The network consists of 17 renowned think-tanks, do-tanks, higher education institutes and policy centres from the countries that will be most decisive for the enlargement process in the upcoming years.
This project aims at the establishment of a network of renowned think-tanks, do-tanks, universities, higher education institutes and policy centres from the Western Balkans, neighbouring countries and EU member states that will be most decisive for the enlargement process and Europeanisation of the region in the upcoming years.
The “WB2EU network” shall become a reference point in the area of EU Enlargement and democratisation efforts to the Western Balkan countries. Besides the research and policy focus of the network, the outreach element will be of crucial importance. The discussion will be carried far beyond the 17 organisations of the network to foster the dialogue with decision-makers (on the local, national, regional level in the Western Balkans and on the European level within the EU institutions in Brussels), as well as civil society representatives, activists, higher education institutes, the media and the wider public. The network shall thereby be a catalyst, discussion and exchange platform, and knowledge disseminator. The network will furthermore actively include various civic bottom-up initiatives able to enrich and foster democracy and Europeanisation in the region.
Beyond the provision of concrete analyses, the creation of visions for the Western Balkan countries, which are also tangible for the citizens of this region and secure support for the processes of Europeanisation and democratisation, will be a central goal of the project. Having a network able to support and work on the European and democratic vision for the Western Balkans in times of multiple challenges to the EU Enlargement both internally within the countries (decreasing support for the EU, political elites partly engaged in EU rhetoric with no concrete positive reform results, authoritarian tendencies contradicting the democratic narrative) as well on the geopolitical level is vital for the success in the region. Particularly the rising influence of other geopolitical players in the region, such as Russia, China, Turkey and some Arab states, has raised the awareness among enlargement supporters that the EU and the West is not anymore the one and only international player and solely role model for the development of the region. As other powers increasingly use the Western Balkans to promote their interests which are not rooted in democratic practises, it becomes clear that a vision of free, democratic and open European Balkans is not self-evident any more. Moreover, there is a need to fight for it – to work on it as hard as possible and to promote it both in the region as well as in the EU. This is why our particular network WB2EU aims at becoming relevant over the course of the next three years and thus able to not only influence but also co-shape the European vision in the region.
Another focus will be placed on the involvement of as many young researchers as well as civic activists as possible within the network. Each organisation will nominate minimum one Junior Researcher to work on the project and engage in the debate. All network partners from the region will additionally nominate two active young civic activists for the participation in “Ideas go public Labs” and in the “Summer School”. This shall lead to 1) an increased interest and understanding of the topic of Europeanisation and democracy in the Western Balkans among young researchers and better opportunities to carry out specific research on the subject for young researchers, 2) increased opportunities in terms of employability and career development, 3) new ties and networks between (young) researchers and civic activists to raise mutual understanding for democracy and Europeanisation, 4) new ways of influencing public debates through qualified and evidence based and yet politically engaged activities.
This new generation of “young influencers” will be closely involved in organising the final public event in Brussels – “Democratic activism for Europe – New Horizons” and in contributing to the final chapter of the final book publication “Vision Western Balkans 2030 – Voices for the future”.
An active cooperation and exchange with EU institutions (DG NEAR, European Parliament, Presidencies), national stakeholders and policy-makers as well as cooperating partners as IDESE focusing on civic initiatives from below will be pivotal to empower the network and enable policy and knowledge exchange beyond the partners. Already existing networks focusing on the Balkans and the EU Enlargement like the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group, TEPSA, CAS SEE, FES Southeastern Dialogue, European Fund for the Balkans, etc. will also be part of the projects’ wider capacity network. IDESE and its network will be crucial for mobilising and including the civic initiatives from below in the activities of the network.
Beyond that, the project aims at reaching out to the wider European and Western Balkans public (both on the general EU level as well as on the national level) and at creating deeper knowledge and understanding of processes of Europeanisation and the importance of mobilising and including democratic civic forces from below. A strategic partnership will be established with the influential web-portal on the EU Enlargement question run from Belgrade, European Western Balkans (https://europeanwesternbalkans.com) and the European platform opendemocracy as well as with the regional TV broadcaster N1. A series of op-eds and YouTube-videos and podcasts will be instrumental for sharing the results of the network to the wider public.
The project aims to
- strengthen pro-European and pro-democratic momentum in the Western Balkans,
- support the democratic reform processes and progressive democratic changes (from below),
- create a sustainable network able to accompany/support Europeanisation and democracy from below,
- develop a permanent, coherent regional and transnational/trans-European network on enlargement and democracy in the Western Balkans,
- foster cooperation between the network, relevant EU institutions/stakeholders,
- connect civic activists, civil society with researchers and stakeholders,
- encourage/enable young researchers to focus on the European integration and democratisation process of the Western Balkans and EU-related topics more systematically,
- publish substantial contributions by academia, think tanks and policy institutes,
- conduct research and produce relevant knowledge on the process of EU Enlargement and democracy development.
Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Networks Project (621247-EPP-1-2020-1-AT-EPPJMO-NETWORK)
Project duration: 29.10.2020-28.10.2023