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For the countries of the western Balkans, strengthening parliament — the institution constitutionally mandated to represent citizens, pass laws and oversee the executive — is critical to their democratic transitions and European Union (EU) membership aspirations. Parliaments in the western Balkans confront similar institutional challenges, have much to learn from each other, and can contribute meaningfully to needed regional integration.
They can also benefit from contact with counterpart legislatures in Central Europe whose institutional development and oversight work, particularly on matters concerning EU accession, have contributed significantly to that’s region’s successful integration into European structures.
NDI's Democracy Support Program
Recognizing the above, NDI launched a multi-year regional initiative in 2008 with funding from the National Endowment for Democracy to sponsor cross-border and regional exchanges on institutional, legislative, representative and oversight development issues. The initiative builds on in-country NDI support of parliaments in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
In the initiative’s first phase, NDI focused on legislative development in such areas as parliamentary budgeting, staffing development and structural reform, and research institutes. The initiative’s second phase has centered on oversight of the government, particularly on improving parliamentary review of the state budget and committee examination of laws from legal and fiscal perspectives.
NDI has brought Central European legislatures into the initiative to share lessons learned. Montenegrin and Serbian staff and MPs participated in a study mission to Poland and returned with staffing and training recommendations for their legal research departments. Regional conferences, including a Bratislava gathering of MPs and government representatives to discuss parliamentary oversight of the executive—particularly on EU integration legislation—have produced recommendations for similar practice in the western Balkan countries. NDI has signed formal memorandums of understanding with the Czech and Slovak parliaments to continue their respective engagement in the initiative.
A highlight was a Ljubljana gathering of five secretaries-general of Western Balkans parliaments to discuss common development agendas in an informal setting. These relationships, and the best practices and recommendations that ensue, are spurring longer-term reform in the Western Balkan parliaments, which will enhance efficiency and transparency, and result in better laws.
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Bratislava
Zuzana Dzurikova, Resident Senior Program Manager
zdzurikova@ndi.org
Washington, D.C.
Kimberly Schneider, Senior Program Assistant
kschneider@ndi.org
Pictured Above: From left, Zarko Denkovski (Macedonia), Damir Davidovic (Montenegro), Branka Todorovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina), and Veljko Odalovic (Serbia) converse at 2010 secretaries general forum in Ljubljana convened by NDI.
