Policy and Research Papers
Keeping up with the private security sector – II
CEAS analysis of developments in the process of continued regulation of the private security sector in Serbia, compiled in cooperation with the Association of Private Security at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and other relevant actors, members of the Commission of Associations of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC) for Public-Private Partnership in the Serbian Security Sector, which CEAS is also a member of. The document focuses on two aspects: the process of training and licensing in the private security sector and the issue of incompatible activities of police officers in relation to providing private security services.
Protection of Whistleblowers in Serbia
CEAS analysis of previous and existing frameworks of whistleblower protection in Serbia, in relation to respect of those human rights and civil rights, guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia that are related to freedom and security, right to an opinion and expression, right to privacy, protection of personal data and labor, complemented by clear recommendations for improving the situation in the field.
The Law on Classified Information
CEAS analysis compiled by the CEAS team, with exhaustive consultation with the Office of the Council for National Security and Protection of Classified Information (NSA), Office of the Ombudsman and Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection on the current state of affairs in the area of protection of classified information in Serbia, with specific recommendations for improvement thereof.
Security Vetting in Serbia
CEAS analysis aimed at opening a wider public debate on security vetting, examining good practice examples of regulation of this area in other countries, the normative framework and relevant examples from practice in Serbia, complemented with specific recommendations for improving the current situation in the field.
New Model Armies: Rethinking Military Purpose in Post-Conflict Southeastern Europe
New and novel military structures have emerged across the region in the context of externally driven post-conflict defence reform. As the post-conflict narrative gives way to new domestic, regional and international challenges and opportunities, elements of the process remain unresolved.
This paper will argue that in order to establish a sustainable and efficient military platform three emerging and interrelated lacunae need to be addressed: knowledge deficits in civilian-military relations; ownership cleavages as a result of adherence to Euro-Atlantic integration; and legitimacy of military function beyond the post-conflict context.
The Missing Link: Security Sector Reform, ‘Military Neutrality’ and EU integration in Serbia
The study analyzes the current situation in Serbia’s security sector; the mechanisms the European Union has in order to enable Serbia to implement sustainable reforms in the security sector, with specific focus on Chapter 31 and the political criteria; a map of needs and key focus-points for reform, along with specific conclusions and recommendations for all relevant actors.
The Policy Study was prepared based on comprehensive research, consultations and interviews with relevant stakeholders conducted in Belgrade and Brussels including representatives of relevant ministries and parliamentary committees in Serbia, representatives of the NATO Liaison Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the European Commission DG Enlargement, the EEAS and NATO HQ.
The study is a result of a joint project of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies in Belgrade (CEAS) and the Democratization Policy Council headquartered in Berlin (DPC) titled “Security sector reform, ‘military neutrality’ and EU integration in Serbia: How the EU can best use its influence to advocate for sustainable reform”.
A Fine Balance: the EU and the Process of Normalizing Kosovo-Serbia Relations
The recent agreement between Kosovo and Serbia is a significant accomplishment for the European Union. Still, the agreement marks the beginning, rather than the end, of a long-term process of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo. The maintenance of the EU’s “constructive ambiguity” approach to the question of Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo as an independent state is important for continued normalizing relations between the countries. The EU’s continuous and active involvement and interest in the region is of paramount importance for the full implementation of the agreement.
Mapping Non-Discrimination Discourse in Military Education in the Republic of Serbia
The study begins with the analysis of the existing legal solutions in the area of prohibition of discrimination.
It aims to critically review the chosen teaching material and begin the evolution of the military textbooks content in the context of the overall reform of the Serbian schooling system and teaching contents, as an important part of the efforts of the society to influence the current state of the society, regarding the level of discrimination. The study includes the analysis of the existing legal solutions, independent bodies’ reports, published professional studies on the subject of Security Sector Reform, discrimination and educational content in Serbia, the chosen teaching material content at the Military Academy, Military High School and of the training of professional members of Serbian Armed Forces, as well as additional interviews and discussions within focus groups. Concretely, qualitative content analysis covers the content of twelve textbooks and handbooks used in the Military Academy;three textbooks of key social subjects in the Military High School, two handbooks from humanitarian law that are being used in the basic training for soldiers and commanders, in addition to material from one of the training courses for the future members of multinational operations.The research sought to determine whether the selected textbooks and handbooks deal with issues of human rights and vulnerable groups; point out the context that mentions vulnerable groups (positive, negative, neutral, relativising); and provide a description of concrete good examples or parts of the text that could be considered in some way discriminatory against women, ethnic and national minorities, members of other religious communities or atheists, as well as the members of the LGBT population.
LGBT People and Security Sector Reform in the Republic of Serbia
In 2011, Public Policy Research Center conducted a six-month project titled “Vulnerable Groups and Security Sector Reform: a Case Study of LGBT” on the relationship dynamics of LGBT people and the police / Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Armed Forces of Serbia / Ministry of Defence (MoD). The research was based on the assumption that the security sector institutions relationship with and attitude toward members of LGBT population is one of the indicators of change in their culture i.e. a part of the process of the so-called “second generation” reforms. The research team sought to examine how non-heterosexual individuals perceive the ongoing process of reforms in the security sector institutions, especially in regard to possible improvements of their own security. The intent was also to contribute to the increase of interest in the “security community” for the issue of LGBT people’s relationship with the security sector. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve communication and cooperation between the two communities.
Keeping up with the Private Security Sector in Serbia
CEAS report analyzing in detail the state of the private security sector in Serbia - both the legal framework and the situation in practice - along an analysis of with good practice examples, a comprehensive analysis of the Draft Law on Private Security, expert opinions, and clear recommendations for the Serbian Government.
Extreme Makeover
CEAS plan for improvement of the state of the security system in Serbia with special focus on protection of constitutionally guaranteed human rights: right to privacy and personal data protection.
Corruption in the Security Sector in Serbia
The data used for this research, was collected from interviews, focus groups and questionnaires sent to security sector institutions in Serbia.
Initial methodological and empirical assumptions for further comprehensive in-depth research into the forms, trends and consequences manifested by corruption in the Serbian security sector have been formulated on the basis of this project’s results.
The findings obtained can also represent a good basis for more active participation by other civil society organisations, the media and citizens in the fight against corruption in the security sector.
The publication also in its first part discusses different theoretical approaches to corruption in aforesaid security institutions present in the most relevant literature on this issue.
- See more at: http://www.bezbednost.org/All-publications/5164/Corruption-in-the-Security-Sector-in-Serbia.shtml#sthash.NjZywDP1.dpuf
Keeping up with the Private Security Sector
A comprehensive analysis and final report of a cross-sector, expert working group composed of CEAS team members, representatives of the Commission for Public-Private Partnership in the security sector of Serbia, Association of Private Security of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, legal experts, representatives of the academic community and other expert consultants from international organizations dealing with the security sector, on the Draft Law on Private Security which the Government of Serbia adopted on April 30, 2013.
The aim of this report was to analyze the recommendations and best practices contained in certain documents of foreign countries, international organizations and associations, including the EU and NATO, whose legislative framework and best practices, but also some challenges in the private security sector are available at the DCAF website developed in cooperation with SIE Cheo-Kang Center for International Security Studies and Diplomacy at the University of Denver called " Private Security Monitor“, organizations such as the Confederation of European Security Services – CoESS, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE, the Geneva Centre for the democratic control of armed Forces - DCAF and ASIS International, including initiatives such as Montreux Document and the International Code of Conduct for the private security sector; analyze the aforementioned, Draft Law on Private Security, paying particular attention to the inclusion of recommendations of independent bodies, such as the opinion that the Commissioner for Information of Public importance and Personal Data Protection gave on the draft law; and form recommendations for potential amendments to the Law, once it is adopted.
Economic crisis and its impact on public opinion in the European Union and Serbia
The text analyzes the results of public opinion survey by the Eurobarometer i.e. the extent of the polarization in the EU. It explains how and why results have changed in the past couple of years and how the trust in EU institutions has alternated. It singles out the most important social cleavages in the EU and how they change over time, as well as how political institutions are invested with legitimacy by the citizens. Finally, it delineates trends toward strengthening of extreme right-wing parties as one of the possible responses to the crisis and how the EU slowly abandons the Copenhagen criteria for accession, primarily by making political decisions on the basis of which a country makes advances on its path toward the EU.
Serbia on the road to full EU membership - Accession negotiations
A review of Serbia's process of EU integrations written by CEAS expert, and former Adviser at the Political Criteria, justice, freedom and security Sector of the Office for European Integration; Head of the Group for European Integration and Regional Initiative in the Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Sector for Defense Policy of the Ministry of Defense; and Senior Adviser and Head of the Group for European Integration in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European integration, Sanja Mešanović.
Why a public debate on Serbia’s NATO membership is needed
Foreword by CEAS Director Jelena Milić to the fourth issue of the CEAS quarterly The New Century .
The Terror-Stricken Will
Foreword by CEAS Director Jelena Milić to the third issue of the CEAS quarterly The New Century .
In a Snake's Nest
Foreword by CEAS Director Jelena Milić to the second issue of the CEAS quarterly The New Century, on the first hundred days of the new Serbian Government
Sovereignty and Security in the New Century
This paper follows the development of the concept of sovereignty, analyzing its evolution and influence, but also the influence of other factors and norms as well, such as the understanding of security, responsibility and human rights in relation to sovereignty and their mutual relationship in the international system of the New Century, recognizing that without understanding of the role that human rights played in constructing the way in which sovereignty is understood in the New Century, the key moments in evolution of this concept cannot be explained either.
Main Challenges of Reform of the Security Sector in Serbia: The role of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and NATO in the reform of the secu...
This paper won first place at the competition organized by CEAS among senior undergraduate, master and doctoral students of social sciences as well as young experts interested in reform of the security sector in Serbia on the topic “Main Challenges of Reform of the Security Sector in Serbia ”.
X Factor Serbia
CEAS Analysis of the Security and Political Threats to Sustainable Agreement with Kosovo Coming from Serbia and the Western International Community
For a More Dynamic Reform of the Security Sector in Serbia
Analysis of results of a poll conducted among National Assembly deputies, state officials and civil society activists about the state of affairs in the security sector in Serbia and further reform steps that need to be taken and CEAS recommendations for continued reform of the security sector in Serbia, formulated on the basis of the poll and other research-analytical activities in this area.
Gender and Security Sector Reform in Serbia
The report, co-drafted by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (formerly known as the Centre for Civil-Military Relations) and the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence with the support of DCAF, presents the findings of the needs assessment on gender and SSR in Serbia.
It:
• Generates a detailed baseline for the current state of gender mainstreaming in security sector institutions at the central, provincial and municipal level;
• Identifies local needs, gaps and shortcomings of current SSR processes, and prioritizes needs which should be addressed by national authorities and civil society, with the support of the international donor community, including DCAF’s gender and SSR project.
The needs assessment is built on desk research, interviews, and a series of local stakeholder consultations conducted in Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Novi Pazar, Bujanovac and Belgrade in the course of March and April 2010. It forms the building block of DCAFs dedicated and long term gender and SSR project in Serbia.
Lessons from the Deployment of International Judges and Prosecutors in Kosovo
This case study seeks to provide basic information and policy analysis on the deployment of international judges and prosecutors in Kosovo, a program that was established under the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in 1999. It is part of a series that aims to provide information and analysis on policy and practical issues facing hybrid courts. In Kosovo, hybrid courts were established when international capacity was injected into the domestic legal system. The lessons that can be drawn from this experience are divided into the following areas:
• A brief history of the conflict in Kosovo
• Background to the establishment of the international judges and prosecutors (IJP) program
• A description of the IJP program
• Prosecutorial strategy and case selection
• Legal framework
• Court administration and witness protection
• Cost and efficiency
• Relationship with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and other transitional justice mechanisms
• Outreach, public perceptions, and ownership
• Exit strategy and legacy
The purpose of this case study is to provide basic information, some of which is still not widely available, on these areas to guide policymakers and stakeholders in establishing and implementing similar mechanisms. Similar case studies have been developed on Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste.
Other Documents
The New Century, no.7
The seventh issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.6
The sixth issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.5
The fifth issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.4
The fourth issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.3
The third issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.2
The second issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
The New Century, no.1
The first issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.