Support to Promotion of Reciprocal Understanding of Relations and Dialogue between the European Union and the Western Balkans (donor European Commission CARDS 2002)
Coordinator: European Institute Sophia, Bulgaria (www.europeaninstitute.net).
Local Partner: SMEs and Entrepreneurship Policy Center - CEPOR.
Project is financed by the European Commission in 2004 and 2005.
The aim of the project is to aid the understanding between the European Union and individual Western Balkan countries through EU supported reforms.
In 2004, project will support implementation of integration policies in Western Balkan countries, institutional and legislative development and improvement of the potential of each individual country. The aim of the project is to spread the specific skills that are needed to strengthen the reforms and propagate the understanding of European Union policies in the entire region.
Project is comprised of four components:
- Regional component, aim of which is to determine the national and regional priorities in relations between the EU and Western Balkan countries.
- Education, aim of which is to improve the way in which Western Balkan countries, as well as the entire region, understand and design their national policies towards the EU.
- Strengthening the awareness of integrations for joining the EU, both of individual Western Balkan countries, and the region in its entirety.
- Research component, aim of which is to analyze current situation, identify the defects, and produce policy recommendations how to avoid mistakes in relations with the EU, and how to use the best international experiences.
Five studies within the 4th component were conducted in 2004, with the following topics:
- Internal Market, Višnja Samardžija, Institute for International Relations - download
- Competition and State Aids, Dragica Karaić, Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship - download
- Energy Market and TENs, Trans-European Energy Networks, Ana-Maria Boromisa, Institute for International Relations - download
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Development, Slavica Singer, CEPOR - download
- Justice and Home Affairs, Stjepan Gluščić, Higher Police School - download
In 2005, work within the research component was continued in two fields:
- Internal Market, Tamara Obradović Mazal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration - download
- Competition and State Aids, Dragica Karaić, Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship - download
In 2006, two studies were conducted within the research component:
- Croatia's Point of View on the European Perspectives of the Balkans, Boris Grigić, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration - download
- Mobility of Workers in the SME Sector - Obstacles and Issues of Work Permits, Sunčanica Skupnjak-Kapić, International Organization for Migration, IOM - download
More information about the project can be found at www.europeaninstitute.net.
Other project partners: