About the Fund

Bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union

The European Fund for the Balkans is a multi-million-euro joint initiative of the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Compagnia di San Paolo and the ERSTE Foundation. It was established in 2007 with the aim of undertaking and supporting initiatives aimed at bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union.

“The European Fund for the Balkans works in direct continuation of the findings of the International Commission on the Balkans by reaching out to the citizens of the Western Balkan countries and thereby creating the pro-European constituencies these societies need for their future”, says Giuliano Amato, former Italian Prime Minister and Chair of the International Commission on the Balkans (2004-2006).

OBJECTIVES

The Fund’s objectives are to:

• encourage broader and stronger commitment to the European integration of the Western Balkan countries and societies;
• strengthen the efforts undertaken by a range of stakeholders in this process, with a view to developing effective policies and practices in the region and the EU;
• support the process of member state-building as envisaged by the International Commission on the Balkans; in particular by building constituencies in the societies of Southeast Europe that will be offered an opportunity to gain experience of – and learn about – Europe and the EU.

PROGRAMMES

To pursue its goals, the Fund develops grant-making and operational programmes in four main areas:

1. Envisaging Europe Supporting research and policy development projects as well as media outreach initiatives.
   • Initiatives:
     The “THINK AND LINK” – Regional Policy Programme for Think Tanks and Policy Institutes seeks to foster inclusive and evidence-based policy making in the Western Balkans by supporting individual and collaborative research projects, embedded in a regional seminar programme cycle.
2. Practicing Europe Enhancing the professional and administrative capacities of young Balkan government officials in the EU integration process.
   • Initiatives:
     The “Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance” is a tailor-made seminar and training programme for highly-qualified young professionals from the leading state authorities of the countries of the Western Balkans.
3. Experiencing Europe Allowing young generations in the Western Balkans to gain experience of – and learn about – Europe and the EU.
   • Initiatives:
     Each year the “Leadership Development Programme (LDP)“ offers up to 30 graduate students from Southeast Europe a unique academic and networking experience and opportunity to cooperate with their counterparts from other countries.
4. Developing Policies for the Balkans Enhancing the public image of the Fund and its contribution to policymaking in support of the integration of the Balkans within the EU through joint initiatives and partnerships.
   • Initiatives:
     The “Gallup Balkan Monitor” is an annual survey developed in partnership with Gallup Europe in order to provide comprehensive data that reflects Balkan residents’ views on all aspects of their lives and provides strategic insights based on evidence-based social research in the region.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

The Fund is open to private and public donors and is designed to engage not only European funders already active in the Balkans, but also public and private donors that have either not worked in the region until now or wish to leverage their own funding and increase their impact. For instance, the first public-private partnership has been achieved with the contribution to the Fund by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

GRANTMAKING POLICY

The European Fund for the Balkans develops grant-giving and operational programmes and, as such, is focused on individuals and organisations from Western Balkan countries.

The Fund supports projects that are in line with its priority programme areas by issuing calls for proposals throughout the year. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

www.balkanfund.org

The Fund is currently hosted by the Network of European Foundations – NEF (Brussels) which provides legal and administrative assistance.