Protesting farmers and haggling politicians in European institutions bring to light the central role that subnational territories—mostly rural regions—play in the bloc’s climate transition agenda. Policymakers, including diplomats, should develop place-based awareness and rural intelligence, in order to anticipate, manage, and mitigate place-specific climate risks and socioeconomic conflicts.

What we want is a Europe where everyone is equal. A community that puts EU enlargement, youth participation, and gender equality at the center of the discussion about the future of our common European home.

By: Sarina Bakić
The author of this Policy Brief presents a broader overview of some of the most significant aspects regarding the role of media in building democracy in terms of the reinforcement and affirmation of minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whether as a result of ethnic background, religious belief, sexual orientation, geographic location, income level, etc. Once the mentioned media’s support and affirmation of minorities is accomplished, such groups can effusively participate in and contribute to this country's institutions and society in general. This is an attempt to revive and reconsider the issue related to minority cultural identities and communication via media in the context of the democratisation process in general. It is very much needed to open new discussions related to media and democracy due to the current global political crisis that is reflecting in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s media sphere as well.

By: Nikola Mumin, Marija Popović Kalezić
Montenegro has been experiencing a crisis in democracy for several years now. The authors of this Policy Brief explore the role that local communities (LCs) have and/or can have within the context of democratic elections, democratic governing, and institutional reforms in Montenegro. Against this background, they recommend that the democratic potential that lies in local communities, as legally defined governing bodies, needs to be utilised in order to address the ongoing crisis of democratic governing in Montenegro and help the country accelerate key reforms in the EU accession process.

After two years of blockade, EU member states during July reached a consensus on opening negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. Ukraine and Moldova became candidate countries for membership in the European Union. Many believe that the war in Ukraine has returned the focus of the member states to the enlargement process.

By: Isak Missini, Dimitar Nikolovski
At the local elections of 2021 in North Macedonia, eight independent groups with green politics ran for municipal councillors. The relative successes and failures of the two most visible groups “Green Humane City” and “Chance for Centar” point to a public interest in solutions beyond partisan politics but also to certain shortcomings in terms of cooperation, transparency, and strategic communications. Against this background, the authors of this Policy Brief analyse their work in the Skopje municipality of Centar and give policy recommendations on their internal functioning, forming strategic coalitions, and communication with various stakeholders.

By: Dominic Maugeais
The author of this Policy Brief claims that the EU pre-accession process in the Western Balkans needs stronger political support for democratisation by the European Union (EU) and its member states. Only progress on the democratisation path can lead to a successful and sustainable transformation of the EU candidate countries. Once EU accession negotiations are opened, the EU should keep its monitoring and involvement at a high level, since as long as the accession perspective is not underlined with a realistic accession date, the processes are becoming a bureaucratic window dressing exercise.

By: Venera Hajrullahu, Taulant Hoxha, Dren Puka
When Kosovo was preparing to declare its independence in 2008, it was facing a unique challenge and opportunity: pursuing internal reforms for national state building while simultaneously putting itself on a path of Europeanisation. The internal reforms aimed at transforming the country into a future EU member state. Despite significant progress in democratic indicators, Kosovo still has a long way to go before realising its full potential for inclusive policy and decision-making, argue the authors of this Policy Brief. Against this background, they analyse standards for public participation as a formal opportunity for engagement in decision-making and civil society as an effective tool for channelling citizens’ needs and voices.

By: Andrei Tiut
Active citizens and a vibrant civil society are fundamental elements of a functioning democracy, especially in times of crisis. In order to boost democratisation from below, the European Union needs to promote and support citizen participation in its member states and in the candidate countries. The author of this Policy Brief states that protest movements in Romania failed to crystallise into permanent structures of representation and, in a more general sense, civil society has not succeeded in becoming a representative voice for the public. Against this background, he analyses pro-democratic protests in the past, the quality of democracy in Romania, and offers policy recommendations.