The Future of the Welfare State in the Western Balkans

Belgrade, June 6-8, 2018, Hotel Metropol

Agenda 2018-06-04T22:35:36+00:00

Agenda for the Regional Conference

  • Up to 200 participants from the Western Balkans and wider region, EU and beyond in dialogue
  • Political representatives, administration, civil society, think tanks, academia, social and development partners
  • 4 panel sessions with more than 25 panellists in total
  • 13 smaller group sessions on specific welfare state topics featuring over 65 discussants
  • 2 regional initiatives as a follow-up to the Conference

June 6, 2018: Informal Opening and Setting the Stage

  • This session will discuss the challenges of and prospects for the welfare state in the Western Balkans in the global context, whilst addressing specific regional trends and challenges. This session will discuss what the welfare state should and should not do and also address the complex relationship between the welfare state, democracy and economic development. Finally, this session will look ahead, seeking to find answers to the questions where we want to be, and where we are likely to be, in 20 years’ time.

    Moderator: Žarko Šunderić, Director of the Centre for Social Policy, Belgrade and representative of the Network The Future of the Welfare State in the Western Balkans

    Discussants:

    1. Gordana Matković, Programme Director, Centre for Social Policy, Belgrade
    2. Paul Stubbs, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb
    3. Sebastian Sosa, Resident Representative for Serbia and for Macedonia, The International Monetary Fund
    4. Christiane Westphal, Policy Officer, European Commission – DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
    5. Ben Slay, Senior Advisor, UNDP Regional Hub for Europe and CIS, Istanbul
    Read More

June 7, 2018: Challenges of the Welfare States in the Western Balkans

  • Žarko Šunderić, Director of the Centre for Social Policy, Belgrade

  • Patrick Develtere, Principal Adviser for European Social Policy, European Political Strategy Centre of the European Commission (video message)

  • Martin Dietz, Director, PERFORM Project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

  • Karla Hershey, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia

  • Milenko Savanović, Minister, Ministry of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled Persons’ Protection, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Mila Carovska, Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Republic of Macedonia

  • Zorana Mihajlović, Deputy Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Serbiaa

This session focuses on the issue of what may be the minimum allocation and balanced distribution of resources needed for a functional welfare state. Through evidence from across the region, the session will explore the case for increased social expenditure in combination with a shift in priorities, in the context of a political economy of reform which addresses political priorities, the problem of capture, challenges of decentralization, institutional capacities and drivers of and limits to change.

Moderator: Paul Stubbs, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb

Discussants:

  1. Isabel Ortiz, Director of Social Protection, International Labour Organization
  2. Igor Guardiancich, Researcher, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
  3. Nikolina Obradović, Assistant Professor, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  4. Agron Demi, Policy Analyst, GAP Institute, Pristina
  5. Genc Burazeri, Deputy Director, Institute of Public Health, Republic of Albania
  6. Dušan Tomšić, Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia
Read More

1. Social Traps and the Problem of Trust

Moderator: Jeton Mehmeti, Policy Analyst/Research Director, GAP Institute, Prishtina

Discussants:

  1. Tadas Leončikas, Senior Research Manager, Social Policies, Eurofound, Dublin
  2. Srđan Kujundžić, Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project Expert, Regional Cooperation Council, Sarajevo
  3. Dardan Sejdiu, Member of Kosovo Parliament and former Deputy Mayor of Prishtina
  4. Sonja Licht, President, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, Belgrade
  5. Mirna Jusić, Researcher, Analitika, Sarajevo
Read More

2. Populism vs. Evidence: Improving Governance through Evidence-Based Policymaking

Moderator: Nikica Mojsoska-Blaževski, Director of Doctoral School, University American College Skopje

Discussants:

  1. Rudi Van Dam, Chair of the Indicators Subgroup of the EU Social Protection Committee and Belgian Ministry for Social Security
  2. Kori Udovički, Chairwoman, Centre for Advanced Economic Studies, Belgrade and former Deputy Prime Minister, Government of Serbia
  3. Slavko Gaber, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana and former Minister of Education in Slovenia
  4. Danko Brčerević, Chief Economist, Fiscal Council of the Republic of Serbia
  5. Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Montenegro
Read More

3. Reforming Welfare States – Who’s in Charge?

Moderator: Gordan Velev, ASB Serbia, Belgrade

Discussants:

  1. Milica Uvalić, Professor of Economics at the University of Perugia, Italy
  2. Florensa Haxhi, Programme Coordinator for Economic Regional Area, Prime Minister’s Office, Republic of Albania
  3. Jadranka Jelinčić, Director, Open Society Foundation, Belgrade
  4. Lejla Lazović-Pita, Assistant Professor, School of Economics and Business, University of Sarajevo
  5. Andreas Papadopoulos, Adviser to Director on Economic Governance, European Commission – DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
Read More

4. Perception Matters: Myth Busters

Moderator: Mihajlo Babin, Vice Dean/Assistant Professor, FEFA Faculty, Belgrade

Discussants:

  1. Mihailo Gajić, Programme Director, LIBEK – Libertarian Club, Belgrade
  2. Velma Pijalović, Assistant Professor, School of Economics and Business, University of Sarajevo
  3. Nikola Altiparmakov, Member of the Fiscal Council of the Republic of Serbia
  4. Aleksandra Višnjić, Social Card Programme Manager, UNDP Montenegro
  5. Elizabeta Kunovska, Project Manager, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia
  6. Anette Scoppetta, Head of Work and Welfare/Deputy Director, The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna
Read More

1. Demographic Changes and the Challenges of Migration

Moderator: Walter Wolf, Lecturer at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria and former policy officer at DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Discussants:

  1. Marjan Petreski, Professor of Economics, University American College Skopje
  2. Valerija Botrić, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb
  3. Jadranka Kaluđerović, Director, Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognoses
  4. Ilir Gedeshi, Director, Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Tirana
  5. Steliana Nedera, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, Serbia
Read More

2. New Forms of Work as a Challenge to Comprehensive Social Protection

Moderator: Branka Anđelković, Program Director, Public Policy Research Centre, Belgrade

Discussants:

  1. Kenichi Hirose, Senior Specialist for Social Security, International Labour Organization, Budapest
  2. Besa Luzha, Programme Coordinator, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Prishtina Office
  3. Christine Mayrhuber, Researcher, Austrian Institute of Economic Research, Vienna
  4. Aleksandra Vitorović, Program Officer, Nezavisnost Trade Union, Serbia
  5. Žarko Ptiček, IT Lawyer, Belgrade
  6. Genta Prodani, Head of Employment Policy Sector, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Albania
Read More

3. Social Mobility and Inequality

Moderator: Sabina Ymeri, Researcher, Economic and Social Analytics, Tirana

Discussants:

  1. Slobodan Cvejić, Research Director, SeConS – Development Initiative Group, Belgrade
  2. Blagica Petreski, Director, Finance Think, Skopje
  3. Nermin Oruč, Director, Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research, Sarajevo
  4. Tanja Ranković, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Belgrade
  5. Ben Slay, Senior Advisor, UNDP Regional Hub for Europe and CIS, Istanbul
Read More

4. Dilemmas and Contradictions of the Welfare State

Moderator: Anette Scoppetta, Head of Work and Welfare/Deputy Director, The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Vienna

Discussants:

  1. Maja Gerovska Mitev, Professor, Faculty of Philosophy, Skopje
  2. Božidar Dakić, Director, Republic of Serbia Institute for Social Welfare
  3. Florina Duli, Executive Director, Kosovar Stability Initiative, Pristina
  4. Gordana Rajkov, Director, Centre for Independent Living, Belgrade
  5. Maja Raičević, Executive Director, NGO Women’s Rights Centre, Podgorica
Read More

June 8, 2018: Options for Welfare States in the Western Balkans

This panel session will gather together vocal speakers and representatives of diverse institutions and organizations to discuss strategic and specific options for the welfare state in the Western Balkans, having in mind the challenges present.

Most Western Balkan economies have a low or very low gross domestic product, unfavourable social situation, high unemployment and inadequate education and health outcomes, as well as inefficient executive government and administration. High emigration, high share of long-term unemployment, as well as widespread grey economy are specific challenges. In the future, welfare states can also expect to be particularly affected by intensifying changes in household structure and acceleration of European integration.

The allocations for the social sector are low in absolute terms, with prospects of a certain growth if any economic development can be expected in the region as a whole. The existing and emerging challenges, as well as the possible increase of investment in the social sector under the assumption of growing budgets, create the need to review the different strategic choices and options to facilitate the enhancement of welfare states in the Western Balkans.

Moderator: Paul Stubbs, Senior Research Fellow, The Institute of Economics, Zagreb

Discussants:

  1. Gordana Matković, Programme Director, Centre for Social Policy and Professor at the FEFA Faculty, Belgrade
  2. Mila Carovska, Minister, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Macedonia
  3. Slavko Gaber, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana and former Minister of Education in Slovenia
  4. Bas Bakker, Senior Regional Resident Representative, The International Monetary Fund Regional Office for Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Warsaw
  5. Georg Fischer, Senior Research Associate at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies and former Director at DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
  6. Ben Slay, Senior Advisor, UNDP Regional Hub for Europe and CIS, Istanbul
  7. Christiane Westphal, Policy Officer, European Commission – DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Read More

1. Early Childhood Development and Education

Moderator: Lida Kita, Specialist in VET and Social Inclusion, European Training Foundation, Turin

Discussants:

  1. Anamarija Viček, State Secretary, Ministry of Education, Republic of Serbia
  2. Benjamin Perks, UNICEF Representative to FYR Macedonia
  3. Vesna Šućur Janjetović, Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Banja Luka
  4. Nadir Redžepi, Executive Director, Roma Education Fund, Budapest
  5. Rozalba Merdani, Head of the Policy and Education Strategies Sector, Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Republic of Albania
Read More

2. Activation and Integration Policies: Transitions into Work, Training and Retraining

Moderator: Blagica Petreski, Director, Finance Think, Skopje

Discussants:

  1. Mihail Arandarenko, Professor at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics/FREN, Belgrade
  2. Anastasia Fetsi, Head of Department, Operations Department, European Training Foundation, Turin
  3. Vesna Džuteska Biševa, Employment Specialist and Project Manager of Promoting Inclusive Labour Markets in the Western Balkans, UNDP Regional Hub for Europe and CIS, Istanbul
  4. Daniela Zampini, Senior Specialist for Employment, International Labour Organization, Budapest
  5. Eriona Gaxho, Specialist in the Directorate of Employment and Migration Services, National Employment Service, Republic of Albania
Read More

3. Long-Term Care Policies

Moderator: Brankica Janković, Commissioner for Protection of Equality, Republic of Serbia

Discussants:

  1. Valentina Prevolnik Rupel, Senior Researcher, Institute for Economic Research, Ljubljana
  2. Goran Kuševija, General Director, Directorate for Social Protection and Child Protection, Ministry of Social Welfare, Montenegro
  3. Katarina Stanić, Researcher, Centre for Social Policy, Belgrade
  4. Marijana Bađun, Researcher, Institute for Public Finances, Zagreb
  5. Mirna Jusić, Researcher, Analitika, Sarajevo
Read More

4. Strengthening Women’s Participation and Empowerment

Moderator: Marjan Petreski, Professor of Economics, University American College Skopje

Discussants:

  1. Venera Demukaj, Lecturer, American University of Kosovo
  2. Iris Luarasi, Head of Council Line for Women and Girls, Member of GREVIO Committee, Professor at the University of Tirana
  3. Milana Lazić, Project Manager – Assistance to EU Pre-Accession Countries, European Institute for Gender Equality, Vilnius
  4. Sanja Nikolin, Activist, Women’s Platform for the Development of Serbia
  5. Miodrag Dragišić, Assistant Resident Representative and Social Inclusion Team Leader, UNDP Montenegro
Read More

5. Social Innovations and New Ideas

Moderator: Jelena Milovanović, Deputy Manager, Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit, Government of Serbia

Discussants:

  1. Neven Marinović, Director of Smart Kolektiv and President of EUCLID Network
  2. Mika Pyykkö, SITRA, Finland
  3. Tadej Slapnik, State Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
  4. Enkeleida Tahiraj, Visiting Senior Fellow, London School of Economics
  5. Josef Hochgerner, External Senior Strategic Advisor, Centre for Social Innovation, Vienna
Read More

This closing session will summarize the key messages and the follow-up initiatives of the conference.

Moderator: Žarko Šunderić, Director, Centre for Social Policy, Belgrade

Speakers:

  1. Goran Svilanović, Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council
  2. Andreas Papadopoulos, Adviser to Director on Economic Governance, European Commission – DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
  3. Isabel Ortiz, Director of Social Protection, International Labour Organization
  4. Steliana Nedera, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP, Serbia
  5. Nermin Oruč, Representative of the Regional Network: The Future of the Welfare State and Director, Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research, Sarajevo