<< Back Europe: Central & Eastern Overview Following are profiles of democratization programs conducted by the National Democratic Institute in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia, along with the NDI’s regional Roma political participation program. The countries in the western Balkans are struggling to solve old conflicts and join the Euro-Atlantic community as stable democracies. The final chapter in the often bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia has begun with Montenegro’s peaceful vote for independence and final status negotiations on Kosovo. Kosovo’s status is unresolved, much as indicted war criminals Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzjic remain at-large. Both issues contribute to regional instability. Solving them is critical to regional progress. Uncertainty also marks domestic politics. Serbia is girding for an election showdown between pro-Europe reformers and Milosevic-inspired nationalists. Bosnia-Herzegovina’s parliament voted down constitutional changes giving the central government in Sarajevo sufficient authority to manage the country’s affairs and negotiate accession to the European Union. Macedonia’s generally commendable parliamentary elections this year were not without fraud and violence arising from ethnic discord and inter-party rivalries. Political, governmental, and economic reform in Albania has been curtailed owing to polarization between the two largest political parties. Bulgaria and Romania will accede to the European Union in January 2007, albeit with unprecedented post-accession monitoring by Brussels of justice and home affairs. A primary incentive for reform in the western Balkans—the prospect of EU membership—has been diminished somewhat as policymakers in Brussels wrestle with “enlargement fatigue”. Democracy-building in the Balkans, consequently, remains unfinished business. Countries in the region are working to build durable political institutions to address deep-seated problems of ethnic conflict, weak governing capacity, unsteady economies, and corruption. If the political environment in the region presents many challenges, democracy promotion offers opportunities to solve them over the long-term by creating open, participatory, responsive, and ultimately stable political systems. NDI continues to focus on how to connect citizens to their governments in ways that transcend barriers, be they ethnic, gender, or political in nature. NDI supports parliaments, mainstream political parties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civic groups. NDI programs are based in-country and are supplemented by cross-border and regional initiatives to allow for exchange of best practices among our partners in the context of regional cooperation and European integration. Program highlights include: In Serbia, NDI is building the skills of hundreds of young people—political party activists, aspirants to elected office, and volunteers in the President’s public outreach office—who are committed to public service and constructive political dialogue. In Kosovo, NDI has enabled parliamentary committees to conduct on-site public hearings with NGOs on budget and public health issues, leading to better legislation. NDI is helping parliament to empower committees to take a more assertive role in the legislative review process. In Albania, members of parliament have traveled to home districts to discuss reform issues with constituents in meetings organized by local civic groups trained by NDI in community organizing and issue advocacy. In Bulgaria, NDI has helped women elected officials collaborate with women NGOs in holding public hearings on amendments to anti-discrimination legislation. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, NDI has assisted moderate political parties in voter outreach during the 2006 general elections. The elections may usher in a new chapter of political moderation and inter-ethnic cooperation, as exemplified by a NDI-trained group of women activists in the city of Mostar who have overcome ethnic division to work on common problems. In Macedonia, the Institute has organized with the parliament the second annual “Open Days” event, in which several thousand citizens—many of them students—visited parliament to learn about the legislative process and how it affects them. In Montenegro, NDI has conducted a top-to-bottom assessment of parliament’s institutional, legislative, public outreach, and executive oversight capabilities, drawing on the Slovenian parliament for comparison. The assessment offers a road-map on how to develop the legislature in the wake of independence. In Romania, the Institute has given birth to a new civic organization that will serve as a research and advocacy center on behalf of the country’s growing civil society. Roma political activists are using NDI training and mentoring to advocate for pro-Roma government policies, to garner fair treatment of Roma citizens under the law, and to develop political organizations in order to run for elected office. In the coming year NDI will pursue in-country programs, deepen its Roma initiative, and connect the Institute’s center-left, liberal, and center-right party partners with each other and their Europe counterparts on reform issues. NDI will draw increasingly on its Brussels office to educate party, parliamentary, and civic partners on European institutions and the political environment. NDI programs are delivered by expatriate and national staff, and by a multinational group of short-term experts, to whom the Institute extends its appreciation. NDI programs in the region are funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Endowment for Democracy, supported by the Open Society Institute and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Institute has also benefited from partnerships with the Council of Europe and Spolu International and generous support of EU missions and European embassies throughout the region. “It Must Be Fair” reads a poster sponsored by NDI to raise public awareness around fair election principles and the commitment of political parties to ethical campaigning prior to parliamentary elections in 2006. Contact Information Please contact Robert Benjamin or Catherine Messina Pajic at 202-728-5500 for more information on NDI programs in Central and Eastern Europe. Updated November 2006 << Back