Forum for Western Balkan Studies

 

The objective of the project is the initiation of an Andrássy Forum for Western Balkan Studies at Danube-Institute (DI) for interdisciplinary research at the Andrássy University Budapest (AUB). The aim of the forum is the formation of a networking platform that shall bring together academic expertise from Germany and Austria, the Visegrad Four (V4) and Western Balkan (WB) states, with the perspective to establish a Competence Centre Western Balkans in future.  The platform aims to provide high profile analysis of the relationship between Visegrad Four and Western Balkan states in the various processes of EU-Integration and to identify the mutual benefits of co-operation for both sides.

Three types of activities are planned: one common workshop, networking activities, and an assessment report.
First, as a kick-off event towards establishing a network of contacts to built upon the Andrássy Forum for Western Balkan Studies is the organisation of a workshop to be held in Spring 2014. Second, in their aim to establish a networking platform during the one year period, AUB research staff will reach out to visit partners in the region to explore opportunities of meaningful co-operation. The aim of the workshop and the visits to prospective partner institutions is to get acquainted with each other’s expertise. Third: at the end of the project period the researchers at the Danube Institute produce a Strategic Assessment Report on the scientific nature, the tested format and the participating partners of the network and evaluate whether a continuation of the network is envisaged through a subsequent V4 Western Balkan grant in late 2014.

The main research focus of the project is on transformation and processes of EU-Integration and the specific role of the Visegrad Four and the Croatian EU experience have as potential models for EU-Integration on the candidate and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans. Research builds on two pillars: AUB in-house and partners’ expertise.

The research project will address issues of EU integration and how the Visegrad Four and Croatian EU experience can be used as potential models for EU-Integration of the candidate and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans.
As the Andrássy University is the only German-speaking university in Central Europe outside a German speaking country, it can use its strategic position as a bridge between the German speaking countries of Austria and Germany, the V4-countries, and reaches out to the countries of the Western Balkans.