A Force for Good? Mapping the Private Security Landscape in Southeast Europe

Author(s): Arjan Dyrmishi,Rositsa Dzhekova,Donika Emini,Gentiola Madhi,Marko Milošević,Predrag Petrović,Atanas Rusev,Mentor Vrajolli / Language(s): English

The volume explores and assesses the origins and current state of the private security sector in four Southeast European countries (Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania and Kosovo), with specific reference to principles of good governance and the protection of human rights. In particular, the authors examine when and how the first private security companies developed and whether and how PSCs, their clients, and other factors such as relevant legislation determined the services private security offer today, and which companies were established/have survived in the market. The studies look into the economic importance of private security especially as a source of employment. They also explore if PSCs are able to provide quality security services by looking at the background and qualifications of managers and employees. A number of important questions are addressed: who are the people who work for PSCs, what is their level of expertise and professionalism and what are their working conditions? How important are (political) relationships for the success of a PSC and do domestic political considerations have an impact on which PSC receives contracts and how well they work? How is quality defined and enforced by both PSCs and their clients, especially public sector clients? Finally, do PSCs and state security providers coordinate, cooperate or compete with each other?

Countering Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2001 - 2011

Author(s): Denitza Mantcheva,Stefan Karaboev,Jeffery Warner / Language(s): English

The report "Countering Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2001 - 2011" provides an overview of the state and dynamics of corruption and anti-corruption developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period 2001 – 2011. The report builds on the local insight of the Center for Investigative Reporting in Sarajevo, and the experience of the Center for the Study of Democracy in monitoring corruption and anti-corruption trends in Europe. The findings are based on the Corruption Monitoring System, a state of the art tool for monitoring the dynamics of corruption at a national level developed by CSD. The report notes that concerns over persistent corruption among key institutions like the police, customs, and different ministries remain prevalent among citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Notwithstanding some signs of progress in the fight against corruption, two major deficits in countering corruption are evident in the country: insufficient political will and little evidence of corruption-related justice. Both of these contribute to the public’s growing distrust in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions. Corruption pressure from the public administration has increased in the past decade and the society has grown more disillusioned with the continuing inability of public institutions to tackle corruption effectively.

Price Reform and Pricing in the Transition to Market Economy, August 1994

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

As a result of factors, characteristic of centralized planned economy and particularly pronounced in Bulgaria due to the lack of a significant private sector as had been preserved in Poland, Hungary, GDR, and Czechoslovakia, the economic reform in Bulgaria began with a liberalization of prices and dismantling of the monopolistic structures in industry and the services. The shock liberalization of prices was the only way to a speedy overcoming of the huge disproportion between the supply and demand. It is our view that if the liberalization of prices had begun already in the first year of the reform - 1990, their rise might have been more moderate and would not have had such a strong negative impact on the standard of living of the population. Unfortunately, the liberalization of 40 per cent of the prices of goods and services included in the government's program was not introduced and that for purely political reasons, as the government of the ruling Communist Party was driven by populist considerations. In February 1991 the first government with the participation of ministers from outside the Communist Party undertook a liberalization of about 80 per cent of the prices of goods and services. Within a month following the liberalization of prices, inflation, measured through the consumer price index, reached 222.9 per cent. Only a group of 14 essential goods and services, among which fuels and electric power, as well as certain staple foods, remained under state control.

Общественото мнение за предоставянето на административни услуги в България, юни 2002 г.

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

The volume of the sample is N = 1170 (planned N = 1200). A random, two-stage, nesting sample of the adult population of Bulgaria was used. The sample was formed on the basis of polling stations and electoral rolls from the last parliamentary elections in June 2001 (total number of sections: 12797). In the first step, 150 sessions were selected with a probability proportional to the size of the polling stations. In the second step, 8 respondents were randomly selected in each nest.

Оценка на заплахите от организирана престъпност в България 2019

Author(s): Tihomir Bezlov,Anton Kojouharov,Mois Faion,Mariyan Sabev,Daniela Mineva / Language(s): Bulgarian

The 2019 Bulgarian Organised Crime Threat Assessment examines the major trends and dynamics in the country’s main criminal markets during the period. The current analysis indicates shrinking of traditionally robust criminal areas, such as the illegal trade in cigarettes and organised VAT fraud, while the illegal trade in fuels and the use and distribution of marijuana are experiencing growth. After the growing trend in the domestic market for sexual services in the 2012-2017 period, this year’s assessment registers a slight decrease in the market’s volume. At the same time cybercrime continues to be on the rise. New in this year’s edition is the inclusion of two previously unexplored criminal markets in the 2018 analysis: illegal logging and EU funds fraud.

CONNEKT COUNTRY REPORTS. National Approaches to Extremism: Bulgaria

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

This report focuses on Bulgaria’s national structural and contextual approaches and strategies towards radicalisation and violent extremism. The report offers an overview of these phenomena in the country, reviews what the scientific and academic research has produced so far about the particular drivers for radicalisation, and identifies the actors and initiatives deploying Countering/Preventing Violent Extremism (C/PVE) strategies in the country. It assesses the weight of socio-political drivers in current approaches to radicalisation and violent extremism in the country, particularly towards young people. And it also explores how a socially-rooted approach might fit into the current dominant paradigm of P/CVE. Bulgaria has taken important steps to address these issues though the focus is primarily on Islamist radicalisation, despite the fact that far-right extremism is also a significant challenge. Тhere’s a need to develop a more comprehensive understanding and evidence-based knowledge of radicalisation in order to better prevent and counter violent extremism. An effort where the engagement of key non-state actors such as civil society and religious communities should be enhanced.

CSD Policy Brief No. 98: Capture Proofing Media in Southeast Europe

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

The emerging democracies in Southеast Europe (SEE) represent one of the most vulnerable regions in Europe to foreign malign influence. On the one hand, domestic developments in SEE states related to democratic backsliding and the erosion of civic and political liberties have fed into low governance standards and public disenchantment. On the other hand, foreign authoritarian states, primarily Russia and increasingly China, have intensified their sharp power influence efforts directed at further derailing faith in liberal democracy and presenting authoritarianism as a more viable political alternative. This brief presents the policy recommendations on a comprehensive Transatlantic response to Russia and China’s media capture influence in Southeast Europe, including EU members Bulgaria and Croatia as well as EU aspirants Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. It reviews the scope, means and reach of Russia’s sharp power influence through the phenomenon of media capture in Southeast Europe and proposes a framework for addressing governance gaps in the Balkans, which could help build resilience to foreign malign influence in the region.

CSD Policy Brief No. 99: Disinformation Narratives in the 2021 Parliamentary Elections

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

The Bulgarian society has long been exposed to disinformation narratives in traditional and social media. The deterioration of media freedom on the back of the oligarchization of the media market has undermined the quality and objectivity of journalism. The media environment has been further undermined by the indiscriminate penetration of social media networks, which algorithms have further amplified sensationalist disinformation. This policy brief zooms in on the prevalence and connections to the pre-election campaign of four popular (disinformation) narratives related to conspiracy theories about COVID-19, to the support of the large Russian energy projects, the opposition to the European Green Deal and the growing anti-EU sentiments in the Bulgarian society.

Accelerated lignite exit in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece

Author(s): Martin Vladimirov,Todor Galev,Radostina Primova / Language(s): English

In light of the ambitious targets for long term decarbonisation set by the European Green Deal, a critical question for decision-makers is how to sustain a coal phase-out that is as swift as possible while also ensuring security of supply, affordable electricity, and a just transition in regions dependent on coal. The aim of this report is to support decision makers in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania to implement a timely phase-out of coal by analysing the impact on electricity systems as well as the local economy, and highlighting policy recommendations to deal with potential issues related to compensation, system security and local economic impacts.

Inclusivity Handbook

Author(s): Miriana Ilcheva,Alejandro Álvarez Ramírez,Solo Bunmi Emmanuel,Kaloyan Kirilov / Language(s): English

The MIICT Inclusivity Handbook tackles issues related to the incorporation and utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) within the context of public services, for the purpose of ensuring comprehensive inclusion of all individuals, irrespective of their personal characteristics and backgrounds. To this end, the report examines the fundamental notions of еquality and аntidiscrimination, emphasizing their utmost importance as catalysts for inclusion within public services and the indispensable roles they play in eradicating discrimination, marginalization and ostracization of individuals who want to avail themselves of such services but encounter various setbacks, ensuring they can access and navigate through them comfortably and with ease. In order to obtain an expansive understanding of the subject of inclusion, the report looks into the fields of gender equality, inclusion of migrants and refugees, inclusion of persons with disabilities and special needs, inclusion and e-governance, and inclusion and data protection. It identifies the main issues of ensuring inclusion within public services and it also elaborates on the various methods of guaranteeing such inclusion, accentuating on the multiple benefits ICTs have in this regard due to their widespread reach, as well as the versatility, simplicity and interactivity they provide. Incorporated into the report are examples of best practices on a global level, as well as checklists that summarise the main recommendations that authorities and private actors need to implement within their national frameworks in order to ensure the overall inclusion and equal participation of minorities, marginalized and disadvantaged people in the domain of public services.

Empowering EU against state capture through a new monitoring tool

Author(s): Daniela Mineva,Todor Galev / Language(s): English

State capture is a combination of different forms of corruption which have a single objective: to secure wholesale and long-term privileges to captors by exploiting the power of government for private benefit. This phenomenon is a specific security risk for the EU. The European Commission (EC) recently published a communication on the need to further strengthen the rule of law in the EU Member States (MSs) aiming to improve its existing policy instruments. Nevertheless, there is a lack of proper prevention and detection tools in place to curb corruption effectively in its many forms and across the different jurisdictions in the EU. While state capture problems vary in substance and intensity among MSs, the negative impact of corruption is felt across the EU. As corrupt practices evolve, EU Member States need to respond by deepening their capacity to tackle new and more complex forms but also to better share existing knowledge. This media note was funded by the European Union’s Internal Security Fund – Police

Kazna i nagrada

Author(s): Vladimir Gligorov / Language(s): Serbian

Cilj se može postići različitim sredstvima. Neka su savršeno zamenjiva jer vode istom ishodu. Ovde će biti reči samo o kazni i nagradi. Mada se mnoga druga sredstva uticanja na ljudska ponašanja svode na ta dva. Uzmimo primer dobrovoljne vakcinacije. Moralno bi bilo da se svi dobrovoljno vakcinišu ne samo da bi zaštitili sebe, već i da ne bi zarazili druge; a i da bi se smanjile sveukupne negativne posledice epidemije. Pod moralnim ponašanjem se ovde naprosto misli da se brinući se o sebi ne nanosi šteta drugima.

Posebno važni životi

Author(s): Ljubodrag Stojadinović / Language(s): Serbian

Već je bilo na ovom mestu ogleda o grobljima zaslužnih. Većina od nas odlazi, ili će otići na parcele ili u nekakve vrtove zaborava za nezaslužne mrtvace, koji su svoje uboge živote otaljali bez traga da ih je bilo. Kastinska podela na važne i nevažne smrti potrebna je samo onima koji svoje živote smatraju posebnim darom za izmoždene podanike. Njihovo bi izuzetno postojanje moglo da bude naknada za sve čega nema.

Što da se radi?

Author(s): Viktor Ivančić / Language(s): Croatian

Da li je virus nastao ljudskim djelovanjem ili će ljudi nestati djelovanjem virusa? – to je samo jedno od 40 pitanja vezanih uz pandemiju na koja znanost još nije pronašla odgovore. Ovdje ih ekskluzivno donosimo.

Bes

Author(s): Vesna Rakić Vodinelić / Language(s): Serbian

Vaistinu, ne prođe ni dan, a svi već kao basmu ponavljamo da je pandemija promenila svet iz osnova. Kakva je to promena, šta se, ko se tako fundamentalno promeni(l)o? Svakodnevni život naš, svakako: udaljavanje, maske, rukavice, da li da izađem ili ne (ravno biti ili ne biti); rad od kuće; škola – ima je stvarno, ima je samo virtuelno; zatvaranje, otvaranje. Da li je ta promena dobra ili loša? Za većinu ona je bar ograničenje: komfora, uživanja u društvu, privatnosti, emocija. Dakle, loša. Negde ograničenja nameće državna ili paradržavna vlast, negde ih namećemo sami sebi. Osnov samoograničenja ređe je altruističan – zaštiti druge od sebe, češće egoističan, zaštiti sebe od nepoznatog, od straha makar. Ponekad je promena dramatična kad postane lišenje sloboda na koje smo navikli čak i u ovakvom društvu.

U takvom društvu...

Author(s): Miloš V. Janković / Language(s): Serbian

Učiteljica iz jedne novosadske osnovne škole imala je, prošle nedelje, nesvakidašnju ideju kako da se bori protiv korone. Ona je predložila da se učionica u kojoj predaje svakoga dana okadi tamjanom, a da se učenici onda pomole. Predlog je iznela roditeljima u okviru vajber grupe, a njih osamnaest od ukupno dvadeset troje koliko ih je glasalo, izjasnilo se pozitivno. Uprkos većinskoj želji roditelja da se realizuje predložena praksa, uprava škole kategorično je odbacila predlog.

Percepții despre fiscalitatea din România

Author(s): Bruno Stefan / Language(s): Romany

The paper presents the results of a sociological research carried out in Romania on a national sample of 1,104 subjects. The data was collected between 9-14 June 2022, and the research was funded by the Tax Pact. The paper presents data on Romanians' preferences for a stable tax code, for merging some taxes and simplifying tax legislation, for certain legislative measures and proposals for the economic recovery of the country, about the progressive tax and about the perception of fiscal administrations.

Challenges of Women’s Participation in Serbian Peacekeeping Missions

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

This paper discusses the challenges of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations, global characteristics of the inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations, and the challenges of the related policy in Serbia. The attempt is to answer what obstacles to peacekeeping operations are present in Serbia, and what additional barriers women participating in the peacekeeping operations of Serbian military and police need to overcome. Based on interviews with the men and women participating in the missions and using secondary sources, an attempt will be made to present to the public the main challenges related to the participation of women in peacekeeping missions and to provide a number of recommendations to improve the situation in this area.

Partnership for Safe Communities in Serbia

Author(s): Saša Đorđević,Gorana Radovanović / Language(s): English

The primary aim of this Report is to raise public awareness about the concept and importance of partnership, notably between the police and local self-government, in building safe communities. The findings should help the MoI and Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government in drafting the action plan to implement the Community Policing Strategy, whose development is late for 17 months already. Furthermore, civil society organisations will be able to rely on the Report in taking their own positions to espouse appropriate mechanisms for the improvement of safety vis-à-vis the police and local self-government. The first part of the Report contains a comparative overview of legal responsibilities of the local self-government in regard to safety and development of the community policing concept following the adoption of the strategic plan in April 2013. The second, main part analyses the operation of municipal safety councils so far. The gender dimension of local safety is then presented, followed by the analysis of the safety situation in Aranđelovac, Golubac, Leskovac, Niška Banja, Novi Pazar and Paraćin. The research methodology is presented in the final section of the Report.

Public Perception of Serbia’s Foreign Policy

Author(s): Miloš Popović,Sonja Stojanović Gajić / Language(s): English