Albanian Daily News had an exclusive interview with the Executive Director of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB), Aleksandra Tomanic shedding light on the 16-year experience of the organization to build regional solidarity among citizens of Western Balkans who share very similar problems, from state capture to polluted air.

“We might have been somewhat naïve when we thought that those who captured states and internal decision-making processes based on laws and constitutions would deliver in the framework of soft mechanisms within regional cooperation. And yes, some things have been done, absolutely, but a very long to-do list remains,” Director Tomanic stressed.

According to her, regional people need more room for honest exchange and debate between the societies, between academia, students, and citizens. “Apart from own formats, EFB supports a number of events others are taking forward. We cannot allow that fear, distrust and past trauma defines our joint future in this region. It is time to cautiously start healing. Together!”

Asked about the EP elections results she was of the opinion that they might lead to less European solidarity and more nation-states. According to her, furthermore, a stronger focus on migration issues can be expected, as this was the most dominant topic during the election campaign, and climate-related topics might receive even less of the needed attention and prioritization in the time to come.

Touching upon the perspective of the accession negotiations which in essence happen between the EU member states in the Council and the WB candidate countries are basically not taking place currently, Director Tomanic said. When it comes to the new European Commission, it is crucial to entrust the enlargement portfolio to somebody from a country – and a party – with clear democratic views and rule of law standards, and the mistake of the previous appointment was very harmful and should not be repeated, said EFB Executive Director Aleksandra Tomanic in the following interview:

Albanian Daily News: The European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) has already 16 years of regional activities increasingly moving from regional cooperation to regional solidarity.  Please which are some of the flagship achievements during this time and are you satisfied with them or your expectations have been higher?

EFB Executive Director Aleksandra Tomanic: It is great to hear that this shift towards regional solidarity has been noticed. Regional solidarity puts citizens at the core. Citizens of our region share very similar problems, from state capture to polluted air. Within our Engaged Democracy Initiative, we focus on citizens, on civic initiatives and local movements. We have started a process of solidarity networks on different topics of common regional concern such as environmental issues or decent work, to name just two examples. We work together with many people changing their communities locally, embarking with them on a collaborative process, were everybody brings in bits and pieces. It is a trust-building process on different levels, between us and our local partners, and between our local partners themselves.

As for the issue of regional cooperation, like many other processes it, too, has been captured to a certain extent. We see leaders get together under various umbrellas of numerous regional processes, posing for joint family pictures, even signing agreements, and then they return home and fail to follow up on it. A notable example is the Green Agenda, which remains insufficiently pursued almost 4 years after it had been signed. Another one is the issue of free movement that is yet to be achieved within our region, as Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not abolished their visa requirements towards each other. That agreement has been signed almost two years ago. And the list does not stop there.

We might have been somewhat naïve when we thought that those who captured states and internal decision-making processes based on laws and constitutions would deliver in the framework of soft mechanisms within regional cooperation. And yes, some things have been done, absolutely, but a very long to-do list remains.

A top-down approach is no longer possible within what has now been universally recognized as state capture. Bottom-up is not only more sustainable but contributes to the civic and democratic potential of each society, as citizens are the sovereign – hence, cementing this fact is crucial.  

- As a follow up how much has EFB contributed to cooperation instead of confrontation and solidarity instead of enmity at a time when the political situation seems to have aggravated, especially in 2024 regarding the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia? Secondly has the conflicting situation affected EFB's performance and has the organization been able to avoid eventual obstacles?

- EFB is building communities; this might be the shortest description and summary of our work. We have our well-recognized Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG), in which regional and EU researchers and experts join their knowledge and experience and work on regional issues, including bilateral disputes. Furthermore, there is our alumni community of around 450 accomplished individuals who have undergone various programmes implemented by EFB over the past 16 years. They are working together under the beeEFB alumni network, contributing with their manifold backgrounds.

And, last but not least, our Engaged Democracy Initiative (EDI). Since you explicitly mention Kosovo and Serbia in your question, I would like to give one concrete example. Our main regional event, the EDI Convention, has thus far taken place in Belgrade and in Pristina. In both cases, we had participants from Kosovo and Serbia, who were initially cautious and uncertain whether they should accept our invitation. And at both events, participants trusted us and joined. Nothing gives you more energy and sense of accomplishment regarding the work you do than the moment you see their fears disappear, and their gratitude that this happened. After both events, we received feedback that they quickly visited again, completely unrelated to EFB. Bringing people together and enabling them to meet each other dissolves toxic narratives that are still spreading fear among neighbours. I am aware that this happens on a small scale. But these examples are crucial and that is why we need to boost the exchange between citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. The recent developments are dangerous and again having casualties is something we must not get used to under any circumstances. We need more room for honest exchange and debate between the societies, between academia, students, citizens. Apart from own formats, EFB supports a number of events others are taking forward. We cannot allow that fear, distrust and past trauma defines our joint future in this region. It is time to cautiously start healing. Together!

- As an expert on EU affairs first what could you please tell ADN's readers about the result of the EP election and has it been expected such a shift in the configuration of new blocks' legislative and what will it bring about when it is evident a deep difference in the stance of member countries on some vital issues?

- The elections for the European Parliament relievingly have not brought the seismic shift that was expected. The extreme and far-right bloc has gained members, as can steadily be observed over the past 4-5 election cycles. Their parliamentary groups have already been quite large and are further growing. A major shift did happen in some of the member states, especially in western and central Europe, such as France and Austria, where the far-right came in first, but also Germany and the Netherlands, where they landed in a very strong second place. Luckily, in some Scandinavian countries, but also in Spain, Poland or Hungary, this trend has been reversed, with less voters opting for far-right parties.

These election results might lead to less European solidarity and more nation-states. Furthermore, a stronger focus on migration issues can be expected, as this was the most dominant topic during the election campaign. Also, climate-related topics might receive even less of the needed attention and prioritization in the time to come.

The EU has always been a very dynamic bloc, so this dynamism will continue and potentially increase. Even before these EP elections we have seen that consensus on crucial issues such as the war in Ukraine was very difficult to achieve, or it had been done only with the use of political acrobatics.

- In the meantime, according to you, will there be a change of the enlargement platform for the WB after the result of the EP election and if yes might it create disappointments among the aspirant countries which even now are not pleased with the pace of EU accession?

- In order to be worried about the continuation or appearance of a process, you need a process in the first place. The enlargement process has been in a deep crisis for many years.

The accession negotiations which in essence happen between the member states in the Council and the candidate countries are basically not taking place currently. When it comes to the new European Commission, it is crucial to entrust the enlargement portfolio to somebody from a country – and a party – with clear democratic views and rule of law standards. The mistake of the previous appointment was very harmful and should not be repeated.

The biggest change in the EP mainly affects two parliamentary groups, namely the liberal ALDE and the Greens, who both lost substantially. During the previous mandate, it was these two political groups that have been vocal when it comes to values, democratic principles or media freedom in the Western Balkans.

These values are enshrined in the political criteria of the enlargement policy but were so easily overlooked and sidelined by certain EU institutions, party families and member states. These core values were guarded by the European Parliament, more than any other institution. If that support and oversight is lost in future, it will be even more difficult to fight for the basic democratic principles, within or outside the enlargement process.

- Madame Tomanic, of course, it's too early to say but could the disappointment of WB countries cause any deviation by any of them from the EU path? For example, Serbia continues not to align with Brussels regarding the stance towards Russia's aggression in Ukraine?

- As I said previously, I believe it is crucial to acknowledge that the EU enlargement process is facing a deep crisis. The solution lays at the political level and is therefore so difficult. It is not a technical question or one of methodology. This was already clear when chapters had been grouped under clusters, but it was a way to buy time. Or to lose it, that is a matter of perspective.

The fact that the agenda of the far-right has been dominant during the election campaign for the EP and that most democratic parties have taken it up, is not promising for new members to join the EU any time soon. Especially not in the condition the countries of our region are currently in. Our countries are not only lacking institutional strength and democratic practice, they are also economically very poor. In a poisoned public discourse, this can very easily be misused in many member states.

A profound reform of the enlargement policy is needed, one that would need to include reforms of how the EU functions. This currently seems very unlikely, as it has not even been triggered by the geopolitical shift from neighbourhood to enlargement in the case of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. We will have to see where the real interest lies, beyond paying the politically opportune lip service, in the relation between the EU and the WB.

We have seen the migration deal between Albania and Italy, we hear similar talks are happening between Kosovo and Denmark. And there is the issue of the Critical Raw Materials Act and various locations across the Western Balkans being earmarked and already tested for mining, from Bosnia and Herzegovina to North Macedonia. We saw the MoU between Serbia and the European Commission and we see the seemingly abandoned Rio Tinto lithium mining project in western Serbia being taken up again. If the enlargement process is stuck, it is important to be vigilant regarding the content and interest of the relationship between the WB countries and the EU.

As for disappointment, I see it as an exclusive right of the citizens, given that the region´s decision-makers have missed the historic opportunity to join the EU during previous enlargement rounds. With all the justified criticism towards the EU and some of its member states, the biggest responsibility lies on past and current decision-makers of the Western Balkans.    

- In face of new trends in the Union and the expected result of the upcoming election in the US how do you see the future of EU-US relationship and its impact when the global situation in the world seems to aggravate? It's the first time that there is war at large scale in the European continent since the World War II and in your view how much serious is the situation?

- Unfortunately, this is not the first war in Europe since World War II. We have seen almost a whole decade of terrible wars in the aftermath of the breakup of Yugoslavia. Big parts of our common region still live the consequences of those wars, as peace is so much more than the mere absence of war.

Joining the increasingly prevalent narrative that loses sight of these wars is sad and dangerous. The fact that we forget too easily is part of the problem. The lessons a war can teach us are too valuable and come with a disproportionately high cost and we not only fail to learn these lessons, we forget they have been taught at all.

The general global trend of heavy armament, the open discussions about a large-scale war and the content of emergency packages every household should have in case of such a war would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.

In parallel, the first outcomes of the climate crisis are becoming so prevalent that they cannot be ignored any longer – heavy storms, floods and temperatures that are completely out of range cause huge problems already. The uncertain outcome of the upcoming US election is just adding to this feeling of deep insecurity. / ADN