European Union and the Western Balkans – Trust and New-Found Enthusiasm in the EU Integration Process
The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a final conference entitled European Union and the Western Balkans – Towards Renewed Trust, where regional CSOs, partners of the Regional Youth Compact for Europe project adopted recommendations for expediting reforms and encouraging the EU integration process, subsequently submitted to the European Union and the governments of the West Balkan countries. At the conference opening, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Mateja Norčić Štamcar, stated that youth contribution in creating politics and strengthening the relations built on trust between West Balkan countries and the EU are important issues which the European Commission…
EU and the Western Balkans: Towards Renewed Trust – The Final Project Conference
The roads ahead of us are going to be difficult, but fundamentally speaking, we are optimistic for the future of Europe and the youth, and in the last conference under the Regional Youth Compact for Europe (RYCE) project, this was very clearly expressed with everyone participating. The Final Project Conference for RYCE was held on July 1, 2021, in the city of Belgrade, Serbia, at the Metropol Hotel. The nature of the conference was a hybrid, with 36 participants viewing from the Zoom platform. There was a sizable variety of participants, including 13 partners from various countries and organizations/networks, such…
EU and the Western Balkans: Towards Renewed Trust (RYCE – Final Project Conference)
REGIONAL YOUTH COMPACT FOR EUROPE – Final Project Conference Thursday, 1st July 2021, from 10.00h to 14.30h The conference will discuss the relationship between the European Union and the Western Balkans societies through the prism of European integration and youth participation. In the first panel, the central topic will be the current relationship between the Western Balkans societies and the European Union. The second panel is dedicated to young people and their expectations from European integration. At this panel will be presented research on this topic. Democracy at the local level and Civic initiatives will be discussed at the third…
Fair Energy Transition in Serbia and Potential Social and Economic Consequences debate
CENTER DIALOGUE – SOCIAL DIALOGUE On 29 June 2021, in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Center for Democracy Foundation organised a debate entitled Fair Energy Transition in Serbia and Potential Social and Economic Consequences. What does ‘fair energy transition’ mean? Is everything in Serbia that includes the idea of ‘transition’ immediately doomed to failure? Has the environment become issue number one globally? Where does Serbia stand on this path and are we ready (or not) to make changes in this area? How many jobs will be lost, and how many new jobs will potentially be made available? Is…
Gender Policy Forum – Constitutional Changes – Gender Mainstreaming or Defence?
The First Gender Policy Forum – Constitutional Changes – Gender Mainstreaming or Defence? was held on 27 June 2021 under the organisation of the Women's Platform for the Development of Serbia and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Keynote speakers in the debate were: Prof. Marijana Pajvančić, PhD (Women's Platform for the Development of Serbia), Sofija Mandić (Women's Platform for the Development of Serbia) / Peščanik) and Nataša Vučković (Center for Democracy Foundation). The discussion was moderated by Jelena Petrović, Journalist at N1. Executive Director, Center for Democracy Foundation, Nataša Vučković, assessed the importance of discussing this issue both within the context…
Expediate Reform and Improve Political and Democratic Dialogue in Serbia
Executive Director, Center for Democracy Foundation, Nataša Vučković made the following statement "The intergovernmental conference held on June 22 in Luxembourg is always a good opportunity for dialogue between the EU and Serbia; however, it provides a small consolation for the fact that Serbia has not opened any new chapters since December 2019," said Nataša Vučković, executive director of the Center for Democracy Foundation. In order to expediate the process of EU accession, Serbia must do its homework – rule of law, the fight against corruption, democracy. Talk that yesterday, cluster 1 was initiated in unrealistic – all chapters contained…
Training Organised for Trade Unions – Gender Perspective in Designing and Monitoring Public Policies
The Center for Democracy Foundation organised training for trade unions on the topic Gender Perspective in Designing and Monitoring Public Policies on 17 and 18 June 2021. The training participants included representatives of the United Branch Trade Union Independence, Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia, Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions, and the lecturers were Miloš Đajić (Center for Modern Skills) and Sarita Bradaš (Center for Democracy Foundation). This training served to further empower participants to understand the degeneration of public policies, as a set of strategic approaches and processes that serve to achieve gender equality. The aim…
Debate: New Gender Equality Law within the Context of Economic Empowerment of Women and Improvement of Labour Rights
Labour Rights are Our Rights project The Center for Democracy Foundation organised the following debate on 14 June 2021 within the framework of the Labour Rights Are Our Rights project: New Gender Equality Law within the Context of Economic Empowerment of Women and Improvement of Labour Rights. Last month the National Assembly of Serbia adopted the Law on Gender Equality and the Amendments to the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination. By definition, the Law on Gender Equality implies equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities, as well as equal participation and balanced representation of women and men (gender-balanced participation) in all…
The stagnation of European Integration is harmful to the Citizens of Serbia
Statement made by Nataša Vučković, Executive Director of the Center for Democracy Foundation “The fact that EU member states failed to give the green light to open a new Chapter with Serbia, or rather, a new ‘cluster’, according to the new methodology, is very bad news for our country,” said the Executive Director of the Center for Democracy Foundation, Nataša Vučković. “Over the last few years, none of the chapters were opened either. This has not led to the systemic stagnation of European integration and accession negotiations with the European Union. Slowdown of this kind confirms that Serbian reform processes…
‘Patronage Appointment and Discrimination’ Debate
CENTER DIALOGUE – SOCIAL DIALOGUE The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a debate entitled ‘Patronage Appointment Employment and Discrimination’. Over the past years we have witnessed the politicisation and polarisation of society in all spheres. The government boasts of a record low unemployment rate. The opposition, on the other hand, thinks differently. As this is going on, the Corona Virus Pandemic ensues. How do people gain employment these days? How many of Serbia’s youths are leaving the country as they can’t find work? How important is having party membership to finding employment? Is patronage employment just a myth or is…
„POLITEIA Western Balkans School for Youth Participation“
Regional Youth Compact for Europe project The regional POLITEIA School for youths residing in the Western Balkans and Turkey was held The Center for Democracy Foundation organised the regional POLITEIA Western Balkans School for Youth Participation within the Regional Youth Compact for Europe project. Young experts from the WB and Turkey participated in the school. The Politeia School was held from 7 to 29 May 2021 in a new, digital format, with approximately 30 participants, interested and dedicated young adults, a large number of prominent lecturers and experts, decision makers and representatives of academia within the region and Europe, where…
We Have A Say Youth Fund – presenting the results of youth projects
Increased participation of youths and strengthening of local democracy within the Western Balkans The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a closing event for the We Have A Say Youth Fund, implemented via the Regional Youth Compact for Europe project. Through this Youth Fund, the CDF supported 13 local organisations operating within the region (North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo*, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia) and the projects they organised aimed to increase the participation of youths and strengthen local democracy in the WB. Executive Director of the CDF, Nataša Vučković, thanked all organisations for their participation in the programme, highlighting that the…
