims to generate discussions around two key issues: facing the truth and telling the truth is necessary to encourage public and political acceptance that there is no other way to deal with the legacy of the past conflicts in former Yugoslavia; this is not only international obligation which the States from the region including SM have assumed as members of the UN but also a moral issue, without it neither regional reconciliation nor recovery and full democratization of all societies are possible.

Panels - objectives

• Raising public awareness, especially among students, that there is no democratic European Serbia without proper confrontation with Serbia's internal political past and identification of the role of the state in the recent wars
• Changes in attitude of the university students in Serbia who are to participate on the public panels and write essays, or follow the events
• Changes in public politics and practice based on increased public awareness on the close connection between the past and the future of Serbia.

The main target group will be university students and young intellectuals from six public universities in Serbia:

• Belgrade, 31.10.2005.
• Novi Pazar, 15.11.2005.
• Niš, 06.12.2006.
• Novi Sad, 28.02.2006.
• Kragujevac, 20.03.2006.
• Subotica, 05.04.2006.

European Integration Fund

Serbia

850.000

100

4 + 5 experts

EAR

EAR

EMinS is managing the "European Integration Fund" (EIF), implemented with the EU assistance and funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction.

The main goal is to support projects (in the amount of 1.000 to 60.000 EUR with a maximum duration of 9 months) with the overall objectives of the programme to facilitate better understanding of European integration matters (legal, economic, political, cultural, educational, etc) and broadening the scope of public participation and debate on the process of EU integration and regional cooperation. Total value of the EIF is 850.000 EUR to be disbursed as grants

Target groups are non-governmental organisations, media, universities, high school pupils and students, trade unions, professional associations, business community, local administration, cultural institutions and wider public.

Priority is given to project proposals which:

• ensure the involvement of the specified target groups in order to improve their knowledge on further European integration process and regional cooperation issues and actively participate in the larger public debate regarding these issues;
• include the cooperation of several stakeholders and/or cooperation of NGO’s and other target groups in Serbia and Montenegro to contribute to the European and regional integration of the Serbia and Montenegro

• Management and provision of grants
• Preparing Call for proposal
• Evaluation of the proposals
• Providing assistance throughout the implementation period and monitoring of the process
• Reporting

Support to Civil Society

Serbia

1.835.000

60

4 + Local councils

NGOs in Eastern and Western Serbia; Local administrations

European Agency for Reconstruction

Expert Network

European Movement in Serbia is the leading partner in Consortium with the Expert Network, in implementing a project »Support to Civil Society in Serbia«. Project is covering 51 municipalities of East and West Serbia: Šid, Sremska Mitrovica, Bogatić, Šabac, Loznica, Vladimirci, Koceljeva, Ub, Krupanj, Mali Zvornik, Osečina, Lajkovac, Valjevo, Ljubovija, Ljig, Mionica, Kosjerić, Bajina Bašta, Požega, Užice, Čajetina, Arilje, Priboj, Nova Varoš, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Raška, Novi Pazar, Tutin, Brus, Blace, Prokuplje, Kuršumlija, Žitoradja, Bojnik, Trgovište, Bosilegrad, Surdulica, Crna Trava, Dimitrovgrad, Babušnica, Pirot, Bela Palanka, Knjaževac, Sokobanja, Boljevac, Zaječar, Bor, Negotin, Majdanpek i Kladovo.

The aim of the project is to enhance abilities of the citizens of the underdeveloped and deprived municipalities to interact with local authorities and vice versa. This is of utmost importance for consolidation of democratic processes in the respective regions which have been lagging behind the rest of the country in the terms of civic engagement in the public affairs and accountability of the elected local governments. In addition, the Consortium will be able to help local officials to realize the role of the third sector organizations accepting them as equal partners in pursuing the development of overall local community and improving the well-being of the citizens.

Through its local networks (network of 103 Expert Network offices and 31 Local Council of the EMinS), the Consortium partners has actively undertaken the effort to identify and select the most appropriate candidates to undergo the ToT program.

Under the project, the Special Fund is established in order to support joint projects of NGOs/local administrations with special attention on the most vulnerable parts of the society: women, children and elderly people, disabled (most of them victims of the last wars), national (ethnic) minorities, social cases, unemployed and environmental issues. These target groups and their problems must be approached generally, being the main problems of the country, but they also have to be treated locally, due to the fact that the local community is the most competent to recognize and understand the problems and initiate their resolving.

The project activities extend to the following:

• Training program:
  • Training of Trainers
  • Training of NGO activists
  The Consortium is providing selection of ToT candidates, logistical support to ToT training, monitoring and reporting on the ToT component.
• Provision of technical assistance and equipment to NGOs: identifying the beneficiary NGOs, carry out needs assessment, organise and monitor the distribution process, provide basic computer training
• Preparation, organization and execution of seminars and workshops for NGOs and Local Administration: to undertake initial assessment of the issues that are of common interest for government and non-government sectors; public promotions of the seminars and workshops through local offices; logistical support to the seminars and workshops; monitor the work of NGOs and local institutions and to evaluate their achievements during and after the meetings;
• Management and provision of grants to NGOs and/or NGOs and Local Administration (joint projects) Preparing the ToR for the provision of the grants; carry out a needs assessment before and during the application process; assistance in preparing applications of interested candidates through local offices; selection of the best projects; provide assistance during implementation period and monitoring of the process.

Policy forum

Serbia

80.000

100

3 (permanent) 15 (part time)

Public interest NGOs and community leaders in diverse regions of Serbia

NOVIB; C.S. Mott Foundation

1999. / 2002.

The Political Forum of EMinS is a project which aims to link local authorities, non-governmental organizations, relevant international institutions, political parties, SMEs and individuals in Serbia and South-eastern Europe. Forum workshops make possible the creation of informal, sustainable inter-sector networks, gathered around EMinS, dedicated to democratic reforms and progress of Serbia towards European Union. Within the framework of the project, particular attention is paid to the regions inhabited by national minorities, such as Sandžak and Banat, with a view to preventing conflicts and creating a basis for various forms of cooperation between different ethnic communities.

• Through 27 policy workshops by now, intensive communication has been initiated between the civil sector and democratic political parties, domestic and foreign experts, representatives of foreign NGOs, entrepreneurs, local media, young leaders and representatives of national minorities
• Intensive activities aimed at linking NGOs, local communities and regions in Serbia with international institutions implementing development programmes for South-Eastern Europe, as well as organisations supporting the development of cross-the-border cooperation

Raising awareness campaign about the new EU financial instrument for pre accession assistance IPA 2007-2013

Serbia

100%

2 + 4 + 10

10 Municipalities in Serbia

Open Society Fund

The main aim of the project was to inform the wide society, first of all municipal officials, civil society representatives and media about structure and purpose of the pre accession funds and procedures for its programming, planning and projecting in Serbia.

One of the main characteristics of IPA is its bridging function, i.e. apart from assisting development, more importantly its task is to prepare countries for the time after accession into the EU.

For the period 2007-2013 IPA financial package total 10.213bn EUR. The beneficiary countries of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) will be divided into two categories, depending on their status as either Candidate Countries or potential Candidate Countries.

The main goals of the project activities are:

1. Raising awareness about the new EU financial instrument for pre accession assistance among the relevant actors (state, non-state, municipal) and acquiring the best practices in using EU funds
2. Presentation and exchange of regional experiences: candidate countries - Croatia and Macedonia as well as Slovenian experience of the use of EU funds
3. Raising the general knowledge about IPA and the best ways to use the available components
4. Provision of the Manual aimed at the effective articulation of needs and creation of project proposals eligible for funding through IPA funds
5. Enhancing the role of the civil society in monitoring the use of IPA funds

The project would consist of several components, as follows:

Component 1: Presentation of IPA – national level
The presentation of IPA at the national level was organized in Belgrade on November 30, 2006, with the participation of all relevant state and non-state actors.

Component 2: IPA Manual
IPA manual or a guide encompasses the presentation of IPA components and basic rules, as well as the methodology and necessary administrative structures of its utilization (DIS, programming, selection and implementation). The manual would contain best practices as well as recommendations for concrete project proposals and a guide to project applications

Component 3: Presentation of IPA – municipal and regional level
IPA presentations in the period May – July 2007 were held in: Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica, Zaječar, Novi Pazar, Vranje, Loznica, Zrenjanin i Majdanpek and representatives from almost 50 municipal that took part.

Capacity Building of the Local Ombudspersons' Network in Serbia

Serbia

€ 10 250

100%

2

Municipalities, Local Ombudspersons, wider populations, NGOs

OSCE Mission in Serbia

Legal Forum

The project aims to build capacity of existing local Ombudspersons in Serbia through the best tailored seminars aimed at advancing their working techniques (lobbying skills and public relations strategies).

12 municipalities (cities) that have introduced the institution of local ombudspersons: (Zrenjanin, Subotica, Sombor, Sabac, Rakovica, Grocka, Vladičin Han, Kragujevac - city ombudsperson, Belgrade - city ombudperson, Backa Topola, Niš and Provincial ombudsman of Vojvodina).

1. To build expert capacities: trainings and seminars
2. To strengthen the network of local ombudspersons and their internal coordination
3. To advance their knowledge of various techniques aimed at improving their overall performance
4. To promote/raise awareness of the public about the existence and the role of local ombudspersons

The project activities are designed in such a manner that the existing capacities and expertise is used in the best possible manner.

1. Seminars and trainings
   There are two thematic seminars organized for all beneficiaries (local ombudspersons) where prominent domestic experts will deliver lectures. One-day trainings will include practical and theoretical section, while manuals and working material will be prepared by individual experts and EMinS.
2. Closing event
   The closing event will take place in Belgrade, with an active participation of the provincial ombudsman, Belgrade ombudsperson and their associates.

Capital Improvement Planning Process and Preparation of the Capital Budgets in 6 MSP's municipalities

Serbia

21.561 €

Zvonko Brnjas

4

MSP Municipalities : Čačak, Užice, Kraljevo, Požega, Čajetina, Arilje

MSP/SDC

1. Conducting 4 two-days workshops on CIP preparation issues for CIP Working Groups from 6 municipalities; Since municipal WGs are expected to be consist of 8 to 10 persons, it is planned to conduct workshops jointly for three WGs, i.e. to conduct each of the workshops twice (altogether 8 sessions);
2. Each of the workshops will be followed-up with no less than 2 technical field training sessions in each of six municipalities: 6 municipalities x 8 field sessions = 48 field sessions;
3. During the whole period of project implementation WGs and other municipal officials and staff will be provided with follow-up field implementation guidance and assistance in work on CIP preparation.
4. All of described activities will be performed within the period from July 2006 till January 2007.

Serbian Local Government Reform Program (SLGRP)

Serbia

1.316.575

10

28

86 Serbian Municipalities and Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Yugoslavia

USAID

DAI, Inc; PADCO; Mendez England & Associates, Foundation in Support of Local Democracy; International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities; PALGO Center; Open Society Institute; IGE Consulting; Center for Community Organizing; Rutgers University; Berman Group, SRO

Serbian Local Government Program focuses its reform strategy on four key objectives: increasing citizen and civil society organization, access and involvement in local government; improving the legal and financial sustainability of local government; increasing local government influence at the national level; improved customer focus and responsiveness.

Seven Technical Teams of municipal management experts and Serbian professionals design and implement local government reform initiatives: the Citizen Participation Team, the Financial Management Team, the Communal Enterprise Management Team, the Information Technology Team, the Municipal Association Development Team, the Policy Reform Team, the Public Procurement Team.

• Citizen Participation Team: improving the relationships between municipal governments and citizens; assists municipal officials, local NGO’s and media for strengthening this relationships; strengthening citizens participations in municipal budget process; creation of citizen advisory boards and task forces; establishing citizen information centres
• Financial Management Team: effective and accountable local government administration; improving public finance; strategic planning for community development; technical training for public finance officials and staff; improving access to finance decision information; increasing transparent accountability of public officials; improving budget planning
• Communal Enterprise Management Team: increasing the efficient operation and management of key municipal utilities, providing public utility management training, consulting for improving capital asset management and public accountability, increasing access to technical developments in operations
• Information Technology Team: material and technical assistance to municipalities by assessing and upgrading their computer networks; technical assistance and data management in local governments; establishing municipal information system; training and support for municipal staff
• Municipal Association Development Team: technical and material assistance to local governments; training programmes, information exchange and technical support; developing strategic plan for municipal advocacy
• Policy Reform Team: development and monitoring of public policy related to the municipal government environment; assistance in developing a legislative monitoring system; technical assistance for legal reform related to decentralization; increasing transparency in the policy reform process
• Public Procurement Team: focusing on procedures and structures to create more accountable and transparent procurement and stewardship practice in the management of public resources; established in response to adoption of the Public Procurement Law as well as widespread consensus on the significant impact of corruption at the interface of government and private sector in Serbia; works closely with the Policy Reform and Financial Management Teams to intervene at both the municipal government level and republic government level

European Programs for Local Communities

Serbia

N/A

100%

5 Experts +Local Coordinators

Local Communities, wider public in Serbia

Netherlands Organisation for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB)

Training seminars on European integration for representatives of local communities will be organized with aim to introduce the concept and process of the integration, prepare them to fully participate; inform about EU programs and funds, current and future possibilities for potential participation; raise awareness of the importance of European integration and democratic reforms; provide relevant publications and documents and exchange of know-how with partners from EU countries.

Project will be carried out through 20 two-day seminars in selected regional centres covering 50 municipalities, represented by local governments, public institutions, NGOs, media, academic institutions, youth organizations.

There are 3 modules of the seminar: (1) general information on European institutions and policies; (2) the role of local authorities in the process of European integration (3) specific information on EU programs and funds interesting to local communities.

Brochures on EU programs and funds was published, distributed to wider public in Serbia (including governments’ institutions, international organisations, civil society, academia, experts, youth, business, media) and presented in 5 cities in Serbia: Nis, Kragujevac, Novi Sad, Novi Pazar and Belgrade.

• Publishing Brochures on EU programs and funds and promotions in 5 cities in Serbia
• 20 Training seminars for representatives of Local Self-Governments and Civil Society
• Support to project proposals of Local Self-Governments/ Civil Society

Municipal Support Program

Serbia

50%

3

Local governments

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

University of Berne, Institute of Public Law

Main aim is to support municipalities to become more efficient, accountable and transparent, as well as to use possibilities of capacities of Law on Local Self-Government in existing law and institutional frames.

The participating MSP municipalities (Čačak, Kraljevo, Požega, Užice, Kuršumlija, Novi Pazar) are willing to adapt their Statutes, with aim to use possibilities for decentralization in accordance with new Law and implement necessary regulations in areas which are not work out in details in Serbian Law, but left out for municipalities to regulate it.

Phase 1 of the project resulted in Publication with amendments, which can contribute to decentralization accordint to the Serbina Law.

Phase 2 is dedicated: analyze present municipal statutes, identificaion of amendments which can be adopted by municipalities, forming working groups for adopting amendments on the workshops in every participating municipality...

• Comparative analyze of Municipality statues in accordance to the Law on Local Self-Government
• Discussions with representatives of Local Self-Governments
• 2 workshops (April, July): discussions on issues and drafting amendments
• Based on results from workshops and consultations of 2 legal task force the Brochure was published – contains analyzes of discussions and propositions of amendments which will be used for harmonization with Law on Local Self-Government (focus on Referendum and Citizen’s Initiative)

Support from the Local Government Ombudsman in the UK to the Local Government Ombudsman in Vojovodina

Serbia

7,905

50%

2

Ombudsman Office in the Province of Vojvodina, citizens, local governments

FCO

BACEE

The aim of the projects was to share British experience of instituting an Ombudsman’s Office especially assisting the Ombudsman of the AP Vojvodina. Mr. Peter MacMahon, Deputy Local Government Ombudsman in UK visited Serbia and Novi Sad and tried to transfer the experience of the institution in UK to the local circumstances. Throughout the project the cooperation with AP Ombudsman Mr. Teofilović was established.

Following activities were held on 9 - 10th November 2005

• The One-day seminar “Promoting Ombudsman in Vojvodina” covering the following issues:UK model of LGO, Ombudsman’s Office in Vojvodina: conclusions after 18 months of existence, Benefits of Ombudsman’s Office, how to increase public awareness, maintaining good relations with local government, The Local Government Perspective
• Panel discussion with Serbian and UK experts on how to strengthen Central Ombudsman
• Media promotion of the Ombudsman work

• Seminar in Novi Sad for MPs, local government representatives, NGOs and representatives of the Central Ombudsman’s Office in Vojvodina
• Evening public lecture
• Private meetings between British Local Government Ombudsman and MPs, local government, NGOs and Central Ombudsman’s Office in Vojvodina
• Extensive media coverage, TV interviews and in-depth press articles about the UK LGO
• Informative brochure on the scope of work of the Ombudsman

Regional experience of BCSA

Serbia

37.000

100%

5

Podgorica, Skopje, Skadar

Balkan Trust Fund

Association for Democratic Law and Order
Albanian Center for Human Rights
Transparentnost Makedonia

“Best Civil Servant Award” is implementing in Podgorica (Montenegro), Shkodra (Albania) and Skopje (Macedonia) in the region of Western Balkan. The main aims are following:

• improve citizen’s participation
• improve relations of citizens and local governments
• improve quality of work of municipal staff

Methodology:

• Training employees to work with new programs
• Organizing elections
• Producing necessary materials
• Media campaigns
• Promoting regional cooperation

Best Civil Servant Award (BCSA)

Serbia

25.000

80

6

Serbian Municipalities

SLGRP

One of the activities of the pilot project – TASPP in 2001 was Best Civil Servant Campaign which was implemented very successfully in 3 municipalities. The main aims:

• improve citizen’s participation
• improve relations of citizens and local governments
• improve quality of work of municipal staff

Methodology:

An award will be presented to the municipal employee who is determined to be the best civil servant by citizens who complete a questionnaire placed next to each counter in the municipal building where services are delivered. The citizens can respond to the willingness, efficiency and quality of the services provided, grade the performance with scores from one to five, as well as write additional comments in the space provided. The best civil servant recipient will receive a certificate and the winner’s name will be displayed in the lobby of the municipal council building. Media coverage of the award ceremony, as well as a public relations campaign informing citizens of the award will be conducted locally.

The selected municipalities were: Subotica, Zrenjanin, Valjevo, Sabac, Kragujevac, Cuprija, Nis, Novi Pazar, Aleksandrovac and Uzice.

• Training employees to work with new programs
• Organizing elections
• Producing necessary materials
• Media campaigns

Building Transparent and Accountable System of Public Procurement in Municipalities of Serbia (TASPP)

Serbia

385.200

100

8 (permanent) + 6 (part time)

29 Serbian Municipalities and NGOs in those respective areas

Netherlands Organisation for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB)

This project of the EMinS aims to increase the transparency of budgeting and public procurement and to introduce European standards in Serbian municipalities.

Objectives are:

• better communications between the citizens and local government
• more rational use of budget resources
• improving the work of municipal administration
• citizens and private enterprises more satisfied with the work of municipal services and strengthening the democratic process in local communities

• Best Civil Servant Competition – EMinS and TI Serbia initiated the action “Citizens are choosing the best civil servant” in order to increase quality of the work and functioning of municipality services and to improve relationships between citizens and their municipalities, promoting development of municipal management, influence public, perception of civil servants, as well as to promote new standards in municipal functioning, producing posters and work charts of municipal services at the entrances of the municipalities to improve municipal communication with the public
• Training employees to work with new programs
• Seminars held in regional centres
• Installing the software and PCs in municipalities, a joint municipalities’ website for public procurement, internal linking of PCs in municipal services
• Assessment of hardware and software capacity in municipalities

Achieving National Consensus For Euro-Atlantic Integration