The Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies – CEAS is an independent, atheist, socially oriented left liberal think-tank organization, founded in 2007 in Belgrade. With its high quality research work CEAS generates precise analysis in the field of foreign, security and defense policy of the Republic of Serbia. Simultaneously, CEAS publicly promotes innovative, applicable recommendations and creates practical policy whose aims are:
- Strengthening of the socially oriented, left liberal democracy in Serbia
- Adopting the principle of precedence of individual over collective rights, without disregard for the rights which individuals can only achieve through collective action
- Development of the of the concept of transitional justice and the establishment of mechanisms for its enforcement in the Western Balkans region, exchange of positive experiences, emphasizing the importance of mechanisms of transitional justice for a successful security sector reform in post-conflict societies in transition towards democracy;
- Acceleration of the processes of Serbian EU integration and strengthening of its capacities for confronting global challenges through collective international action.
- Strengthening cooperation with NATO and advocacy for Serbian Atlantic integration
- Strengthening a secular state principle and promoting an atheistic understanding of the world,
- Contributing to the erection and preservation of a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international order, founded on the principles of smart globalization and equitable sustainable development and the international norm of ‘Responsibility to Protect’
CEAS fulfils the mentioned activities through various projects assorted in four permanent programmes:
- Advocacy for Serbian Euro-Atlantic Integration
- Security Sector Reform in Serbia
- Transitional justice
- Liberalism, Globalisation, International Relations and Human Rights
CEAS is an active member of the REKOM coalition which gathers more than 1,800 civil society organizations, individuals from all the countries stemming from the break-up of former SFRY. Among them are also missing persons’ parental and family societies, veterans, news reporters, representatives of minority ethnic communities, organizations for the protection of human rights, etc. The REKOM coalition suggests that governments (or states) establish REKOM, an independent, inter-state Regional Commission for the Establishment of Facts on all the victims of war crimes and other heavy human rights violations undertaken on the territory of the former SFRY in the period 1991-2001.
During 2012 CEAS became an associate member of Policy Association for an Open Society – PASOS, the international association of expert non-governmental organizations (think-tanks) from Europe and Central Asia which supports the erection and functioning of an open society, especially in relation to issues of political and economic transition, democratization and human rights, opening up of the economy and good public governance, sustainable development and international cooperation. PASOS now has 40 full and 10 associate members, amongst which is the prestigious European Council on Foreign Relations from London - ECFR, and, until now, only the Belgrade Center for Security Policy - BCBP, from the non-governmental sector in Serbia.
During the same year, the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies became the first civil society organization from the region of South-Eastern Europe to join the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect – ICRtoP as a full member. The coalition brings together non-governmental organizations from all over the world to collectively strengthen normative consensus for the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (RtoP), with the aim of better understanding the norm, pushing for strengthened capacities of the international community to prevent and halt genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and mobilize the non-governmental sector to push for action to save lives in RtoP country-specific situations. Among the prominent members of the Coalition are organization such as the Human Rights Watch - HRW and the International Crisis Group – ICG.
Policy and Research Papers
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.
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 ”.
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.
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
The Terror-Stricken Will
Foreword by CEAS Director Jelena Milić to the third issue of the CEAS quarterly The New Century .
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Documents
The New Century, no.4
The fourth 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.
The New Century, no.5
The fifth issue of the electronic quarterly magazine of the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies.
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.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.