Support to independent reporting on Serbia’s EU integration process with focus on the Chapters 23 and 24

We are proud to conduct a project focused on support to independent Serbian journalists reporting on Serbia’s EU integration process and specifically the obstacles in the key Chapters 23 and 24 which is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The project is focused on the issue of progress (or rather lack of it) in crucial Chapters 23 and 24 of the Serbia’s EU integration process. These chapters represent the core of development of democracy, transparency, respect for human and civil rights and freedoms and thus are of key importance for political and social transformation of the country. Simultaneously, the project reflects the worsening state of media freedom in Serbia, repeatedly and frequently warned about by local, regional and international nongovernmental organizations, and increased obstacles and even threats for independent journalists in Serbia. The project aims to support these independent journalists in their work on reporting on the EU integration of Serbia and reporting on the insufficient progress in the field of freedoms and democracy which are the key areas for the country’s transformation and EU path. The initial study trip of a group of journalists to the Czech Republic will not only help to specify the requirements for the outputs in the next phase of the project and create a detailed plan and schedule of activities but also to enhance the awareness of Serbia’s EU integration progress and current state in the area of Chapters 23 and 24 among relevant actors and expert community and public in the Czech Republic. During the project, at least 10 journal articles focused on the issues under Chapters 23 and 24 and their impact on Serbia’s EU integration will be published in cooperation with the europeanwesternbalkans.com platform. The project implementation will be concluded with a public event in Belgrade.

Goals of the project:

1.  Support independent journalists reporting on Serbia’s integration process with focus on the crucial Chapters 23 and 24.
2.  Increase awareness about the ongoing integration process among public, with focus on the abovementioned key areas.

Indicators:

1.  Well-functioning team of Serbian journalists (at least 4 journalists and 1 coordinator/editor) publishing on a regular monthly basis analyses/articles covering the issues of the integration process related to the Chapter 23 and 24
2.  Social impact created by the coverage of progress (or lack of) of the integration process
3.  Increased awareness among the expert community in the Czech Republic about the state of Serbia’s integration process

Outcomes and activities:

Outcome 1.1 Three-day journalists study trip to the Czech Republic (February-March 2019)

The study trip will be organized at the beginning of the project implementation and will be focused on discussion of ways how to cover the particular issues of the integration process and on contacts with Czech journalists reporting on EU in the Czech Republic who will share their experience. The study trip will be beneficial also for increasing the awareness about Serbia’s EU integration process in the Czech Republic.

During the study trip, a seminar will take place where particular topics and issues in the scope of the Chapters 23 and 24 will be identified as the focus for the articles/analyses published in the project. The discussion with Czech journalists will help to reflect not only on Czech experience with the integration process but also on the experience with our membership in the EU. During the study trip, standards for the second (writing) phase of the project and the work of the journalist team will be agreed upon – identification of the exact issues/questions covered by the articles, standards for the publication process (editing, factchecking), schedule of the publications etc.

The selection of the Serbian journalists participating in the study trip will reflect the regional composition of Serbia in order to cover not only various political topics and issues but also the various regions of Serbia and the impacts of the integration process there. The journalists will be selected in a joint process between the Czech and Serbian partner.

Activities

Activity 1.1.1 Identification and selection of the project participants (journalists)

Activity 1.1.2 Methodological and logistical preparation of the study trip

Activity 1.1.3 Organization of the study seminar

Activity 1.1.4 Evaluation of the seminar

Output 2.1 10 publications focused on Serbia’s integration process (March-November 2019)

Reporting on progress of the integration process through regular publication of analyses/articles – one longer analysis (up to 10 pages) and one shorter follow-up article (up to 3 pages). Altogether, in the scope of the project, 5 longer analyses and 5 shorter articles focused on the key aspects of the progress in Chapters 23 and 24 will be published.

The outputs will be published on europeanwesternbalkans.com and they will be written in Serbian, the longer analyses will then be translated to English.

Publications:

July 2019

• Filip Lukić: Medijska strategija – korak napred u slobodi medija ili simulacija reformi? | Serbia’s Media Strategy – step towards media freedom or simulation of reforms? (Serbian, English)
• Marija Stojanović: Muke sa poglavljem 23: “Krhke” institucije nemoćne da se izbore sa korupcijom | Serbia’s troubles with Chapter 23: “Fragile” institutions incapable of fighting corruption (Serbian, English)

September 2019

• Milan Zirojević: Ustavna reforma – profesionalizacija pravosuđa u zamci politike | Serbia’s constitutional reform: Professionalisation of judiciary trapped by politics (Serbian, English)

October 2019

• Filip Lukić: Vladine nevladine organizacije: Ozbiljna prepreka javnoj debati o EU integracijama | GONGOs: A serious obstacle to public debate on EU integration in Serbia (Serbian, English)
• Marija Stojanović: Šta su najvažniji problemi u poglavljima 23 i 24: Državi bitna forma, ne i suština reformi | Serbia’s Chapters 23 and 24: Authorities care for the form, not the essence of reforms (Serbian, English)

November 2019

• Sandra Maksimović: Uloga medija u procesu reformi u poglavljima 23 i 24 – pomoć ili prepreka? (Serbian)
• Marija Stojanović: Komentari EU na Akcioni plan za Poglavlje 23 slični komentarima civilnog društva | EC comments on Serbia’s revised Action Plan for Chapter 23 similar to CSO comments (Serbian, English)
• Milan Zirojević: LGBT+ prava u Srbiji – Ravnopravnost koja čeka političku volju (Serbian)

December 2019

• Nikola Burazer: Kako će reforma proširenja uticati na Srbiju? | How will enlargement reform affect Serbia and Montenegro? (Serbian, English)
• Teodora Ćurčić: Borba protiv korupcije: Ko će biti kažnjen? (Serbian)
• Filip Lukić: Prava nacionalnih manjina u senci političkih odnosa sa susednim državama (Serbian)
• Filip Lukić: Ocena EU: Nema napretka u vladavini prava, ozbiljna kašnjenja u reformama (Serbian)
• Sandra Maksimović: Na šta ukazuju komentari Evropske komisije o slobodi medija u Srbiji? (Serbian)

Activities

Activity 2.1.1 Setting of the publishing schedule

Activity 2.1.2 Writing, editing and publication of analyses/articles

Activity 2.1.3 Promotion of analyses/articles

Output 2.2 Public debate in Serbia (October-December 2019)

The public debate will be held in the final stage of the project and will focus on key findings of the published analyses/articles. The event will take place in Belgrade and will be held in Serbian language. The journalists involved in the project will be the speakers at the event. The organizers will aim at participation of at least 40 representatives of the expert community and general public.

Activities

Activity 2.2.1 Methodological and logistical preparation of the event

Activity 2.2.2 Organization of the event

Activity 2.2.3 Evaluation of the event

Output 3.1 Expert roundtable in the Czech Republic (February-March 2019)

The roundtable will be held in Prague with the participation of the experts, representatives from the relevant ministries and/or government and political parties’ representatives. The roundtable will be organized during the study trip to ensure participation of the Serbian journalists. Its aim will be to increase awareness about the substance of Serbia’s integration process and the problematic issues hindering its progress.

Activities

Activity 3.1.1 Methodological and logistical preparation of the roundtable

Activity 3.1.2 Organization of the roundtable

Activity 3.1.3 Evaluation of the roundtable

Output 3.2 Final policy paper (October-December 2019)

The policy paper will be published in English and will focus on evaluation of the development of Serbia’s integration process based on the articles published in the scope of the project. The policy paper will be further focused on Czech foreign policy towards EU enlargement to the Western Balkans. The policy paper will be up to 15 pages long and will be published on EUROPEUM’s and Serbian partner’s website and promoted in their networks.

• Jana Juzová: Serbia's state of play regarding Chapters 23 and 24: One step forward, two steps back (English)

Activities

Activity 3.2.1 Research and collection of sources for the policy paper

Activity 3.2.2 Writing and editing of the policy paper

Activity 3.2.3 Publication and promotion of the policy paper

Jana Juzová
Senior Research Fellow

Expertise: regionalism, Visegrad cooperation, democratization and European integration of the Western Balkan countries, EU enlargement