Meaningful Reform in the Western Balkans

Meaningful Reform in the Western Balkans PDF

Author: Eric D. Gordy

Publisher: Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783034337274

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This book contains collection of articles which provide policy implications related to the problem of achieving substantive reform on the basis of harmonising legislation in Western Balkan (WB) countries with the standards of the European Union (EU). While WB states have generally been successful in adopting legal reforms that make up a part of EU conditionality, many laws remain unenforced, amounting to "empty shells." In the space between law, as it is written, and practices as they are engaged in everyday life, exists a gap, characterized by informality, clientelism, and exchange often based on strong tie relationships. Some instances of informality undermine the goal of establishing rule law and contribute to corruption. Others offer valuable solutions to persistent social problems or represent traditional vehicles of social cohesion that should be promoted. The recommendations in this book seek to address both constructive and damaging instances of informality, and to identify policy measures that can help to harmonise not only legislation, but existing informal practices on the ground.

Meaningful Reform in the Western Balkans

Meaningful Reform in the Western Balkans PDF

Author: Nicolas Hayoz

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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This book contains collection of articles which provide policy implications related to the problem of achieving substantive reform on the basis of harmonising legislation in Western Balkan (WB) countries with the standards of the European Union (EU). While WB states have generally been successful in adopting legal reforms that make up a part of EU conditionality, many laws remain unenforced, amounting to "empty shells." In the space between law, as it is written, and practices as they are engaged in everyday life, exists a gap, characterized by informality, clientelism, and exchange often based on strong tie relationships. Some instances of informality undermine the goal of establishing rule law and contribute to corruption. Others offer valuable solutions to persistent social problems or represent traditional vehicles of social cohesion that should be promoted. The recommendations in this book seek to address both constructive and damaging instances of informality, and to identify policy measures that can help to harmonise not only legislation, but existing informal practices on the ground.

Public Policy Making in the Western Balkans

Public Policy Making in the Western Balkans PDF

Author: Margo Thomas

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-10-28

Total Pages: 249

ISBN-13: 9401793468

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Developing and ‘transition’ economies face myriad challenges in their attempts to achieve and maintain political stability and foster the economic growth essential for national security, the social well-being of current citizens and sustainable environments for future generations. Governments in the Western Balkans have striven to achieve all of the above, and this volume assesses the nature of their experiences as well as the level of their success in doing so. Featuring detailed case studies of public policy reforms in the region as well as comparative analysis on a range of indicators, the book analyzes the role of key players in setting the political agenda as well as implementing policy reforms. It also distils the lessons that can be learned from the Western Balkan experience, recommending strategies for enhancing the policy making process. In addition, it examines the developmental role played by the full spectrum of policy actors, including the private sector, NGOs, special interest groupings, international financial institutions, donor nations and the EU. Each case study has been prepared by academics with deep knowledge and experience of the western Balkans and addresses a core set of questions: identifying the policy issue and its broader context, defining the roles of specific individuals in formulating policy and reform and assessing the influence of networks and coalitions in the policy making process. With so little detailed literature on public policy making in a group of nations strategically positioned between Europe, Russia and the near East, the detailed insights provided by this volume will be widely welcomed. Our book provides case studies of specific public policy reform episodes in selected Western Balkan post-conflict and transition countries. The focus of these case studies extends beyond the technical aspects and entails substantive examination of the policy actors, constituencies and politics that ultimately shape the policy that emerges from the policy making process. This analysis draws lessons for strengthening the quality of policies, the transparency, consistency, and governance of the policy making process and ultimately for contributing to economic and social development of the region.

The Western Balkans in the World

The Western Balkans in the World PDF

Author: Florian Bieber

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-06-26

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 0429516495

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This book provides a detailed understanding of how different types of engagements impact upon the reform and EU integration of the Western Balkan region. It examines the influence of Russia, China, Turkey and the UAE in the region and analyses the range of existing links. Contributors offer an academic and multifaceted perspective of the role of external and non-Western actors in the region that goes beyond, on the one hand, the tendency of some Western decision makers to perceive all engagement by third powers as a sinister threat and, on the other, the view of regional governments of all external involvement as a boon coming at a time of Western neglect and reduced foreign investments. By looking at the importance of Russia, Turkey, China and the UAE in the Western Balkans, the book sheds light on one key arena of global competition, offers new insights on the strengths and weaknesses of Euro–Atlantic integration and advances our knowledge of foreign policy and its economic, social and security dimensions for small and medium-sized countries. It will be of interest to academics, postgraduate and research students, and think-tankers with research interest in IR and Southeast European Studies. European decision makers will also gain an insight into the extent of non-Western influence in the region.

Cross-border Cooperation in the Western Balkans

Cross-border Cooperation in the Western Balkans PDF

Author: Heather A. Conley

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 8

ISBN-13:

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The vision of a Europe "whole, free, and at peace" has been a fundamental tenet of U.S. foreign policy. In its earlier manifestation, U.S. and EU policy concentrated on the political and economic liberalization and transformation of Central and Eastern Europe. However, for most Western Balkan countries, the goal of full European integration is yet to be achieved. Unfortunately, despite a significant amount of Western investment in the Western Balkans, there is no politically unifying vision among the elite and civil society to maintain sufficient reform momentum for rapid transformation. Moreover, traditional reform tools, even on a very large scale, such as the EU Rule of Law (EULEX) mission in Kosovo, were unable to achieve desired institutional and integration success. Transatlantic policy toward the Western Balkans appears to be a "perfect storm" of outdated policies that are out of sync with the region, ineffectual policy tools, and of waning policy interest. Therefore, it is time to examine potential new drivers of reform that emanate from within the region. One such driver is cross-border cooperation.

Reforming the Justice System in the Western Balkans. Constitutional Concerns and Guarantees

Reforming the Justice System in the Western Balkans. Constitutional Concerns and Guarantees PDF

Author: Aurela Anastasi

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 15

ISBN-13:

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It analyzes the judicial reform process in the region of the Western Balkans, especially for the transition countries that are in the process of being integrated in the European Union. The new mechanisms and institutions established by the reforms are analyzed to identify the solutions to the problems of the judiciary system in those countries. After the fall of the communist regimes, the countries have undergone reforms to establish new judicial systems in a democratic separation of power. However, the system needs to be extensively reformed, to fight corruption and strengthen the judicial power in a rule of law.The paper responds to the constitutional concerns and challenges of new mechanisms, set up by the reform, in order to find correct and effective solutions. Although each Western Balkan country has its own reform process, the presence of and assistance offered by the international community is a common feature. In addition to the analysis of the institutional changes, the role of international factors is treated as a guarantee, in two phases, during the process of drafting the reform and during the process of its application. The analysis focuses on Albania, which underwent the most recent reform of the judicial system, assisted by the International Monitoring Operation.Why such extensive reforms? Are the societies in crisis during this transition period toward democracy? Although these countries are committed to the European Union, the judicial system is involved in a crisis of integrity and non-independence. This type of crisis weakens the judicial power and public trust in the system. Through the study of these aspects of the reform, the paper responds to some of the questions raised in this framework.

Energy Policy in Western Balkans: Path to Reform and Reconstruction

Energy Policy in Western Balkans: Path to Reform and Reconstruction PDF

Author: Shqipe Z. Neziri

Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9783848415878

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Reform of public administration and public policy is not only an essential requirement for good governance and sustainable development but also one step forward in the route to join the European Union. This publication examines the Europeanization capacity of the Western Balkan states and proves their Europeanization potential to absorb the imported EU rules and institutions in the energy sector. The core part of the publication demonstrates that Europeanization can explain the variation in the reform of energy policies across states of this region. The reason why some countries have over performed, while some have under performed, are explained with the incentives states have received from EU bureaucrats.

The Role of EU Integration in Accelerating Structural Reforms in the Western Balkans

The Role of EU Integration in Accelerating Structural Reforms in the Western Balkans PDF

Author: Fatmir Besimi

Publisher:

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13:

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Integration with the European Union has been an important driver of economic, political and social transformation in the Western Balkans. In recent years, however, the pace of structural reforms in the region has decelerated and the trend of economic catch-up seen in the 2000s has not resumed after the slowdown of the global economic crisis. This has coincided - at least temporally, if not causally - with a 'temporary freeze' in the EU's enlargement towards the region. Against this backdrop, this paper seeks to investigate the role of EU conditionality on economic reforms and convergence in the Western Balkans. To do so, it provides original, albeit descriptive, empirical evidence showing a strong link between EU-related structural reforms (towards the Copenhagen Criteria) and economic growth; and subsequently presents an analytical model demonstrating the mechanisms of policy decisions for reforms under EU conditionality. The model assumes away sectoral interests, policy uncertainty and coordination problems, allowing the analysis to focus specifically on the tension between two objectives: the pursuit of EU accession, through the implementation of jointly agreed reforms, and the accommodation of domestic policy concerns (maintaining policy stability and public support). Our results unveil a policy dilemma for the EU, having to choose between maximising the reform effort and minimising non-compliance. Drawing on this model, we discuss extensively the policy options that the EU faces in trying to enhance the reform performance, growth trajectories and, ultimately, European perspective of the countries in the region.

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