Author: Sanja Nasevski

Published in 2017.

In the scope of TRAIN Programme (Think Tanks providing Research and Advice through Interaction and Networking) BOS developed policy brief focused on research on the availability and usefullness of information on the quality of higher education, with a special emphasis on the role of the Commission for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (CAQA) and the process of external quality assurance for which the CAQA is responsible. The brief contains recommendations for imrovement of the extern evaluation of quality, in the context of the newly adopted Law on higher education.

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Author: Danijela Božović

Published in 2016

Although existing, the institute of public discussions in Serbia is not applied to a large extent. Namely, very small number of laws, by-laws and development strategies are actually the subject of a public discussion. In fact, the public discussions represent way of direct citizens’ participation in policy making, as well as in the adopting laws being subject of European Union accession negotiations. Having in mind changes affecting the entire society due to the European Union accession negotiations, this issue is put in front.  Which way are the public discussions conducted when it comes to the activities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia established in August 2016? Is there any progress comparing the practices of previous years with those of the first six months of the Government activities? This report provides you with detailed answers to these questions. The report is part of the research conducted on the same topic and it was created as part of the project “Res Publica: Laws are Public Matter''. 

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Authors: Danijela Božović and Vanja Dolapčev

Published in 2016

Although existing, the institute of public discussions in Serbia is not applied to a large extent. Namely, very small number of laws, by-laws and development strategies are actually the subject of a public discussion. In fact, the public discussions represent way of direct citizens’ participation in policy making, as well as in the adopting laws being subject of European Union accession negotiations. Having in mind changes affecting the entire society due to the European Union accession negotiations, this issue is put in front. Which way are the public discussions conducted when it comes to the activities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia established in August 2016? Is there any progress comparing the practices of previous years with those of the first 100 days of the Government activities? This report provides you with detailed answers to these questions. The report is part of the research conducted on the same topic and it was created as part of the project “Res Publica: Laws are Public Matter”. 

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Authors: Vanja Dolapčev, Danijela Božović and Tamara Branković

Published 2017

Accession negotiations with the European Union is a process which greatly changes the whole society. Since the government is leading the negotiations, it should provide its citizens a new environment that will go in their favor. One of the most direct ways of citizens participation in the drafting of public policies, and therefore the adoption of laws that are the subject of negotiations on EU accession, are public discussions. How are public discussions in Montenegro and Serbia, the countries that are currently negotiating the accession to the European Union, are being conducted? Do citizens have the opportunity to participate? Are there examples of good practice? These issues are addressed by this study. This paper is part of the research on the same topic and it was created as part of the ongoing program of the Belgrade Open School  "Europe for Citizens".

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Authors:  Jovana Tripunović, Mihailo Gajić and Sanja Nasevski

Published in 2016

The "Proactive Transparency of Public Administration in Serbia: (un)achievable Goal" policy study was published in 2016, as part of the "Local Transparency Booster" Project. The study focused on the issue of insufficient proactive transparency of public administration bodies in Serbia (especially the local government units) and the inadequate format of the fact sheet which doesn’t fulfill its basic goals. The study offers recommendations for improving the proactive transparency of public administration in Serbia, and for implementing "open data" in the information booklet.

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Authors: Danijela Božović, Tamara Branković and Vanja Dolapčev

Published in 2016

How do civil society organizations monitor the European Union accession negotiations in Serbia? Do they use all available resources? What have they done since the opening of the accession negotiations in 2014? The brief before you is an attempt at providing answers to these questions, and recommending ways to improve the existing practices in this field. This paper is part of the research done on the same topic, and it originated as part of the ongoing activities of the Belgrade Open School, supported by the Open Society Foundation and "Europe for Citizens" programme. The paper is in English.

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Authors: Danijela Božović and Vanja Dolapčev

Published in 2016

This paper is a brief and more simple overview of an extensive one-year research of the current state and the best practices, and recommendations for the implementation of the partnership principle in the regional development policy in Serbia. Along with the policy study, situation overviews and infographics, this brief is one of the results of the hard work done on the "Partnership for development: Improving the role of civil society in regional policy development in Republic of Serbia" project. The paper is in English.

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Authors: Mihailo Gajić and Sanja Nasevski

Published in 2016

The "Proactive transparency of local governments in Serbia: at a discrepancy between regulations and practice" policy brief was published in 2016, as part of the "Local Transparency Booster" project. This brief deals with the issue of insufficient transparency and availability of information which is of public concern at the level of local self-governments, and it contains recommendations for improving proactive transparency.

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Authors: Danijela Božović and Vanja Dolapčev

Published in 2015

After an almost one-year research on the state of partnership between interested parties and authorities in the regional development policy in Serbia, the key findings, and recommendations for improving the state, became part of this study, which is the first one to deal with this issue in Serbia in such a way. The study is part of the "Partnership for development: Improving the role of civil society in regional policy development in Serbia" project.

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Authors: Ana Novaković, Danijela Božović, Tamara Branković, Vanja Dolapčev, Davide Denti, Caterina Ghobert and Lavdrim Lita

Published in 2015

The study before you came to be as an extensive research paper in the Western Balkan countries, done by seven authors from different European countries. The study deals with the participation of civil society in the ongoing process of European integration in Western Balkan countries, but it also offers solutions for improving the current state. This paper is in English.

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Author: Center for European Integration of the Belgrade Open School

Year of publication: 2014

To help reach citizens and stakeholders, this infographic provides a simple display of the current situation regarding the implementation of the principle of partnership in regional development policy in Serbia. Infographic was created as a part of the project "Partnership for Development: Improving the role of civil society in the development of regional policy in Serbia".

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Author: Ivana Radić Milosavljević

Published in 2014

The hot topic of the sustainability of local self-government units which act in their own communities, and the cooperation with local authorities, was the research subject of this study. The study originated on the "ReForce: Reinforcing the Role of Civil Society Organizations in Community Development and Public Administration Reform" project.

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Author: Centre for European Integration of the Belgrade Open School

Published in 2014

After the situation overview in the regional development policy in Serbia, it was noted that one of the causes of this, was a near absence of partnership between interested parties. The overview before you presents the situation and viewpoints of interested parties on this topic. The overview is part of the "Partnership for development: Improving the role of civil society in regional policy development in Republic of Serbia" project.

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Author: Centre for European Integration of the Belgrade Open School

Published in 2014

As the first step in considering the problems of implementing partnerships in the regional development policy in Serbia, the overview before you provides a short presentation, appealing to citizens and interested parties, about the state of the regional development policy in Serbia. The overview is part of the ‘"Partnership for development: Improving the role of civil society in regional policy development in Republic of Serbia" project. 

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Author: Aleksandar Macura

Published in 2014

This paper is intended more as a kind of guide for citizens about the energy policy at the local level, i.e. how they can get the necessary information from their local authorities on energy related questions. The study is part of the "Energy Transparency – a Path Towards Sustainable Local Development and Fighting Energy Poverty" project.

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Authors: Slobodan Ocokoljić and Vanja Dolapčev

This study was created as the ’crown jewel’ of the "Development for Real: Evaluating Development Impact and Performances of Regional Development Agencies in Serbia" project, and the research of the same name. The study, apart from an overview of the situation in regional development agencies in Serbia, also provides recommendations for improvement, especially when it comes to cooperation with interested parties.

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