Ardita

Program Director @epi_mk #thinktank #research #debate #EU #enlargement #WesternBalkans #EUacquis #RoL @AlumniofUM @lawinmaastricht

[Ardita @Ardita_AAI]

As #ElectoralCode discussion returned to #politicalagenda, worth revisiting the #citizen discussions in 2022 on the same topics as those today, during the #deliberativepoll on #electoralreform organised by @epi_skopje and #DDL #StanfordUniversity 👇 https://t.co/qo7I9r89wz

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

🙌 We’re proud to share that the European Policy Institute (EPI) has been included in the @onthinktanks list of 100 Think Tanks to Watch in 2025!

👏 The inclusion on this list reflects the joint dedication of our team, our former colleagues, and the collaboration with our partners, donors, and supporters who stand with us in advancing evidence-based policymaking and inclusive dialogue across the Western Balkans.

🤝 We’re especially delighted to share this recognition with our regional colleagues, @IDSCS_Skopje and the @bezbednost_org, who also made the 2025 list!

🇪🇺 Together, we continue to push for stronger institutions, better governance, and deeper regional cooperation on the road to the EU.

👉 Read the full report here: https://t.co/ovhEOdRs3H

#ThinkTanksToWatch2025

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

🇪🇺 The European Commission published the annual country reports for the EU Enlargement countries!

📊 Check out how the countries in the EU’s Enlargement process compare with each other regarding their preparedness in each chapter!

🔎 Delve deep into the reports and see how the countries compare to each other: https://t.co/Lw9LiK2Lc0

[Ardita @Ardita_AAI]

Yesterday at #RESILIO launch Berlin by @IEP_Berlin & @MercatorDE .Discussed #RoL resilience & future of #RoL after #EU elections. Great work @MariaSkora @york_albrecht .

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

🗳️How to ensure the right to vote for persons with disabilities in 🇲🇰?

Our brief gives insight into the right to vote of persons with disabilities and provides recommendations for enhancing their participation and representation in the process.

https://t.co/IdlFSmi393

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

Кои се најважните случувања во борбата против корупцијата? 📄
Погледнете ги најважните настани и одлуки кои се дел од Извештајот во сенка за Поглавје 23
Извештајот го опфаќа периодот октомври 2022-септември 2023.
💻 https://t.co/3vW9vNipvp

https://t.co/QzdKWpuoNJ

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

📢 We're thrilled to announce the release of our latest Quarterly Brief focusing on the Rule of Law in View of EU Accession for October-December 2023! 🌟

Highlights include the official setting of election dates🗳️, the adoption of new Assembly Rules of Procedure📜, and the EU's readiness to advance accession negotiations with North Macedonia pending constitutional amendments🇪🇺. Plus, key developments include reviewing and adopting the Transparency Strategy🔍, presenting the PAR Council's Fifth Annual Report📊, and еlection of the next composition of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption🔍, еlection of new members to the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination👥, as well as the adoption of laws concerning the rights of persons with disabilities and discrimination prevention📜. We also cover the topics of the Administrative Court's verdict on the dismissal decision of the former Judicial Council president🏛️and the initiation of an inquiry into allegations of political pressure on Supreme Court judges👩‍⚖️.

Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments shaping the Rule of Law landscape in North Macedonia. Together, let's work towards a more transparent, accountable, and just society. Read the full brief to delve deeper into these significant developments. 💼📚

Check it out: https://t.co/b9s1BX4Gez

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

🇪🇺 The topic of the nexus between state capture, democratic backsliding and foreign power engagement in the Western Balkans was discussed today at the conference organized by @SWPBerlin titled “The EU Accession of the Western Balkans: Persisting Challenges and New Impulses”.

🗣️ Our programme director, @Ardita_AAI spoke at the panel together with Boris Mijatovic from the German Bundestag, Maxim Samorukov from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and Dusan Pavlovic from the University of Belgrade. They discussed the current situation in the Balkans, as well as the opportunities for the EU Accession of the region.

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

In the last three days, North Macedonia was hosting the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, as part of the country’s chairpersonship with the Organization. Delegations from all over the world discussed the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area, youth and civil society, pluralism and the safety of journalists.

EPI, together with @Helsinshki and @MYLA_Macedonia prepared a self-evaluation report on the Human dimension in North Macedonia during OSCE Chairpersonship. The key findings from this report were presented at the OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference on Wednesday.

During the year, EPI is also implementing the project “Fostering Policy Analysis and Public Debate 3.0” in which we organized three local deliberative events in Tetovo, Bitola and Skopje. At the local events, the participants discussed the new geopolitical situation and North Macedonia’s place in it and then asked questions to a panel of experts, one of whom was the MFA and OSCE Chairperson @Bujar_O.

The citizens were interested in how the new geopolitical situation could give impetus to the acceleration of the country's membership in the EU, but also how the OSCE contributes to improving the image and position of North Macedonia on the world stage.

These discussions and the questions raised at the events will serve as a basis for the National Deliberative Poll that EPI will organize for the fourth time together with the Deliberative Democracy Lab (formerly Center for Deliberative Democracy) at @Stanford University in the USA and with support from the @NEDemocracy. At the deliberative poll, 150 citizens from all across the country will read and discuss these topics and then ask questions to panels of experts and politicians.

[Ardita @Ardita_AAI]

Start of 10th annual #regional @RuleofLawForum @AIRECentre @crdefenders in Sarajevo.Good to be here among the rep of #judicial sector and discuss on #TransarentJustice #judges & #dataprotection

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

North Macedonia should make efforts to complete the reforms in the country so that it can become a member of the EU.. This was the conclusion of the policy dialogue event “New geopolitical developments and the impact on North Macedonia” which was held yesterday in Skopje with the citizens of the Skopje region.

👥 After the discussion between the citizens, they compiled questions that they put to the panel composed of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the OSCE, Bujar Osmani, the professor from the Iustinianus Primus Faculty of law Nenad Markovic and the dean of the Faculty of Law at the International University “Vision” Vesna Poposka.

This was the third policy dialogue event within the project “Encouraging Policy Analysis and Public Debate” which the European Policy Institute – EPI realized with the support of the @NEDemocracy. The discussion in Skopje, together with the other debate events that took place in Tetovo and Bitola, will be the basis for organizing the National Deliberative Poll in 2024.

💻 Read more: https://t.co/6ZGJPrh6Cx

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

Join us at #CSFTirana2023 on Oct 14-15 in Tirana, Albania and online! Organized by @OpenSocietyWB in collaboration with @eliamepgr and @CDIAlbania. Explore economic integration with the EU in our panel on the full access to the EU Single Market. Register: https://t.co/ygfu012BqX

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

The European Policy Institute (EPI) - Skopje participated in the thematic working groups for the preparation of the new PAR Strategy 2023-2030 upon the public call by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration for the inclusion of civil society representatives. The involvement of civil society organizations (CSOs) in the early phase of the process of preparing this strategic document is to be welcomed, and we emphasized it in the findings of the 2021/2022 PAR Monitor.

👥 Through the involvement of the CSOs, one of the recommendations contained in the three cycles of the PAR Monitor was considered, stakeholders to be involved in the early phase of the process of consultation/preparation of government documents.

📄 Moreover, another recommendation from our PAR Monitor has been taken into account, specifically, CSOs to be included in the PAR monitoring structures, so the current Strategy foresees the involvement of a representative from the CSOs in the PAR Secretariat and Council.

📃 Something we are particularly proud of is that the Strategy quotes the findings of the PAR Monitor, which is actually another recommendation, that the findings of the CSO should be properly referenced in the government documents. All these should be a regular practice, not an exception in the process of preparation of important strategic documents and legislative acts.

🇪🇺 The above also speaks of the relevance and the added value of the WeBER Project, which has been acknowledged by the European Commission through the awarding of a third consecutive grant, i.e. the continuation of the largest civil society-led initiative for monitoring PAR in the Western Balkans.

[Ardita @Ardita_AAI]

69% say the law is not applied to everyone equally - results #BalkanBarometer

[Majlinda Bregu @MajlindaBregu]

📢🆕️‼️#TalkingPoint 👉🏻 #BalkanBarometer 2023  - Vox Populi edition is available now ⏭️ https://t.co/EtVxFXzpnM

3 main trends ⬇️

🟢 76% of people support regional cooperation & believe it’s good for their economies + 69% agree that what brings WB citizens together is more important than what separates them!

🔴 Support to EU membership in the region is now 59% ⏭️ 3% less than in 2021

🔴 44% of people think to live abroad ⏭️ 5% more than in 2022
Even more worrisome: 71% of youth consider leaving their home country!

Balkan Barometer 2023 – Business Opinion edition coming 🔜!

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

The @EU_Commission published its fourth annual Rule of Law Report, taking the pulse of the rule of law situation in each Member State.

⚖ While Rule of Law concerns remains in some EU Member States, the report has become a key driver for change and positive reforms. In fact, 65% of last year's recommendations have been, fully or partially, addressed. This shows that important efforts are ongoing in the Member States to follow up on the previous year's recommendations. Given that reforms to improve the rule of law framework take time, this reflects a significant development over only one year. At the same time, systemic concerns remain in some Member States.

💻 This year's Rule of Law Report is available on the European Commission's website: https://t.co/EQvmLYyPcv

[EU Delegation to North Macedonia @AmbassadorEU]

Marking 20 years since the Thessaloniki Summit at a forum organised by @epi_skopje. Today there is renewed momentum for EU enlargement. Time for WB partners to move forward decisively through the implementation of reforms - with EU support. The future of the WB is in the EU!

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

👥 Follow our #ForumEuropaeum conference “20 years after the Thessaloniki Summit: The way ahead” tomorrow at 14:00 via Zoom.

💻 Check out the panels and join us by registering at: https://t.co/d4PvnoNpxc

[Bujar Osmani @Bujar_O]

I am proud with our functional multiethnic #democracy. It’s serving as a reference to the region. It is telling the story that in these region functional multiethnic democracies can work. Part of my speech @PrespaForum

[EPI.Skopje @epi_skopje]

The European Political Community (EPC) is meant to provide a platform to discuss strategic issues in Europe, filling a much-needed gap for unscripted dialogue among leaders of EU member states, candidate countries and other European countries after Russia blew up the continental security order with its full-scale war against Ukraine. Following the second EPC summit held in Moldova on 1 June, the time is ripe to take stock of what the European Political Community has delivered thus far and how the energy of European leaders can best be channelled moving forward.

🔍 For this reason, @CEPS_thinktank launched an EPC Observatory that will be driven by civil society and used to enhance transparency and support upcoming EPC Presidencies and members as well as the general public in monitoring the implementation of commitments made and specific deliverables agreed at the European leaders’ level.

Our programme director, @Ardita_AAI participated at the event in Brussels where this Observatory was launched.

[Gert Jan Koopman @GertJanEU]

Good to see that the🇪🇺#EU delivers on its commitment & already disbursed €450 mio to help our Western Balkan partners tackle the⚡️energy crisis.

A further €500 million in grants through @TheWBIF will support the region's energy transition & security.

🔗https://t.co/Kn5Uq20VId