Promoting Democratic Values Among Youth – Student Debates 2016/2017

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Serbian

From October 2016, MESA10 from Bratislava, Slovakia and Center for Euro – Atlantic Studies(CEAS) from Belgrade, Serbia implemented fourth round of Student debates, a projectimplemented with the support of National Endowment for democracy from USA. We continuedto work with two universities from Serbia (the University of Belgrade and University of NoviSad) and two from Slovakia (Comenius University of Bratislava and Matej Bel University ofBanska Bystrica) as partners for the project. The project expanded to include a university from: Bosnia and Herzegovina (International University of Sarajevo), from Montenegro (University ofMontenegro) and from Moldova (Academy of Economic Studies of Chisinau).

Basic Instinct - The Case for more NATO in the Western Balkans

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Serbian

Multiculturalism presents democratic challenges. Even if enacted with the best intentions,say, to stop a bloody war, ethnic divisions embedded in state foundations multiculturalismcan further polarization and politicization of ethnic identities manifested in political, social, and economic systems through poor governance, suppression of individual liberties,corruption, and cronyism.

DECENTRALIZACIJA U KONTEKSTU NOVOG USTAVA SRBIJE I EU INTEGRACIJA

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): Serbian

Ustavni okvir Regionalne Države – primer Srbije

Author(s): Marijana Pajvančić / Language(s): Serbian

Preliminary Results of the Research within the Free Movement of People and Goods between Kosovo and Serbia in the Context of Regional Cooperation Project

Author(s): / Language(s): English

Draft version of the project focused on freedom of movement of people and commodities between Serbia and Kosovo in the light of regional cooperation was made back in November 2010. At that time, there were no indications that there was going to be a dialog between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels, or when this dialog was going to be held. First subject on the agenda of these negotiations was also unforeseeable ‐ freedom of movement of people and commodities, an issue that later on in summer 2011 caused dramatic events in North Kosovo. In early February, draft version of this project was presented to certain EU officials in Brussels, who then suggested the Center for Regionalism as the proponent of the project to approach the EU Delegation in Belgrade which was at that time publishing a call for proposals with fitting propositions for given project's subject. Project was approved by the EU Delegation in late June and activities began in early July, when Belgrade‐Pristina negotiations in Brussels were well on their way, where issues targeted by this project were addressed at the very beginning. In early stages of project realization, expert team was formed, with following members from Serbia: ‐ Predrag Bjelić, Ph.D., Associate Professor University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics expert in the field of movement of goods ‐ Bisera Seceragic, economist, expert in the field of grey economy ‐ Vladimir Petronijevic, project consultant, segment on the freedom of movement of people Following experts from Kosovo were engaged in this project: ‐ Doruntina Vinca, BA Anthropology and Political Science, segment on the freedom of movement of people ‐ Hajrulla Çeku, MA, lecturer of Local Government and Politics, segment on the freedom of goods They jointly worked on data collection and processing in regard of freedom of movement of people and commodities. Main goal of expert team's work was to create a report which includes recommendations for Governments in Belgrade and Pristina, and for EU as a mediator in these negotiations.

NORDIJSKI MODEL SARADNJE I MOGUĆNOST NJEGOVE PRIMENE

Author(s): / Language(s): English,Serbian

Regional cooperation in the Balkans, and particularly within the ”Dayton Four“, made a significant progress in recent years. It was particularly driven by a more decisive trying for war crimes, being a key assumption of reconciliation following the conflicts in earlier periods, a more efficient joint fighting crime and corruption – through a much better cooperation of judicial bodies and the police of the countries of this reigon, better economic linking and a more successful economic cooperation by turning the region in a free-trade zone, as well as an overall progress of all countries in European integration process which itself enables and encourages such cooperation. The prevailing context of regional cooperation significantly improved, and in particular the overall political climate, as well as the political will of the leading political figures to have good relations with neighbours. In spite of undoubted results, many of which were inconceivable only a few years ago, some old barriers to regional cooperation still exist, along with some new ones that were created meanwhile. Disagreements regarding the status of Kosovo and the constitutional solutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the best, i.e. the most difficult to overcome examples of old barriers, whereas the economic protectionism and again growing political nationalism, as consequences of bad responses to the current economic crisis – are the examples of the new ones. Neither earlier nor recently a satisfactory answer to old problems that cooperation in a region encounters following a promising growth, was not found. It is about an insufficient coordination of numerous initiatives and organisations, as well as about often vague priorities cooperation is to be governed by. There is a growing awareness that a regional cooperation is on a sui generis crossroad. Although the existing forms of cooperation and integration have not been fully utilised, there is a growing need for a new approach which would be a strong impetus both for the existing and possible new forms and ways of cooperation. Therefore, it is not about initial steps, which we all together, luckily, left behind us long time ago, but about a transition to an advanced, higher and a higher quality phase

DVADESET GODINA DEJTONSKOG SPORAZUMA

Author(s): / Language(s): Croatian

OTVORENA PITANJA U IGMANSKOM KVARTETU - PARTNERI I (ILI) SUPARNICI

Author(s): Milan Simurdić / Language(s): Serbian

The basic, key issues that dominate relations in the region can be enumerated as follows: borders, succession of the former SFRY, status and property issues, missing persons, prosecution of war crimes, position of national minorities. The order does not indicate importance, it is subject to change and depends on the angle of observation. Also, the list is not exhaustive. Because, for some countries, the issue of refugees (and internally displaced persons) is an acute problem, which applies to Serbia, but also BiH.

Survey Results - University Students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovakia 2017

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The surveys were undertaken at seven universities located in five countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovakia). In November 2017, 1791 students were polled. Surveys are part of a University Students Debates’ project aimed at promoting universal values and principles through independent and critical thinking. The project is implemented jointly by MESA10 (Slovakia) and CEAS (Serbia).

West-Side-Story

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

CEAS proposal for the correction of the administrative line between Serbia and Kosovo, agreed in a format under the auspices of West

Kosovo pre svega

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

Analiza nacrta Strategije odbrane Republike Srbije.The new strategic documents of the Republic of Serbia (RS) are being considered and adopted in a very dynamic period of global security and political trends. At the same time, the RS is also facing numerous unusually large internal challenges, from the need to reform the judiciary to the need to normalize relations with Kosovo. Both external and internal circumstances objectively make it difficult to adopt well-articulated strategic security and defense documents of a relatively small country in the relatively uncertain process of European integration and negotiations with Pristina, which it is conducting with the international community. Both reports, the analysis of the draft of the National Security Strategy (NSB) and the draft of the Defense Strategy (SO), under the umbrella title of Kosovo, are first of all structurally the same - the political and detailed normative context is analyzed first, followed by a qualitative analysis of the new drafts, a comparative analysis of the proposed drafts with existing legislation, and finally conclusions and recommendations.

From Moscow without Love

Author(s): / Language(s): English

CEAS analysis on the occasion of 16th anniversary of the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, 20th anniversary of NATO bombing of Former Republic of Yugoslavia and 70th anniversary of the founding of NATO – the Kremlin structures against Djindjic’s dream of Serbia.

Public Opinion Poll: Euro-Atlantic Integration and Dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina

Author(s): / Language(s): English

Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) and Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies (CEAS), BelgradeNovember 08, 2018

Ko brani branitelje? Mehanizmi zaštite branitelja ljudskih prava

Author(s): Isidora Stakić / Language(s): Serbian

Human rights defenders are people who act independently or jointly to improve human rights and basic freedoms and fight for their protection at local, national and international levels. As a rule, defenders' activities run counter to the interests of the powerful, be it governments or private corporations, and therefore need protection. This study analyzes legal and institutional instruments for the protection of veterans at the international level and in six countries: Colombia, Mexico, DR Congo, the Philippines, Turkey and Serbia. In these countries, human rights defenders are in a difficult situation, in which they face numerous threats and pressures - from police repression, through defamation campaigns to legal persecution. Therefore, these are countries where there is a need for additional protection of veterans, but (still) a significant gap between the normative level and practice.

Eko-ekstremizam

Author(s): Aleksa Simić / Language(s): Serbian

Ecological degradation and climate changes in the past decades have caused the growing concern of citizens and the formation of many movements for environmental protection. However, along with legitimate activism, radical and extreme groups have emerged that use violent methods to advance their goals. In recent years, there has also been a significant increase in environmentally motivated violent incidents, which can lead to the delegitimization and criminalization of justified environmental initiatives. Serbia is no exception in this regard. Thus, in the last few years, environmental initiatives have appeared that oppose lithium mining in Serbia, which the authorities called eco-terrorists and eco-extremists in order to discredit them. Therefore, it is important to clearly distinguish radicalism from extremism in order to support democratic activism while preserving community safety.

Koncept protejske moći

Author(s): Milica Marinkovski / Language(s): Serbian

The concept of protean power is a new concept in international relations. It was designed by Peter Katzenstein as a response to the traditional concept of control power. This concept got its name "proteus" after the Greek god of the sea, Proteus, who was known for his gift of predicting the future, but also for avoiding giving answers to queries by changing his shape, so he predicted the future only to those who would manage to catch him. So Proteus often left the other party in suspense. Proteian power is exactly like that, because it tries to take advantage of uncertainty and to adapt to the new situation.

Specijalno javno tužilaštvo u Severnoj Makedoniji

Author(s): Jovana Maričić / Language(s): Serbian

The Special Public Prosecutor's Office (hereinafter SPO) in North Macedonia was established by the Law on Public Prosecution for criminal prosecution in cases related to the content of unauthorized interception of communications in 2015 (hereinafter the Law on SPO). This prosecutor's office was established after a series of scandals involving the illegal wiretapping of thousands of political and state actors, which revealed a high level of corruption in the country. Then-opposition leader Zoran Zaev released a series of audio clips - what he called "bombshells" - in which top government officials are heard planning to rig votes, buy off judges and punish political opponents. It was established as a temporary institution where the Law on SPO is valid for 5 years from its adoption and can be extended once every subsequent year (for one year) by a two-thirds majority vote in the Parliament if there is a need for it. The law also stipulates that the function of the SPO ends upon completion of all investigations and prosecutions within its mandate.

Specijalno tužilaštvo za borbu protiv korupcije u Rumuniji

Author(s): Milica Divljak / Language(s): Serbian

The National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) was established in 2002 by a Romanian Government Decree with the aim of reducing the level of political and high- and middle-level corruption in Romania. In terms of organization, the DNA functions as a special department within the Supreme Prosecutor's Office at the Higher Court of Cassation. Therefore, the Directorate, as a part of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, is formally managed by the Supreme Prosecutor of Romania, but the Supreme Prosecutor of the Directorate is at the head of the DNA, who has the authority to manage and coordinate all activities of the DNA. Funds for work are provided from the state budget, within the allocation for the Supreme Prosecutor's Office. The functions of a prosecutor, judicial police officer or specialist within the DNA are incompatible with any other public or private function, except for the position of teacher in higher education institutions.

Koliko je Srbija spremna da zaštiti uzbunjivače?

Author(s): Sofija Mandić / Language(s): Serbian

In 2024, Serbia will mark ten years since the adoption of the Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers. During the past decade, there was no serious and comprehensive assessment of its application by the Serbian authorities, and despite declarative statements and assumed strategic commitments, the protection of whistleblowers never became a real political or judicial priority in Serbia. The report "How ready is Serbia to protect whistleblowers?" analyzes and evaluates the performance of institutions for the protection of whistleblowers, presents the outcomes of cases in which whistleblowers have sought judicial protection, and identifies strengths and weaknesses in practices that lead to good or unsatisfactory case outcomes.

Ukrajinska zajednica u Srbiji: Juče, danas, sutra

Author(s): Olga Antonova / Language(s): Serbian

After the first wave of Ukrainian migration to Europe and America that marked the 20th century, today the Ukrainian community faces new challenges. It is the latest wave in which millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their country first because of the annexation of Crimea and the Russian occupation of parts of the eastern regions of Ukraine in 2014, and eight years later and because of the war that the Russian Federation started and is waging on the entire territory of Ukraine from February 2022 today.