Western Balkans
For three decades, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been active in the countries of the Western Balkans, supporting them on their path to a united Europe. Out of its project office in Belgrade, the foundation coordinates its political and civil society work and consulting in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and Serbia. Together with domestic partners from politics and civil society, the foundation works specifically on the topics of human and civil rights, digital and open society, democracy and the rule of law, as well as on embracing European values and standards in the framework of the EU integration process.
News
-
"Women, Power, Politics" - The fourth season of our short doc series
The fourth season of the human interest series "Women, Power, Politics" portrays three strong women who are committed to standing up against patriarchal social conditions.
-
BAZA - A network of women for women
Alumnae from the first two years of the FNF-initiated "BAZA - Balkanska Ženska Akademija" ("Balkan Women's Academy") gathered in Belgrade at the beginning of November to exchange best practices, learn from each other and strengthen their network.
-
Sustainable City Festival 2024 Premiere
Serbia’s path to a greener future took center stage at FNF’s new Sustainable City Festival 2024 in Niš, where we tackled myths about sustainability, highlighted innovations, and celebrated citizen engagement.
-
Public discourse needs a liberal voice
The panel discussions, called “Talas Slobode”, deal with the basic principles that are necessary for the creation of a free society and the establishment of a rule of law in Serbia.
-
Leadership Academy 2024
The Leadership Academy 2024, held on 5-6 October 2024 in Mitrovica, successfully gathered over 20 participants, including young leaders from Democratic Party of Kosovo, and policy experts.
-
Belgrade Pride: No news is good news
Belgrade Pride 2024 went off without any major incidents. The fact that this is worth mentioning shows the environment in which Serbia's queer community continues to live and operate. It was largely ignored in the public discourse.
-
Videos: "Women, Power, Politics" - The Docu Series
The series of human-interest stories portrays strong women who positively defy patriarchal social conditions. Our short documentaries introduce female change-makers and their commitment to political and social issues, who at the same time inspire fellow women to thrive and be successful even in adverse environments.
-
Empowering Women to Shape Tomorrow
Recently, the second class of “BAZA - Balkanska Ženska Akademija” successfully completed this year's academy. The holistic female empowerment program of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, implemented in cooperation with ALDE Party, ended with inspiring speeches by the thirteen graduates, who from now on will not only stand up for their personal rights, but for the rights of every woman in the Western Balkans.
-
Belgrade Pride Meets Pristina Pride
As part of the cooperation between the LGBTI+ umbrella organizations "Belgrade Pride" and "Pristina Pride", a delegation of Serbian activists visited the parade in the Kosovar capital Pristina. The delegation included activists from different backgrounds, identities and organizations, all of whom are committed to LGBTI+ rights and regional cooperation.
-
Uncovering the relevance & importance of media
The study "Media Audit 2023: Relevance and Importance of the Media in Serbia" (in German), which was conducted by the Serbian media monitoring organization CRTA and co-supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, sheds light on the media landscape in Serbia, the media consumption of its population and the trust of Serbian society in the media.
-
LGBTIQ-Meet-Up against Hate Speech & Hate Crimes
From 19-21 April, activists and representatives of various human rights organizations, NGOs and think tanks from the Western Balkans came together in Ečka, Serbia to discuss the omnipresent topic of hate crime and hate speech.
-
FNF and German-Kosovar Business Association: Stand up for women's rights
In cooperation with the German-Kosovar Business Association, FNF Western Balkans recently published an analysis entitled "Challenges of Accessing the Labor Market - Middle-Aged Women in Kosovo". Addressing these challenges requires, among other things, a comprehensive approach that includes policy measures, a societal shift in attitudes towards gender roles, and the provision of support services for working parents.
-
Ageism in the Kosovar labour market
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in cooperation with the German-Kosovar Business Association (OEGJK-KDWV), for the first time in the history of Kosovo prepared a study on “Challenges of Accessing the Labour Market. Middle-aged women in Kosovo”, which is available for free.
-
King Kong vs. Godzilla – the Croatian way
The political wrestling match in Croatia has begun: President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković are facing off in a power struggle. With unconventional manoeuvres and sharp attacks on established politics, they are setting the course for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Who will emerge victorious from this epic duel? And what consequences will this have for Croatia and the EU?
-
EU membership negotiations: Europe is ours!
On 21 March, the European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The decision came after Bosnian and Herzegovinian authorities met the relevant requirements set forth by the European Commission, paving the way for a new dimension in relations between BiH and the European Union (EU).
