Subotica, Niš, Vranje: Engaging Young People in Planning and Decision-Making for Community Development
August 2026 The advocacy initiatives for Vranje, Subotica and Niš were developed through the Youth Policy Lab process within the “Your City – Your Voice” project, based on analyses of local public policies, the needs of young people, and consultations with young people, civil society organisations, institutions and other local stakeholders. They contribute to strengthening participatory decision-making at the local level. The initiatives propose concrete solutions for increasing young people’s participation in the development of policies that directly affect their lives – in the areas of youth employability in Niš, cultural policy in Subotica, and youth health in Vranje. Their…
First Independent Monitoring Report on the Implementation of the Reform Agenda
May 2026 NCEU Intersectoral Working Group for Monitoring the Implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia Reporting period: October 2024 – December 2025 This report presents the findings of the first independent monitoring efforts carried out by the NCEU Intersectoral Working Group (IWG) on the implementation of the Reform Agenda of the Republic of Serbia under the Reform and Growth Facility (RGF). The report covers thirty-seven reform steps due by 31 December 2025, across four out of the five policy areas of the Reform Agenda: Business Environment and Development of the Private Sector (7 steps), Green Transition…
Report on the State of Labour Rights in the Republic of Serbia in 2025
April 2026 “Labor Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White” project – Center for Democracy Foundation, with the support of the Olof Palme International Center Authors: Prof. Bojan Urdarevic | Jovana Misailovic *** Before you is the new edition of the Report on the State of Labor Rights in the Republic of Serbia for 2025, prepared by the Center for Democracy Foundation. As in previous editions, the main goal of the Report is to contribute to the improvement of the protection and realization of labor rights in the Republic of Serbia through the analysis of key economic, institutional…
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE (Illustrative Report)
January 2026 Project Report 2023-2026 This publication is an illustrative testimony of three extraordinarily interesting and exciting years of our work on the RYDE (Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe) project. Together with our grantees, supported informal groups, participants in our activities, from various ways of life, we developed a potent network and new partnerships within civil society in the region. We raised capacities and contributed to the increased knowledge and skills of many. Youth voices were made more vocal. Opportunities for regional cooperation were created and well used. Young men and women, civic activists, experts, policy makers engaged in debating…
Manual for Strengthening the Capacities of Local Self-Government Units for the Employability of Waste Pickers
Program “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” 2025 The Manual for Strengthening the Capacities of Local Self-Government Units for the Employability of Waste Pickers (hereinafter: the Manual) was developed out of the need to further strengthen the capacities of employees in local self-government units (LSGUs), so that they can more effectively recognize, understand, and respond to the challenges that most affect particularly vulnerable population groups. The Manual is intended for employees in LSGUs, regardless of their position, level of responsibility, or the sector in which they work. It is conceived as a practical and applicable tool for strengthening…
DEEP Stories – Challenge Disinformation (Leaflet)
Unveiling deep stories and boosting emotional intelligence to empower citizens against disinformation What is DEEP about? It explores the emotional roots of disinformation. It helps young people understand why emotional narratives feel convincing and how they shape beliefs, trust and decisions. It develops and pilots interventions across six countries – Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Lithuania and Romania. Why it matters? Disinformation spreads through emotions, identity and trust, fuelling polarisation, weakening trust in institutions and making it harder to distinguish truth from by manipulation. DEEP addresses this equipping people with the skills and tools to recognise and resist disinformation. (…) ***…
NCEU Book of Recommendations 2025
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) November 2025. We are pleased to present the 2025 Edition of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) Book of Recommendations, published continuously since 2014 as an annual summary of Serbia’s European integration process. This year, following a decision of the NCEU Program Council, the annual publication has been released in a revised format, designed to more clearly highlight the current challenges facing Serbia’s European integration process, while providing targeted proposals for unlocking progress over the coming year. The Book of Recommendations this year is aligned with the timing of the European…
Manual “The Path to Employment: Get to Know Your Rights and Opportunities”
Program “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” 2025. The manual for empowering particularly vulnerable population groups in the field of employability, “The Path to Employment: Get to Know Your Rights and Opportunities,” is intended for informal waste pickers who will be particularly affected by changes in the system of informal waste collection and the introduction of closed recycling centers in the Republic of Serbia. The manual is designed as a practical and easy-to-understand guide, with specially selected rights and services, which helps informal waste pickers to navigate more easily through the system of institutions and procedures at the…
Report on the Results of Conducted Interviews on Issues of Relevance in the Context of Preparing the Drafting of a New Labour Law
2025 Within the project “Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White,” the Center for Democracy Foundation conducted a series of interviews with social partners and experts from academia, civil society, and holders of judicial office. The findings of the interviews are intended to be used during the preparations for drafting the new Labour Law, the adoption of which is envisaged by the Action Plan for Chapter 19 in the EU accession negotiations – Social Policy and Employment. The five areas identified as topics of discussion with interviewees, considered particularly important for regulation under…
Public Policy Proposals – Collective Bargaining (CEECAW)
CEECAW project 2025. As part of the project “Challenges of Organizing and Collective Bargaining in the Care, Public Administration and Waste Management Sectors in Central and Eastern European Countries – CEECAW”, four comparative sectoral reports have been published – covering the care, waste management, and public administration sectors – as well as one comparative report on the development of collective bargaining in the context of the implementation of the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive. These reports were prepared based on 12 national reports from all countries participating in the CEECAW project. Based on these four comparative reports, four policy papers…
CDF in Cities and Municipalities: Together for a Better Life in Local Communities
Wherever you go in Serbia – from Apatin to Vranje, from small municipalities to larger cities – you will meet people who want their town to breathe more freely, function more justly, and live better. On the path of local community development, the Center for Democracy Foundation (CDF) has been a recognized partner, supporter, and ally for over 30 years. Why are we here? Because we believe that sustainable development of local communities is possible and that citizen involvement in development planning and decision-making is a necessary condition. Development is most visible where people live – in villages, neighborhoods, and towns. For us,…
Challenges for Organising and Collective Bargaining in Care, Administration and Waste collection sectors in Central Eastern European Countries
CEECAW Newsletter No. 3 2025. Project: Challenges for Organising and Collective Bargaining in Care, Administration and Waste collection sectors in Central Eastern European Countries – CEECAW The CEECAW project is firmly committed to strengthening collective bargaining across the sectors of care, public administration and waste management in Central and Eastern Europe. While previous editions focused on research findings and capacity-building workshops, this issue highlights the structural and political obstacles hindering the effective implementation of Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2022/2041. We are now at a critical juncture: the Court of Justice of the European Union is expected to deliver its…
