CEP Belgrade

A non-governmental, non-profit, independent think tank, supporting the development of alternative policy options from the perspective of Serbia's EU integration

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

Three years after the Ohrid Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia remain far from normalization. To revive implementation, the EU should abandon its ambiguity and act as an even-handed arbitrator.

Commentary article for @Carnegie_Europe written by Miloš Pavković, Fitim Gashi, Iliriana Gjoni, Dimitar Bechev

Read the full text: https://t.co/DKfOy32XPs

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📍Today in Belgrade, the Fourth WeBER Regional Conference “Citizens First: A Decade of Advancing Citizen-Centred PAR” officially opened - an event that marks a full decade of dedicated work on advancing public administration reform across the Western Balkans through the WeBER 3.0 project.

Bringing together representatives of institutions and civil society from across the region, experts, researchers, and practitioners - all united by the same goal: a public administration that truly puts citizens first.

Over two days, participants are exploring how user-centred approaches and design thinking can transform public services, sharing experiences from WeBER Policy Lab processes and local initiatives, and analysing the findings of the PAR Monitor Report 2024/2025 — the leading analytical tool that measures reform progress through the eyes of citizens and civil society.

The conference is organised by the European Policy Centre (CEP) and the Think for Europe Network (TEN), with the support of the European Union and co-financing from the Austrian Development Agency.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

🥳 We are so excited for DAY 1 of 2 of our 4th WeBER Citizens First Regional Conference tomorrow!

We are opening the conference with words of encouragement and great excitement for the two days ahead!

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

🔎 Read these and many other findings in the First Independent Monitoring Report on the Implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia, soon to be published by @NKEUSrbija and CEP.

Developed based on detailed monitoring by coordinators and members of the NCEU's Intersectoral WG for Reform Agenda Monitoring, this report assesses the achievement of 34 reform steps, preconditions and general conditions for EU support under the Reform and Growth Facility.

At the second meeting of the Monitoring Committee for the Reform and Growth Facility, held on june 3rd, we presented these findings, but we've only scratched the surface. Stay tuned for the full report. 

*This publication was produced with the support of the @OpenSocietyWB. The thoughts and opinions expressed herein belong to the authors and do not recessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

We are nearing the start of our 4th WeBER Regional Conference with 3️⃣ days left!

With our closing session, we will part ways with words of inspiration, hope and dedication to keeping the vision alive beyond 2026.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

The 4th WeBER Regional Citizens First Conference is 4️⃣ days away!

For our next panel, we are moving into a Fishbowl format - a dynamic, open dialogue designed to draw in multiple voices. The question on the table: What has worked in inclusive policy and legislative design? What still needs to change? And how do we ensure that participatory approaches become the norm, not the exception?

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

5️⃣ days left until our 4th WeBER Regional Conference “Citizens First: A Decade of Advancing Citizen-Centred PAR”!

On the second day, grantees from across the Western Balkans will showcase concrete community‑level experiences in applying design thinking and participatory methods for public service improvement. These real‑life cases will illustrate how citizen feedback, co‑creation, and inclusive consultation can shape services that respond better to everyday needs.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

Only 6️⃣ days left until 4th Regional Citizens First Conference!

As part of the Conference, participants will explore the latest findings of the Western Balkan PAR Monitor 2024/2025 through thematic breakout sessions designed to unpack key reform trends and challenges across the region.

🕑 Breakout Round 2 (three parallel sessions):
• A: Organisation, Accountability and Oversight
• B: Service Delivery and Dogitalisation
• C: Public Financial Management

Moving beyond diagnosis, these sessions will open space for dialogue on reform progress, bottlenecks, and possible solutions.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

We have 7️⃣ days left until our 4th Regional Citizens First Conference!

As part of the Conference, participants will explore the latest findings of the Western Balkan PAR Monitor 2024/2025 through thematic breakout sessions designed to unpack key reform trends and challenges across the region.

🕑 Breakout Round 1 (three parallel sessions):
• A: Strategy for PAR
• B: Policy Development & Coordination
• C: Public Service & HRM

Moving beyond diagnosis, these sessions will open space for dialogue on reform progress, bottlenecks, and possible solutions.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

U Beogradu je 3. juna 2026. godine održana druga sednica Nadzornog odbora za praćenje Instrumenta za reformu i rast (RGF), tripartitnog tela u okviru kojeg Nacionalni konvent ima punopravno članstvo sa pravom glasa. Sednici su prisustvovali predstavnici Evropske komisije, državnih organa Republike Srbije, civilnog društva, ambasada država članica i međunarodnih organizacija. Na dnevnom redu bili su pregled sprovođenja RGF po svim oblastima Reformske agende, pitanja upravljanja i monitoringa, revizija i kontrola, WBIF investicije, kao i komunikacija i vidljivost.

Međusektorska radna grupa (MRG) je pozdravila odluku Vlade Srbije da zahteve za isplatu sredstava iz RGF-a objavi na sajtu Ministarstva evropskih integracija. Zahtevi za isplatu sredstava sadrže detaljne opise aktivnosti sprovedenih u realizaciji reformskih koraka za koje Vlada tvrdi da su ostvareni, te je njihova transparentnost od velikog značaja za eksterni monitoring od strane civilnog društva, kao i za širu odgovornost javnih vlasti Republike Srbije.
Ovaj korak, koji je usledio nakon godinu dana pregovora i insistiranja od strane MRG, pokazuje da dijalog u okviru Nadzornog odbora može da proizvede konkretne rezultate.

Međutim, transparentnost mora biti sistemska, a ne selektivna. Predstavnici MRG su stoga pozvali Vladu da ovaj pozitivan presedan proširi i na sve nacrte propisa i strateških dokumenata koji se dostavljaju Evropskoj komisiji na mišljenje. Ovi dokumenti bi, bez izuzetka, trebalo da budu dostupni javnosti putem platforme eKonsultacije, kao dokumenta od velikog interesa za
javnost Srbije.

@NKEUSrbija

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📊 Data meets dialogue at #CitizensFirst2026!

At the second panel, DATA SPEAKS, our WeBER Research Team will present the latest results of the Western Balkan PAR Monitor 2024/2025 - WeBER's flagship assessment of public administration reform progress across the region, seen through the eyes of civil society and citizens. From key findings to real challenges, this session is where evidence drives the conversation.

We are honoured to welcome our distinguished discussants who will help us unpack the trends and chart the path forward for PAR in the Western Balkans. Stay tuned to meet them!

🗓️ 10–11 June 2026 | Belgrade

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📣U novoj epizodi podkasta razgovarali smo sa Bojanom Selaković, koordinatorkom Nacionalnog konventa za Evropsku uniju (@NKEUSrbija), o Reformskoj agendi Srbije i implementaciji Plana rasta za Zapadni Balkan.

Tema razgovora bili su značaj reformi za evropske integracije Srbije, kašnjenja u sprovođenju ključnih obaveza u oblastima vladavine prava, REM-a i izbornog zakonodavstva, kao i pitanje političke volje za suštinske promene. Poseban fokus bio je na ulozi civilnog društva u praćenju Reformske agende, problemima transparentnosti i pristupa informacijama, ali i na tome kako evropske integracije učiniti razumljivijim i bližim građanima.

Govorili smo i o odnosu Evropske komisije, Vlade Srbije i organizacija civilnog društva, kao i o tome šta bi do 2027. trebalo da bude ostvareno da bi Reformska agenda zaista donela konkretne rezultate građanima Srbije.

🔗 Epizodu možete poslušati putem linka: https://t.co/gqSpdQhEF2

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

🎙️ IN THE SPOTLIGHT is opening the 4th Regional WeBER Conference “Citizens First: A Decade of Advancing Citizen-Centred PAR” on June 10–11!

Our first panel dives straight into the big questions: how do we design public services that truly work for people?

Expect real stories from the Policy Labs, fresh perspectives from across the Western Balkans, and an open conversation on human-centric design in public administration.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

⏳ Just 🔟 days to go until the 4th WeBER Regional Conference - Citizens First: A Decade of Advancing Citizen-Centered PAR!

🎂 This year marks a major milestone - 10 years of the WeBER initiative and a decade of advocating for public administrations that put citizens first.
Bringing together representatives of governments, civil society, the EU, OECD/SIGMA, and public administration practitioners from across the Western Balkans, the Conference will explore how human-centric public services, participatory approaches, and design thinking can make institutions more transparent, accessible, and effective.

Participants will also get an exclusive look at the findings of the Western Balkan PAR Monitor 2024/2025 and discover inspiring local initiatives proving that meaningful citizen engagement can drive real improvements in public services.

✨ Stay tuned over the coming days as we unveil the programme and key discussions that await at this year’s Conference.

#WeBER_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📊 Today, we presented the findings of our latest research on Serbian citizens’ attitudes toward the European Union amid increasing geopolitical uncertainty through a panel discussion “Serbia and the European Union: Geopolitics and EU Values – in Tension or in Tandem?”, which brought together experts to reflect on the challenges and opportunities shaping Serbia’s European path.

Drawing on a nationally representative public opinion survey, advanced statistical analysis, and focus group discussions, the research offers valuable insights into what drives support for EU membership, trust in the EU, and citizens’ perceptions of Serbia’s relationship with Europe.

This research was created with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ireland.

Thank you to our panelists and everyone who joined the conversation and contributed to this important exchange of ideas.

👀Watch the full event: https://t.co/681S8y7fgY

🔎Read the full research: https://t.co/evQLd4fgLC

@dfatirl
@vBeckerath
@eusrbija
@MarkoTodorovicc
@mihajl_milena
Ana Milinković

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📣Join us on June 1st at Europe House in Belgrade for the panel discussion “Serbia and the European Union: Geopolitics and EU Values – in Tension or in Tandem?” organized by European Policy Centre with the support of Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl)

The event will present findings from our research on Serbian citizens’ views of the EU in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, based on a representative survey and citizen focus groups.

📍 Europe House, Zmaj Jovina 8, Belgrade
🕙 10:00–11:30
📅 1 June
🔗 Livestream link: https://t.co/Lmyor5Yxtd

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

👥Two days of excellent discussions with think tanks, policymakers and academia on the budgetary implications of future EU enlargement and the accession of the Western Balkans.

📊With negotiations on the EU’s 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework already underway, the focus was on the need for realistic, data-driven estimates that can turn political momentum for enlargement into concrete financial planning

📖 Read the full study "What does the Western Balkan cost me?", created in partnership with @KAS_Beograd via link: https://t.co/k7DdK1DD1m

@EUI_EU

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

🤔Da li razgovor prestaje čim se ne složimo?

❗️Mi mislimo da tada tek počinje❗️
„Dođi da se ne složimo" okuplja mlade ljude za otvorene razgovore o temama koje nas stvarno dotiču — Al, budućnost, odlazak omladine, EU, društvene promene i još mnogo toga.

Ako imaš 18-26 godina i 10. juna ćeš biti u Beogradu, želiš da o nekoj od ovih tema u opuštenoj atmosferi uz kafu razgovaraš sa neistomišljenicima i na taj način daš doprinos pokretanju dijaloga u društvu - prijavi se i dođi
da se ne složimo!

P.S. Spremni su i specijalni gift bag-ovovi za sve učesnike! 🎁

🗣️Cilj nije da mislimo isto.
Cilj je da naucimo da razgovaramo.

📆10. jun
⏳Prijave do 5. juna
🔗Link za prijavu: https://t.co/QlzqCv02F6

#zadijalog #dodjidaseneslozimo #mladi #dijalog @KAS_Beograd

[CEP Belgrade @CEPBelgrade]

📣Join us on June 1st at Europe House in Belgrade for the panel discussion “Serbia and the European Union: Geopolitics and EU Values – in Tension or in Tandem?” organized by European Policy Centre with the support of Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl)

The event will present findings from our research on Serbian citizens’ views of the EU in a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, based on a representative survey and citizen focus groups.

📍 Europe House, Zmaj Jovina 8, Belgrade
🕙 10:00–11:30
📅 1 June
🔗 Livestream link: https://t.co/Lmyor5Yxtd