Supporting Democracy and Fighting Political Polarization

The Work of Social Democratic Foundations in the Western Balkans: The example of Serbia

The next edition of ENoP’s Roundtable on Working with Political Parties will take place on 19 January 2023. Organised in cooperation with its members the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Foundation Max van der Stoel, the discussion will explore the work of social democratic foundations in the Western Balkans, with focus on Serbia.

The roundtable will offer an insight into the perspective of the social democratic political foundations in working with political parties in the Western Balkans. It will further discuss the ways in which political foundations interact on the ground, the challenges and opportunities they face in working with political parties, as well as their activities contributing to more cooperation, tolerance, diversity and overcoming political polarization.

With a specific focus on Serbia, the event will also serve to present the results of a recent study, conducted by one of our S&D members, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, on: “Identity, partnership, polarization: How democratically elected politicians get away with autocratizing their country”.

Draft Programme

Welcome and moderation:

• Jana Weber, Deputy Network Coordinator, ENoP

Opening remarks: 

• Arjen Berkvens, Director, Foundation Max van der Stoel (2013-2022)

Speakers:

• Filip Milačić, Senior Researcher, Regional OCSE Office on Democracy of the Future, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
• Knut Fleckenstein, Former MEP, Co-facilitator of Jean Monnet and Inter-party Dialogue processes (Negotiator with Serbia) | TBC
• Kirsten Schönefeld, Director of Serbia Office, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
  

Q&A