oiip

Europeanisation meets democracy from below: The Western Balkans on the search for new European and democratic Momentum

This project aims at the establishment of a network of renowned think-tanks, do-tanks, universities, higher education institutes, policy centres and civic initiatives from the Western Balkans, neighbouring countries and EU member states that will be most decisive for the enlargement process and Europeanisation of the region in the upcoming years. The “WB2EU network” shall become a reference point in the area of EU Enlargement and democratisation efforts to the Western Balkan countries. Besides the research and policy focus of the network, the outreach element will be of crucial importance. The network shall thereby be a catalyst, discussion and exchange platform, and knowledge disseminator. The network will fur-thermore actively include various civic bottom-up initiatives able to enrich and foster democracy and Europeanisation in the region. Beyond that, the project aims at reaching out to the wider European and Western Balkans public and at creating deeper knowledge and understanding of processes of Europeanisation and the importance of mobilising and including demo-cratic civic forces from below.

Funded by:                 European Commission

Duration:                    October 2020-September 2023

Project Leader:          Paul Schmidt, ÖGfE and Vedran Dzihic, oiip plus 15 other partners from 15 European countries