Over the past few years, there has been increasing talk about the idea of “Greater nations” such as Greater Albania or Greater Serbia, hindering good neighbourly relations and regional development in the Western Balkans. Indeed, to foster regional cooperation and move forward with Euro-Atlantic integration processes, the ideas of “Greater” nations must be left behind.

Instead, this survey report explores the potential of Albanian populations to positively influence developments such as stability and development not only in the countries with Albanian populations but in the entire region. In this way, the “Albanian geopolitical factor” could have the potential to serve as an anchor of socio-economic development and a pillar for Euro-Atlantic integration processes in the Western Balkans as a whole. Moreover, it could serve as an example of how to counter the negative narratives stemming from nationalism and overcome the destructive potential of “Greater nations” ideas.

This survey report analyses the role and potential of Albanian geopolitical factor from Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo. In each of these countries, ethnic Albanian political, cultural, and economic elite was asked to share their views and perceptions on the potential of Albanian actors as a stabilising factor with regards to regional stability, good neighbourly relations, and to drive much-needed development, democratisation and integration processes. As the first of its kind, the study aims to create a 2030 Roadmap for the Albanian geopolitical factor driven by European values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Analysis of the European Commission Report on the Republic of North Macedonia from 6 October 2020.

This report is the first one following the political decision of the EU for the start of negotiations with our country from May 2020.

The findings on North Macedonia in these documents are particularly important in order to maintain and strengthen the case for actual start of negotiations with the holding of the first inter-governmental conference by the end of this year – according to the plan of the German Presidency.

In this analysis, we focus on the key aspects of the Enlargement Strategy which are related to North Macedonia as well as on the specific report for our country.

Before the October 2019 EU Council meeting, the Bulgarian Government adopted a Framework position, confirmed with a Declaration by its Assembly. Though supportive of the opening of the accession negotiations, the position places new conditions on the Republic of North Macedonia, claiming that they derive from the 2017 Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourly Relations and Cooperation Between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria.

This document was followed by a Statement of the Bulgarian Government annexed to the Council conclusions of March 2020.

The European Policy Institute – Skopje published a policy brief analysing the Bulgarian conditions, compared to the bilateral Treaty. Furthermore, the Brief explores their possible impact, as well as the options for addressing the new challenges they pose for the EU accession of North Macedonia, focusing on the forthcoming negotiating framework, in view of the new enlargement methodology.

In light of the decision by the Ministers of EU Affairs to give a green light to opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, we prepared an infographic on the preparedness of North Macedonia for starting the EU accession negotiations compared to the other Western Balkan countries.

Take a look at the preparedness of North Macedonia in the cluster “Fundamentals” as well as the other clusters as defined in the new proposed methodology by the European Commission. North Macedonia is prepared for opening accession negotiations. In certain areas of the EU acquis, the country is well ahead in terms of preparedness compared to other WB countries.

The Action Plan for the implementation of the 2017-2022 Strategy for Reform of the Judicial Sector (the Strategy) has indicators, using which the success rate of the implementation of the measures set forth under the Strategy is assessed. However, these indicators are primarily focused on monitoring the output of envisaged activities, while dedicating little attention to the outcomes and the impact of the Strategy. In addition, the indicators are concentrated to a great extent on the work of the justice system institutions, without taking due account of the influence the Strategy has on citizens.

This Report is based on the plan for monitoring the implementation and assessment of the results of the 2017-2022 Strategy for Reform of the Judicial Sector, using citizen-oriented indicators, i.e. indicators facilitating the assessment of the interaction of citizens with the justice system institutions, as well as the degree of attainment of strategic goals, guidelines, measures and activities envisaged under the Strategy. The Project Partnership Justicia: Regaining the Citizens’ Trust introduced citizen-oriented indicators for monitoring and assessing the implementation of the Strategy with a view to promoting the rule of law principle and prompting a greater human rights approach and focus with justice system institutions. The indicators help measure the results from the human rights perspective and from the viewpoint of the Strategy’s effects on citizens, against the background of the overall work of the justice system.

This Report covers the following strategic goals set forth under the Strategy: quality, efficiency, transparency, strategic planning and policy-making, judicial institutions, criminal matters, misdemeanour matters and civil matters. The indicators do not cover the following strategic goals under the Strategy: independence and impartiality, liability, access to justice (with the exception of the Notaryship, enforcement and mediation), Judicial Council, Council of Public Prosecutors, and administrative matters.

Over the past few years, there has been increasing talk about the idea of “Greater nations” such as Greater Albania or Greater Serbia, hindering good neighbourly relations and regional development in the Western Balkans. Indeed, to foster regional cooperation and move forward with Euro-Atlantic integration processes, the ideas of “Greater” nations must be left behind.

Instead, this survey report explores the potential of Albanian populations to positively influence developments such as stability and development not only in the countries with Albanian populations but in the entire region. In this way, the “Albanian geopolitical factor” could have the potential to serve as an anchor of socio-economic development and a pillar for Euro-Atlantic integration processes in the Western Balkans as a whole. Moreover, it could serve as an example of how to counter the negative narratives stemming from nationalism and overcome the destructive potential of “Greater nations” ideas.

This survey report analyses the role and potential of Albanian geopolitical factor from Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo. In each of these countries, ethnic Albanian political, cultural, and economic elite was asked to share their views and perceptions on the potential of Albanian actors as a stabilising factor with regards to regional stability, good neighbourly relations, and to drive much-needed development, democratisation and integration processes. As the first of its kind, the study aims to create a 2030 Roadmap for the Albanian geopolitical factor driven by European values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Analysis of the European Commission Report on the Republic of North Macedonia from 6 October 2020.

This report is the first one following the political decision of the EU for the start of negotiations with our country from May 2020.

The findings on North Macedonia in these documents are particularly important in order to maintain and strengthen the case for actual start of negotiations with the holding of the first inter-governmental conference by the end of this year – according to the plan of the German Presidency.

In this analysis, we focus on the key aspects of the Enlargement Strategy which are related to North Macedonia as well as on the specific report for our country.

Before the October 2019 EU Council meeting, the Bulgarian Government adopted a Framework position, confirmed with a Declaration by its Assembly. Though supportive of the opening of the accession negotiations, the position places new conditions on the Republic of North Macedonia, claiming that they derive from the 2017 Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourly Relations and Cooperation Between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria.

This document was followed by a Statement of the Bulgarian Government annexed to the Council conclusions of March 2020.

The European Policy Institute – Skopje published a policy brief analysing the Bulgarian conditions, compared to the bilateral Treaty. Furthermore, the Brief explores their possible impact, as well as the options for addressing the new challenges they pose for the EU accession of North Macedonia, focusing on the forthcoming negotiating framework, in view of the new enlargement methodology.

In light of the decision by the Ministers of EU Affairs to give a green light to opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia, we prepared an infographic on the preparedness of North Macedonia for starting the EU accession negotiations compared to the other Western Balkan countries.

Take a look at the preparedness of North Macedonia in the cluster “Fundamentals” as well as the other clusters as defined in the new proposed methodology by the European Commission. North Macedonia is prepared for opening accession negotiations. In certain areas of the EU acquis, the country is well ahead in terms of preparedness compared to other WB countries.

The Action Plan for the implementation of the 2017-2022 Strategy for Reform of the Judicial Sector (the Strategy) has indicators, using which the success rate of the implementation of the measures set forth under the Strategy is assessed. However, these indicators are primarily focused on monitoring the output of envisaged activities, while dedicating little attention to the outcomes and the impact of the Strategy. In addition, the indicators are concentrated to a great extent on the work of the justice system institutions, without taking due account of the influence the Strategy has on citizens.

This Report is based on the plan for monitoring the implementation and assessment of the results of the 2017-2022 Strategy for Reform of the Judicial Sector, using citizen-oriented indicators, i.e. indicators facilitating the assessment of the interaction of citizens with the justice system institutions, as well as the degree of attainment of strategic goals, guidelines, measures and activities envisaged under the Strategy. The Project Partnership Justicia: Regaining the Citizens’ Trust introduced citizen-oriented indicators for monitoring and assessing the implementation of the Strategy with a view to promoting the rule of law principle and prompting a greater human rights approach and focus with justice system institutions. The indicators help measure the results from the human rights perspective and from the viewpoint of the Strategy’s effects on citizens, against the background of the overall work of the justice system.

This Report covers the following strategic goals set forth under the Strategy: quality, efficiency, transparency, strategic planning and policy-making, judicial institutions, criminal matters, misdemeanour matters and civil matters. The indicators do not cover the following strategic goals under the Strategy: independence and impartiality, liability, access to justice (with the exception of the Notaryship, enforcement and mediation), Judicial Council, Council of Public Prosecutors, and administrative matters.