REGIONAL-National-Mechanisms-involvement-of-CSOs-in-Projects_1st-part-1.pdf

Part I: State of play of specialized civil society organizations and think tanks in the region

October 2023

Autors: Cooperation & Development Institute, Transparency International Bosnia and Hercegovina, Lëvizja FOL, Institut Alternativa and European Movement Serbia

In October 2020, the European Commission adopted the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans, focusing on the green agenda, digital transformation, and enlargement. By 2022, 24 projects were approved across six sectors, including connectivity, healthcare, and renewable energy.

However, the paper highlights structural weaknesses in the region, particularly in the rule of law, governance, and implementation capacities, which undermine the cost-benefit ratio and the effectiveness of EU support. To address these challenges, the paper advocates for the involvement of specialised civil society organisations and think tanks (SCSOs & TT) at all stages of the project cycle to enhance transparency and accountability.

With support from the Kingdom of Norway, five think tanks across the Western Balkans have developed a three-step approach through SMART projects. This first phase showcases CSO engagement in infrastructure projects with concrete examples. The second phase, set for early 2024, will examine institutional mechanisms, identify gaps in CSO involvement, and propose ways to strengthen their impact. The third phase will monitor 12 EIP Flagship projects, assessing risks, progress, community impact, and CSO entry points across key sectors.

This study has been prepared in the framework of the project “Connected We Can: Strengthening WB6 CSO-s agency in Economic and Investment Plan Implementation”. The views and opinions expressed therein are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not reflect in any way the positions of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the SMART Balkans project.