FES Dialogue SOE

Today, on March 2, 2025, we celebrate 100 years of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation! 🎉 A foundation born from a deep commitment to democracy and established at the request of Germany's first democratically elected president — Friedrich Ebert. #FES100 #Democracy

📣 Call for Experts: We’re seeking specialists to write policy analyses on critical raw materials (CRM) in North Macedonia & Montenegro. 📊 📅 Apply by 5 March 2026 → soe.fes.de/news-list/e/ca…

We’re proud to partner with @CAMRSVK on the new publication "Brothers in Harm? The Links Between the Far Right in the Western Balkans and the EU." A critical read on transnational far-right dynamics and democratic challenges across Europe. 🔎📘 👉camr.sk/2026/01/30/bro…

Critical raw materials are central to both #EUGreenTransition and Western Balkans’ future partnerships. FES brief highlights why collaborative, transparent engagement — across communities, govts and Brussels — is key to shared benefits. 🔗collections.fes.de/publikationen/…

Critical raw materials in B&H🇧🇦 are a topic of ongoing relevance, not a one-off story. FES dispatch highlights the need for transparent, inclusive cooperation between communities, govt, and EU partners to achieve sustainable outcomes. Read more: collections.fes.de/publikationen/…

Born on February 4, Friedrich Ebert, Germany’s first democratically elected president, reminded us that democracy is never guaranteed—it must be protected, shaped by compromise, and worked on every day. #OnThisDay #FriedrichEbert #Democracy

The 2028–2034 #MFF could redefine the credibility of #EUEnlargement, especially for the #WesternBalkans. With competing priorities, the key question is clear: is the EU ready to invest in its future members? 📘 @FEPS_Europe policy brief: feps-europe.eu/publication/fi…

🇩🇪 Germany doesn't need to talk about #FeministForeignPolicy in order to act in a gender-equitable manner. But the departure sends a devastating signal, says @BMittelhammer . What remains after the end of the feminist guidelines? Read on to find out! fes.de/en/shaping-a-j…

Pukotine u demokratiji. Regionalni PLENUM 2025 - kako se suprotstaviti nacionalizmu i klerikalizmu koji podrivaju demokratske temelje naših društava i graditi demokratsku otpornost? 12–13. novembar, Podgorica, 🇲🇪 Više od 50 učesnika i učesnica iz regiona i EU. Vidimo se.

⚖️ Kako strategija, priznanje i jačanje uticaja postaju resursi demokratije? 📍 U četvrtak, 13. novembra u 10.00, drugi dan Regionalnog PLENUMA 2025 otvoriće: 🔹 Dr Peter Hurelbrink, direktor kancelarija Friedrich Ebert Stiftung za 🇲🇪, 🇷🇸 i 🇲🇰 🔹 Balša Božović, izvršni direktor, ADD 🔹 Dr Sead Turčalo, dekan, Fakultet političkih nauka Univerziteta u Sarajevu 🔹 Daliborka Uljarević, izvršna direktorka, #CGO 🔹 Nj.E. Peter Felten, ambasador Njemačke u Crnoj Gori #PLENUM #PLENUM2025 @AddAcademy @FESBgd @FES_SOE @FPNSarajevo

🔍 New publication “Strategic Partners at Europe’s Edge” explores how the Western Balkans are shifting from security consumers to providers & why that matters for #eudefence 📄 Full report library.fes.de/pdf-files/buer… 📌 Factsheet library.fes.de/pdf-files/buer… @eliamepgr @OpenSocietyWB

Great follow-up to our Berlin workshop — hosted in the Bundestag by @jschraps (SPD) for a constructive exchange with 🇩🇪 policymakers on #EUdefense & the #WesternBalkans. We shared key insights from our experts and partners. Europe’s security future is a shared one. 🇪🇺

In its February 2020 communication on the new methodology (“Enhancing the accession process – A more credible, dynamic, predictable and political EU accession process”), the European Commission – later endorsed by the Council – reintroduced the concept of gradual integration (or phasing-in). The document argued that “by providing clear and tangible incentives … the EU can encourage real political will and reward results arising from demanding reforms and the process of political, economic and societal change.” This morning in Berlin, I asked to what extent gradual integration into the EU’s emerging defence initiatives, policies, and funds could serve that purpose. My point was that while gradual integration can lead to reforms and bring tangible benefits for the development of particular sectors – in this case, the defence sector – previous initiatives have shown that such an approach has rarely generated a broader spill-over effect capable of “encouraging real political will” among candidate countries for demanding reforms beyond those specific and narrow areas, for reforms that lead to genuine “political, economic and societal change.” We have seen this with the Energy Community, the Transport Community, and now with SEPA. In some cases, such as participation in informal meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, gradual integration has not even led to greater alignment in the respective field, as seen in Serbia’s foreign policy stances and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s implementation of EU positions. When it comes to the defence sector, I therefore see two key questions. First, would such an EU offer be attractive enough to prompt, for example, a shift in Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign and defence policy? If not, second, could the gradual integration of other, more eager candidates, such as the three NATO members, prove so beneficial that it would eventually influence the course of candidates such as Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina? These questions are not limited to the defence area and should be asked whenever discussing any field of gradual integration – not to abandon the concept, but to be realistic about its limits. So to be able to discuss how to address the real challenges in the relationship between the EU and the candidate countries. I am grateful to the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) team for the invitation, and to think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration for providing an excellent basis for today’s lively discussion. Their paper (supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans) “Europe’s Overlooked Allies: Why the Western Balkans Matter for EU Defence Readiness” and the FES Factsheet with the same title are available here: eliamep.gr/en/europes-ove… library.fes.de/pdf-files/buer…

Based on the soon-to-be-released publication “Europe’s Overlooked Allies”, key takeaways include: - Integrate WB6 into EU defense programs (EDIP, EDF, EDA) - Promote German-WB6 defense ventures - Link defense cooperation with governance reforms #EUSecurity #Defense #Security

Today, together with @FESonline @OpenSociety @eliamepgr & ThinkNea, we hosted a workshop on EU Defense & Enlargement. 💬 Focus: The role of Western Balkans in Europe’s security architecture. #EUDefense #WesternBalkans #EUEnlargement 1/2

It’s officially GO time! The Sarajevo Security Conference 2025 has kicked off after months of planning, coordination, and hard work. #SarajevoSecurityConference #SecurityMatters #SSC2025 #GlobalDialogue @FES_SOE

Die Wunden des Genozids sind nicht verheilt: Die Mütter von #Srebrenica und Žepa suchen noch immer nach Angehörigen und kämpfen gegen Leugnung und Relativierung. Erinnerung zu bewahren, ist auch unsere Verantwortung in ganz Europa. 6/6

Vor 30 Jahren wurden in #Srebrenica mehr als 8.000 Bosniak:innen von bosnisch-serbischen Truppen ermordet. Im Gespräch mit Verteterinnen der Gedenkstätte, der Opferverbände & der Politik: Erinnerung bewahren, Verantwortung übernehmen und Genozidleugnung zurückweisen. 5/6i

Vor 30 Jahren endete der Krieg in #Bosnien & #Herzegowina mit dem Friedensvertrag von Dayton. Mit Christian Schmidt sprachen wir über den Friedensprozess. Solange die politische Lage instabil bleibt, ist eine Abschaffung des Hohen Repräsentanten keine Option. 4/5 @OHR_BiH

Beim Treffen mit Vertreter:innen der sozialdemokratischen Partei in Bosnien & Herzegowina, SDP, wurde bekräftigt, wie entscheidend die sozialdemokratische Werte für Stabilität und Fortschritt sind. Gemeinsam arbeiten wir daran, sie zu stärken – besonders unter jungen Menschen.3/5

100 Jahre FES und 30 Jahre FES Sarajevo: In Sarajevo feierten wir unser Doppel-Jubiläum – mit Partnerorganisationen und Kolleg:innen aus ganz #Südosteuropa. Es war ein schöner Abend! #FES100 #FESSarajevo 2/5