The University of Belgrade, together with OBC Transeuropa, TraPoCo Jean Monnet Network and Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale, is organizing a policy event and a round table debate on European integration process of Serbia and the Western Balkan region, with the focus on the role of civil society actors (NGOs, grassroot organizations, social movements, etc.) and their claims in the various policy areas
The discussion will examine the opportunities for civil society to create strategic alliances with organizations and institutions from the EU, to exert pressure on the decision-makers at the national level. It will consider the challenges that local organizations face in building advocacy networks to expand their scope of action at regional and transnational level. A policy papers, created within TraPoCo project, will be presented as well.
A special focus of the event will be on environmental civil sector organisations and grassroot inititiatives. Environmental challenges are a field in which grassroots initiatives have been protagonist in recent year and they have been often successful in mobilizing broad sections of the population that normally do not participate in political processes. But much of the environmental challenges that candidate countries are facing emerged in the processes of European integration due to the need to harmonise the environmental legislation and policies with the EU standards, but also considering that grassroots organizations addressed EU institutions asking for support to solve environmental problems. This event will examine the role of the EU integration process in the process of empowering local organizations in their struggles and in raising public awareness on environmental issues.
For all those who would like to join in on-line mode, Zoom link and web streaming at Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Facebook webpage will be provided.
We would kindly ask You to register for the event via following link
9:15 - 9:45 Opening remarks
Mr Nicola Bertolini, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia
Amb. Luca Gori, Embassy of Italy in Serbia
9:45 - 11:30 PANEL I : Building Europe from Below : Social Movements and Civil Society Organizations
9:45 - 10:00 Presentation of TraPoCo project - dr Aron Buzogany (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria)
10:00 - 10:15 Presentation of the joint policy document - dr Jelena Pešić (Faculty of Philosophy - University of Belgrade)
Moderator : dr Filip Ejdus, Faculty of Political Sciences - University of Belgrade
Mr Robert Kozma, MP, Serbian Parliamentary Committee on European Integration
Dr Srđan Cvijić, Belgrade Center for Security Policy
Dr Vedran Džihić, Austrian Institute for International Politics - OIIP
Mr Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of Office, Council of Europe in Belgrade
Mr Andrea Cascone, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (online participation)
11:30 - 11 : 45 Questions and answers
11:45 - 12:15 Coffee break (Aula of Rectorate Building)
12:15 - 13:45 PANEL II : Climate changes, environmental risks and social mobilization in the Western Balkans
12:15-12:25 Opening remarks - dr Luisa Chiodi (Scientific Director, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa, Italy)
12:25-12:45 Presentation of the research findings - Serena Epis & Francesco Martino (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa, Italy)
12:45- 13:45 Roundtable discussion : Capitalizing environmental good practices
Moderator : Ms Anna Ferro, CeSPI
Mr Dejan Lekić, Nacionalna ekološka asocijacija
Ms Aleksandra Bulatović, Eko Straža
Ms Ellie Peseva, O2 Inicijativa
Mr Samir Lemes, Eko Forum
Mr Nikola Krstić, Pokret Tvrđava
13:45 - 14:00 Open discussion/ questions and answers
14:00-14:15 Conclusions dr Chiara Milan (online participation)
14:30-15:30 Lunch (Aula of Rectorate Building)
