Mi, građani Evrope

Author(s): Étienne Balibar / Language(s): Serbian

Articles collected in this volume, written mostly in the past five years, attempt to develop themes already articulated in the Les Frontières de la démocratie. The book deals with historical and political borders, as places where citoyenneté and la civilité are being challenged, as loose or firm battle lines where democracy could be tamed or gain new inspiration. It deals with ambiguity of the term »community«, as community of peoples, community of citizens, national community striving to become trans-national on various levels where it is being constructed and sometimes de-constructed. (From Preface)

Pod globalnim šeširom

Author(s): Anđelko Milardović-Ivanković / Language(s): Croatian

The first part of this book gives an account of institutional and substantial changes in Europe, its new wars and new challenges, while the second part focuses on a comparative analysis of different transitions. The third part is dedicated to changes in the Croatian society and the transformation the state is going to. Finally, a synthesis of globalization processes is given, as well as projections of futures scenarios for development of transition and globalization processes.

Globalization and Neo-liberalism

Author(s): / Language(s): English

This book is a collection of papers written and presented at the Panel Discussion on Globalization and Neo-liberalism, held on April 19th 2006 in Zagreb. This Panel Discussion was organized by the Political Science Research Centre Forum. It gathered eminent Croatian scientists from different scientific fields of research (sociology, political sciences, economics, history, law, philosophy and others). Multidisciplinary approach ensured a fruitful discussion resulting with this book which aims to enlighten many globalization issues from different aspects and points of view. Understanding the changes in contemporary society connected with processes of globalization and the neo-liberal doctrine and the ways in which they reflect on Croatian society and state requires systematic and multidisciplinary scientific rethinking. In the scope of this comprehension the book intends to provide at least an overview of possible responses to the challenges of the world we live in. Although primarily based on scientific and theoretical ground, papers presented in this book also aim to offer some pragmatic ideas and solutions, which is particulary important for the positioning of Croatian society in the context of transition, European integration and adaptation to global processes. Following the given framework of globalization and neo-liberalism, papers presented in this book examine and question different issues starting with the definition of globalization, neo-liberal globalization and globalism in terms of concepts and contents. Also, putting these phenomena in a historical context offers a basis for understanding of contemporary transformation of society and social structures. Various aspects of global relations have been discussed: the role of major and powerful states, the role of international organizations and transnational corporations, changes in labor conditions, position of small countries, transformation of the welfare state and emersion of new forms of social solidarity, security on global and local level, global environment destruction, antiglobalization responses and others. From different points of view the papers in this book examine almost all important specific implications of the influence globalization and neo-liberalism have on economies, politics, welfare state, regulation, security, environment and social issues, aiming especially at pointing out positive and negative consequences for Croatian society.

Правна рамка на регистрите на юридическите лица с нестопанска цел: оценка и предложения за промени

Author(s): Maria Yordanova,Dimitar Markov,Miryana Ilcheva,Galina Sapundzhieva / Language(s): Bulgarian

Improvement of registration of non-profit organisations (NPOs) is a necessary precondition for strengthening the civil society and increasing its transparency and accountability. An easy and simple registration procedure, with no duplication of information and functioning automatic exchange of data, would allow the civic sector to concentrate on its substantive priorities. The registration of NPOs and its subsequent maintenance determines to a large extent the relations between those organisations and the state authorities and is an indicator of the will of decision makers to lighten excessive administrative burden and thus facilitate the civil sector's development. The concept offered and the recommendations for legislative changes provide support to institutions in achieving that aim.

Институцията омбудсман в Европа и България: правна същност и практика

Author(s): Nora Ananieva,Maria Yordanova / Language(s): Bulgarian

This educational manual is designed for the elaboration and carrying out of specialized courses and programs in Bulgarian universities and schools as well as for everyone who is interested in these scope of issues. Learning about the ombudsman institution's origin, evolution, powers, efficiency and forms would be a necessity for students of law, political sciences and sociology, experts in public administration, individuals studying the mechanisms for human rights protection in the country, etc. The knowledge about the ombudsman institution would also increase the opportunities of individual citizens to defend their rights against omissions, illegal or inappropriate actions, or abuse of power on the part of public administration as well as local self-government authorities and local administration.

Национално изследване на домашното насилие и насилието, основано на полов признак. Аналитичен доклад

Author(s): Slavyanka Ivanova / Language(s): Bulgarian

Bulgaria is among those half of EU-member states where statistical information about victim-offender relationship is not gathered, hereby making impossible the assessment of the share of domestic violence among crimes against the person. Domestic violence is not qualified as a criminal offence and is still not included in the Criminal Code – and respectively, in statistical data provided by the Police and by the National Statistical Institute. Information about numbers of complaints for domestic violence registered in the police and numbers of cases of domestic violence submitted to the courts are not present in the publicly available statistics either. The current report is part of the National Study on Domestic and Gender Based Violence (DGBV) and Elaboration of Victims Support Model (VSM), developed under Programme Area 29, BG12: Domestic and Gender Based Violence, Measure 3: Research and data collection of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, in response to their aims: research and collection of data regarding the prevalence and measures to prevent and combat DGBV. The general objective of the study is to contribute to the prevention of DGBV and to improve the situation of DGBV victims in Bulgaria, with specific focus on Roma women and girls. The specific objective is to develop knowledge and expertise regarding the situation of domestic and gender-based violence to ensure that all stakeholders including the Bulgarian government can access strong independent analysis in order to facilitate better informed and evidence-based policy decisions. This objective is achieved by conducting quantitative and qualitative study in Bulgaria which provides data regarding the prevalence and measures to prevent and combat DGBV among the general and Roma population. Additional objective is to develop and pilot a Victims Support Model (VSM), which aimed to involve local community in the assistance and protection of DGBV victims and engage the key local stakeholders (police departments, service providers, local authorities, Roma organizations).

Антикорупционни политики срещу завладяването на държавата

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

In the tenth Corruption Assessment Report, the Center for the Study of Democracy provides an overview of the state of corruption and anticorruption in Bulgaria in 2013 – 2014. The report is produced within the framework of the Southeast Europe Leadership for Development and Integrity initiative (SELDI), which provides a comparative perspective for nine countries in Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey). The report’s findings are based on the state-of-the-art Corruption Monitoring System, and are complemented with recommendations on anti-corruption policies. The report argues that Bulgaria needs bold institutional anti-corruption reforms and personal commitment at the highest level in the judiciary and the executive to tackle state capture and wide-spread administrative corruption.

Policy Report on Media Independence and Freedom of Expression in Macedonia. Legalizing Restrictions of the Freedom of the Press

Author(s): Kalina Lechevska,Artan Sadiku,Jordan Šišovski / Language(s): English

Хиперрегулацијата како средство на контрола врз медиумската и академската слобода (second revised edition)

Author(s): Jordan Šišovski ,Kalina Lechevska / Language(s): Macedonian

Freedom of Expression, Association and Entrepreneurship in a Captured State: Macedonia in 2015

Author(s): Ana Blazheva,Viktorija Borovska,Kalina Lechevska,Jordan Šišovski / Language(s): English

Слобода на изразување, здружување и претприемништво во заробена држава: Македонија во 2015

Author(s): Ana Blazheva,Viktorija Borovska,Kalina Lechevska,Jordan Šišovski / Language(s): Macedonian

Истражување за разбирањето и познавањето на граѓаните на човековите права и механизмите за заштита при нивно прекршување

Author(s): Viktorija Borovska,Kalina Lechevska,Ana Blazheva / Language(s): Albanian,English,Macedonian

TOWARDS MISSION POSSIBLE: Using Serbian Experience To Address Egyptian Civil Society’s Expectations Of Security Sector Reform

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): English

Serbian Civilian Capacities for Peace Operations: The Untapped Potential

Author(s): Marko Milošević,Bojan Elek / Language(s): English

This policy brief provides an overview of the Serbia’s capacities to participate in civilian peace operations abroad. It analyzes the legislative framework that regulates international cooperation and contribution to peace operations of the Serbian defense forces and, based on interviews with representatives of state institutions, it identifies the key practical challenges these institutions are facing in order to create a more conducive environment for a more proactive civilian contribution. The roles of relevant stakeholders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Serbian Armed Forces and the Police are examined, including an initial overview of the untapped civilian resources from other branches of the Government. In addition to this, potential pools of experts for civilian mission are identified in the civil society sector and among the staff of the international organizations operating in Serbia. The main finding is that there is a vast, untapped potential in Serbia for a more proactive involvement of its civilian capacities1 in missions abroad; yet, the lack of clear foreign policy goals, coupled with the lack of initiative and coordinating efforts on the part of MoFA, impedes their adequate usage. Lastly, recommendations for increasing existing training capacities and establishing two potential rosters of experts are provided.

Croatian Civil Capacities for Peace Missions and Operations

Author(s): Gordan Bosanac / Language(s): English

This policy brief provides an overview of the current Croatian policies as well as a legal and institutional framework related to the deployment of civilians in peace mission and operations. It aims to explore the challenges and opportunities for the further development of an existing framework to support the current political interest for civilian capacities that exists in Croatia. Challenges in the mind set of decision and policy makers in understanding Croatia more as a security provider, rather than security receiver and questions to what extent, or how fast, the post-co nflict state may be transformed into an important player in the peace building arena, are discussed. The challenges are analysed through state implementation of international development cooperation as a foreign policy tool.

THE CITIZENS’ OPINION OF THE POLICE FORCE - The Results of a Public Opinion Survey Conducted in Albania 2016

Author(s): / Language(s): English

The most trusted institutions in Albania are the media and the education system. Slightly more than half (56%) of the respondents trust the police, while 43% have no trust in this institution. The least trusted institution is the Parliament (25%), followed by the judiciary (33%), customs (34%), the prosecutors’ offices (34%) and the Anti-Corruption Agency (35%). Corruption remains one of the major challenges of the governance in Albania, regardless of the existence of various anti-corruption institutions and measures. Police corruption is still persistent, even though the survey results show improvement of public trust in the police. The concern is that the important pillars in the fight against corruption are also perceived by the respondents as the most corrupt institutions in Albania: judiciary (79%), prosecution (76%), and the Parliament (75%). Corruption is least widespread within the media and non-governmental organisations. Despite the respondents’ prevailing opinion of police being corrupt, it is worth noting that 56% of the respondents believe that employment in the police is gained through public competitions, knowledge and capabilities of candidates. However, Influential friends and political ties form a shortcut to police employment for 71% of the respondents, which is a result that should cause concern in police officials. More than half (55%) of the respondents state that the police act mostly as a service to the citizens, while one fourth of the respondents (25%) who believe the opposite. The data show a high level of police politicisation: 40% of the respondents believe that politicians have complete influence over the operational work of the police force. An additional 39% share the opinion that politicians influence police work to a great extent. The data also show a contradiction in the citizen’s perception on the merit-based recruitment of police officers and the high level of political influence on policing. Traffic police force is considered the most corrupted police unit, (64%), followed by Minister’s closest associates (59%), border police and criminal police (54%) respectively. This indicates that the respondents associate police corruption mainly with bribery, despite the diversity of the forms of police corruption. Moreover, when asked about the institutions to which respondents would first report a case of police corruption, more than half (58%) said that they would report it to the local police station and the media. With regard to the impunity culture prevailing in Albania, about one fifth (23%) of the respondents suggest strict punishment of offenders, and another fifth (22%) point out that it is necessary to punish a greater number of high ranking police officers. More than one third of the respondents (36%) indicate that the central Government should lead the fight against corruption in the police organisation, assisted by other proposed institutions. Less than half of the respondents (43%) consider that non-governmental organisations should take active part in the fight against corruption, including collaboration with the state institutions favoured by 26% of the respondents.

POLICE INTEGRITY IN SERBIA - Results of the public opinion survey in Serbia 2015

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): English

Bad economic situation is the main problem of Serbian citizens. When they are not preoccupied by this difficult, they are concerned with corruption, which is, for the majority of the citizens, a normal occurrence in Serbian society. Citizens say that corruption is everywhere, also inside the police, the institution which issupposed to lead the fight against corruption together with the Prosecutor’s office. Only four percent of the citizens believe that there is no corruption within the police. For more than two thirds of citizens, corruption within the police is widespread. Based on previously conducted public opinion surveys, the police is always amongst top five most corrupted institutions. This is also the case now, and police is accompanied by Health, Customs, Judiciary and Commercial Inspection. Traffic police, border police and the part of the police fighting of economic crime, are considered to be the parts of police where corruption is mostly widespread. The most corrupted within the police are those employed on the high positions, as well as police officers which have daily contact with the citizens. Four percent of the citizens state they have participated in bribery with the police representatives. Even when the socially desirable answers and the fear of admitting such deeds are taken into account, the difference between the perception of corruption and the experience with corruption is great. Citizens believe that the corruption level in Serbia has remained the same in the past year. Besides that, the fight against corruption is personalized, and institutions’ contribution is very small. Every fifth citizen believes that the Serbian Prime Minister contributed the most to fight against corruption. Nevertheless, Serbian citizens do not have a clear idea about to whom they should report corruption, as well as which is the institution in charge for the fight against the corruption within police force. At the end, citizens believe that the civil society and the European Union have their own part in the fight against corruption. Civil society organizations are perceived as direct participants in the fight against corruption, independently or in cooperation with the state, and the European Union primarily through financial support.

SERBIAN POLICE CRIME STATISTICS (UN)AVAILABLE

Author(s): Gorana Radovanović / Language(s): English

Increasing the transparency and accountability of the police is not viable if the Serbian public are made aware of current crime rates and the effectiveness of the police only by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

STRATEŠKI PLAN RAZVOJA OPŠTINE PREŠEVO 2011-2016

Author(s): Authors Various / Language(s): Serbian

Uloga organizacija civilnog društva na podnacionalnom nivou u pregovaračkom procesu – Preporuke za Srbiju

Author(s): Oliver Ognjenović / Language(s): Serbian