2012 Newsle er Issue Number 3
Research on South Eastern Europe LSEE is part of the LSE’s European Ins tute, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
inside this issue Welcome to our 2012 Newsle er, where you economic crisis in the region [see page 3]. can find informa on on our recent and LSEE provides a pla orm for new policy debates. forthcoming ac vi es. Editorial 1 We again collaborated with our partner ‐ The This last year has been a period of consolida on Interna onal Centre for Black Sea Studies ‐ for Research Network on 2‐3 for LSEE, albeit with some important new their 4th and 5th interna onal symposium (see Social Cohesion ini a ves to help us to be er reach our goals. page 10). We were pleased to host public Publica ons 3 LSEE exists to promote and coordinate research lectures ‐ such as Dr Borko Handjiski, Economist at the School on contemporary South East at the World Bank, Dr Peter Sanfey, Lead Research from LSEE 4‐5 Europe: the economy, society and poli cs of its Economist at the European Bank for cons tuent na ons, both individually and as a Reconstruc on and Development (EBRD), and New Skills for New Jobs 5 region, especially in rela on to interna onal Professors Richard Caplan (Oxford) and Stefan in the Western Balkans actors such as the European Union. As such, we Wolff (Birmingham). We welcomed Dr Milodrag Visi ng Speaker are both an agent of independent research and Katnic, the Finance Minister of Montenegro, for 6 Programme a pla orm for innova ve policy discussion. a policy seminar. And our regular series of LSEE Visi ng Speakers comprised 8 sessions, covering Talks with Albanian Our ‘LSEE Research Network on Social Cohesion’ 7 the usual eclec c mix of policy issues [see page Poli cal Figures [see pages 2‐3] encapsulates this core mission. 6]. We were delighted to organise a launch Mee ngs with Serbian 7 conference for the Network at the School in Not neglec ng the next genera on of scholars, & Bosnian MPs December 2011 and to collaborate with partners we again collaborated with our partners across Serbian Deputy Prime for a workshop in May in Belgrade. The the University of London for the second 8 Minister Lecture workshop focussed on ‘Skills and the Labour Interna onal PhD Symposium on South East Market in the Western Balkans’ and resulted in Europe. This was first launched at LSE in 2010 Montenegro Finance 8 a publica on [see page 3]. In the same vein, we and this year’s event at Goldsmith’s College Minister Discussion have been pleased to partner the Regional con nued its success [see page 11] with a series Kosovo Panel Debate 9 Coopera on Council in promo ng debate on of vibrant panels. these key policy issues in two joint conferences South East Europe faces a number of important Obstacles to Western held in Sarajevo in October 2011 and July 2012 challenges, under‐scoring the importance and Balkan Trade 9 [see page 3]. in Services Panel relevance of LSEE both to the European Ins tute At the same me, LSEE’s academic staff has at the School and the wider public domain, both Conference on Cyprus 10 produced a number of individual and combined at home and interna onally. We hope these research outputs on South East Europe. We pages will encourage you to join us in at least Interna onal Black Sea 10 have also welcomed papers wri en by visitors some of our endeavours in this regard. Symposia and associates establishing a growing body of
2nd Joint publica ons [see page 3]. LSEE’s flagship is our 11 PhD Symposium on SEE book series [‘New Perspec ves on South East Professor Kevin Featherstone Europe’] with Palgrave Macmillan (London) in Professor evket Pamuk Film Screening & Ş 11 which the latest tle to be published is ‘Health Discussion LSEE Co‐Chairs Reforms in South East Europe’ [see page 3]. We Staff & Donors 12 can also highlight the latest LSEE Paper on the Page 2
Research Network on Social Cohesion Research on Social Cohesion and Social Inclusion in South East Europe
A er a period of growth and recovery of the Research Network, which brings monetarism for the poor’. Insigh ul in the early and mid 2000’s the together more than thirty leading presenta ons on labour markets and countries of South East Europe face a scholars from the region, the LSE and skills followed by Vjekoslav Domljan deteriora ng social climate as a result research ins tu ons in the EU. This was from Bosnia, Maja Gerovska from followed by a Macedonia and Bozidar Sisevic from presenta on from Jelena Montenegro. Jakulj and Frederique On the second day, a en on turned to Rychener on the work of pension reforms and social security DG Enlargement in which were discussed by Professor suppor ng labour market Merita Xhumari and Enkeleida Tahiraj policy in the Western from Albania. Health sector reforms Balkans. Thomas de were analysed by Will Bartle , and by Bethune from DG Sandra Svaljek, Director of the Ins tute Enlargement presented of Economics in Zagreb. The issue of the role of the Western informal sector was discussed by Balkan Investment Professor Jovan Pejkovski from Framework in financing Macedonia while Ardiana Gashi social infrastructure and analysed the social situa on in Kosovo. From le to right: Emina Kadric of the The conference concluded with a round Will Bartle , Kevin Featherstone & Vassilis Monas rio s Brussels‐based IFI table discussion led by Emina Kadric Coordina on Office and Frederique Rychener which of spill‐over effects from the combined discussed the role of the Western debated the key issues for social effects of the global economic crisis Balkan Investment Framework in cohesion in the region, including the and the crisis in the euro zone. They suppor ng the development of social large inac ve labour force, ways to now face a protracted period of fiscal infrastructure, the work of austerity and slow economic growth the Council of Europe leading to deepening social exclusion Development Bank in and increasing levels of unemployment, suppor ng housing, job poverty and inequality. In a context of crea on and social insecure statehood of several infrastructure for refugees countries, widespread informal and displaced persons and economies and organised crime and the work of the Regional o en weak state administra ons at Coopera on Council in both central and local levels, all this pursuing a Social Agenda raises concerns for the future stability for the region. Debate of the region. In this context, the LSEE focused on ways in which Research Network on Social Cohesion the EU 2020 programme was established in 2011 to coordinate targets should be adapted and encourage research on these to the more challenging From le to right: issues. condi ons in the Western Mihail Arandarenko, Will Bartle & Milica Uvalic The launch conference of the LSEE Balkans. Research Network was held at LSE in The second part of the conference was s mulate growth and overcome skill December 2011 with the generous devoted to presenta ons of on‐going gaps and mismatches, the transi on support of DG Enlargement and the IFI research by members of the research from school to work and the reduc on Coordina on Office in Brussels. Its network. Professor Milica Uvalic from of unemployment, the informal sector, theme was the social impact of the the University of Perugia analysed the and poverty. The discussion generated economic crisis in the region. The first damage done to employment from the enthusiasm for regional research session, chaired by Mary O’Mahony collapse in external demand and credit projects on these issues that could be from the IFI Coordina on Office in inflows. Professor Mihail Arandarenko of value to interna onal and domes c Brussels was devoted to the role of the of the Belgrade Faculty of Economics policy makers struggling to overcome LSEE Research Network in contribu ng iden fied likely winners and losers the on‐going impact of the crisis in the to the social agenda for South East from a generic ‘new growth model’ face of rising unemployment and Europe. Will Bartle of LSEE opened which he characterised as stagna ng economic performance the session with a review of the ac vity ‘Keynesianism for the rich and Page 3
Research Network on Social Cohesion more news...
The second major event was a Advancement of Economics (FREN) Sarajevo in October 2011. A selec on Research Workshop on Skills and the based at the Faculty of Economics in of the papers is to be published as a Labour Market held in Belgrade in Belgrade. Some of the papers were joint publica on of FREN and LSEE, following revisions reflec ng comments and discussion at the workshop. The revised papers were made available at the recent May 2012 as a collabora ve ac vity based on presenta ons that network conference of the Regional between the LSEE Research Network members had made at a conference of Coopera on Council on skills and jobs and the Founda on for the the Regional Coopera on Council in in Sarajevo on 12‐13 July
LSEE Paper Series Publications h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/european Ins tute/research/LSEE/Publica LSEE Paper Series ‐ ISSUE 4 ons/LSEE_Papers.aspx ‘The Variable Impact of the Global Economic Crisis in SEE’
The fourth Issue of the LSEE paper during the transi on period have measured through the quality of series by Will Bartle and Ivana Prica, enabled countries to cope with governance. studies the external shocks such as those The paper asks whether countries variable associated with the recent global with a more flexible economy due to impact of economic crisis. The transmission faster progress with transi on reforms the global mechanisms of the crisis to the region were be er able to adjust to the economic are iden fied as contrac ons of credit, impact of external shocks. It concludes crisis on foreign direct investment, that the variable impact of the global the remi ances, and exports, and their crisis in the region can be explained countries variable impact across countries is mainly by their degree of integra on of South assessed. Several types of ins tu ons into the global economy and that the East are examined, including the degree to ins tu onal reforms that were Europe. which countries have adopted the introduced during the boom mes The central acquis communautaire, determined have made countries more integrated ques on is by the extent of their EU integra on, into the global economy and therefore whether progress with transi on, and the more vulnerable to the impact of the the ins tu onal reforms introduced broad ins tu onal environment global economic crisis
Palgrave Macmillan Series LSEE and Palgrave Macmillan Book Series h p://www.palgrave.com/produ ‘Health Reforms in South East Europe’ cts/ tle.aspx?pid=504227 Over the last two decades, the been sorely lacking so far. This book countries of South East Europe have addresses this shortage through the engaged in far‐reaching reforms of analysis of key aspects of health Croa a, Macedonia, Montenegro, their health systems, including reforms in South East Europe, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. The reforms of primary and secondary including primary health care, hospital book will be of interest to a range of health care, new governance and care, health financing, audiences, including researchers, funding arrangements, the decentraliza on and the internal and medical prac oners and priva za on of health care provision, interna onal migra on of health policy‐makers. The book is and the introduc on of health workers. It provides a compara ve to be published in August insurance systems. However, analysis of health reforms and health 2012. compara ve overviews of reform workforce mobility in the region, and Series Chief Editor: efforts in this part of Europe have includes contribu ons from Bulgaria, Dr Spyros Economides Page 4
Interna onal Rela ons with that prevalent in EU studies, especially in rela on to condi onality and enlargement. This research is as much Research from LSEE Staff about development in EU foreign policy, as it is about the Western Balkans. This research has resulted in Will Bartle perspec ve the role of transna onal two chapters in edited volumes ‘My recent research has focused on networks related to criminalised war (Hurst&Co, and Routledge), and forms two main areas. The first has been the economy in post‐conflict the core of a research ar cle currently economic and social impact of the reconstruc on and the implica ons for under revision for submission to an global economic crisis on the SEE interna onal aid. A report on the interna onal journal. The second area region. The second has been research Networks of Regressive Globalisa on of research pursued in the last year on unemployment and skills mismatch and the Implica ons for Interna onal concentrates on an issue within the EU‐ on the labour market. The global Aid, completed in May 2012, will be Western Balkans rela onship, namely economic crisis has had a severe published jointly by LSE and Agençe that of the status and future of Kosovo. impact on the countries of South East Francaise de Dévelopment. I intend to This builds on previous research and Europe, resul ng in a deteriora ng con nue the work on the poli cal publica on on this topic and has social situa on and increasing poli cal economy of transi on in post‐ resulted in a jointly authored risks; in Serbia, unemployment has totalitarian and post‐conflict socie es publica on (with Dr James Ker‐Lindsay) increased to over 25%, while in Croa a within the framework of the five‐year in an interna onal journal as well as a interna onal debt has increased to DfID funded programme on Jus ce and more policy‐oriented ar cle.’ unsustainable levels amid con nuing Security in Conflict‐Affected recession. Despite a shallow recovery in Places star ng in July 2012. This 2011, the intensifica on of the crisis in programme will provide an the euro zone has once again plunged opportunity to expand the the region into recession. Research on compara ve work on these this theme develops a theore cal issues including several regions framework that dis nguishes between in Central and Eastern Africa. the EU peripheral countries and the The two co‐authored ar cles ‐ countries of the ‘super‐periphery’ on on the obstacles to state‐ the edge of the EU. The research is building in Bosnia‐Herzegovina partly funded through an FP7 project in the context of on economic and social development in Europeanisa on, and on human the Western Balkans and EU Eastern security in Kosovo are in the Partnership countries. The second revise and resubmit phase for research theme, I carried out within the two interna onal journals. Research James Ker‐Lindsay framework of the LSEE Research into policy making process in the ‘Over the past year, my main focus of Network on Social Cohesion, has Western Balkans explores across a en on has been on the ques on of progressed through close links with the different policy areas and countries the recogni on in interna onal poli cs. Regional Coopera on Council in actors, networks and coali ons driving This is a field that has generally Sarajevo. Collabora on with the FREN the agenda for reform in the context of received very li le a en on from think tank in Belgrade has led to a European Union accession; the results scholars working in the fields of poli cs research workshop and book will be published in a book by Springer. and interna onal rela ons, and yet is a publica on on jobs and skills in the A paper exploring the decentralisa on subject that is becoming increasingly Western Balkans, while a newly‐won and regionalisa on processes in Bosnia interes ng and important. In par cular, research project on the rela onship ‐Herzegovina is forthcoming as a I have been working on a major study between voca onal educa on and chapter in an edited volume published of the ways in which states try to training policies and social inclusion in by Palgrave Macmillan.’ prevent the recogni on of secessionist
nine countries of the region is funded territories; the first study of its kind. Spyros Economides through the European Training Concentra ng on the cases of Cyprus, Founda on, a decentralised agency of ‘In the last year my work on SEE has Serbia and Georgia, the book will the EU.’ con nued to focus on the rela onship explain and analyse the various between the EU and the countries of diploma c and legal strategies adopted Vesna Bojicic‐Dzelilovic the region and more specifically the by the three countries as they a empt ‘My research focuses on the role of Western Balkans. Within this subject to prevent Kosovo, South Osse a, informal power structures in post‐ ma er I have concentrated on EU state Abkhazia and the ‘Turkish Republic of conflict reconstruc on, the poli cal ‐building in the Western Balkans with Northern Cyprus’ from being economy of policy making and specific reference to the no ons of recognised by other countries or decentralisa on and regional democra sa on, Europeanisa on, and admi ed into various interna onal development in the Western Balkans. transforma on. Within this I compare organisa ons, including interna onal The research on informal power the literature on state‐building financial ins tu ons and spor ng emana ng from the discipline of structures explores in compara ve bodies… Page 5
… more research from LSEE Staff
… Looking ahead, I hope to con nue paper examining the evolu on and Visi ng Fellow at LSEE for the Academic my work in this area by exploring other scale of regional dispari es in Serbia Year 2011‐12. My me at LSEE was theore cal, conceptual and, most and Bulgaria is forthcoming in a book used to complete my latest project, a importantly, prac cal aspects of on Decentralisa on and Regional co‐authored book with Elizabeth recogni on ‐ especially as it relates to Development (Palgrave), while another Roberts en tled 'The Sandzak: A deep‐rooted ethnic conflicts. The paper on Serbia, looking at the impact History'. The book, the first detailed Foreign Policy of Counter‐Secession: of decentralisa on on inter‐municipal history of the area in the English Preven ng the Recogni on of compe on is under review in an language, will be published by Hurst & Contested States will be published by interna onal journal, as is a more Co, London, in December 2012. I also Oxford University Press in October theory‐oriented paper on the nature of con nued to work on the modern 2012’ regional dispari es under transi on history of Montenegro. Following the (regional transi on curve). Besides publica on of my LSEE paper, 'Change, Vassilis Monas rio s these, work is also underway on three Con nuity and Consolida on: Assessing ‘In the last year my research has externally funded projects on the Five Years of Montenegro's focused on regional economic issues, in impact of economic integra on on intra Independence', I have completed a Greece, South East Europe and beyond. ‐country dispari es (European chapter on Montenegro for Charles A new piece on the impact of flexible Commission FP7), on the link between Ingrao & Thomas Emmert's employment on cross‐regional spa al associa on and economic 'Confron ng the Yugoslav adjustment (h p://to.ly/dX0X) was connectedness (Bri sh Academy) and Controversies: A Scholars' Ini a ve', completed in late 2011 and is currently on the effec veness of Cohesion Policy the second edi on (including my under review in an interna onal (DG Region). A new project looking at chapter) of which will be published by journal. A paper on the geographical the local wage spill‐over effects of Purdue University Press in September alloca on of public investment in public‐sector employment (with 2012’ Greece has been accepted for empirical analyses for Serbia, Greece publica on at European Urban and and the UK) is also star ng in Research Pages Regional Studies (h p://to.ly/dX19), September.’ while one on the geographical impact h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europe of the austerity measures in Greece Kenneth Morrison anIns tute/research/LSEE/Res was published in the Cambridge Journal ‘I am a Senior Lecturer at De Mon ort earch/LSEE_Research.aspx of Regions, Economy and Society in University, Leicester and also a Senior November 2011 (h p://to.ly/dX14). A
New Skills for New Jobs in the Western Balkans
LSEE par cipated in a two‐day labour market in their efforts to Training Founda on (a decentralised conference on the theme of skills and an cipate skills needs, generate new Agency of the EU) and the South East jobs organised by the Regional jobs and improve the matching Europe Centre for Entrepreneurial Coopera on Council and the Friedrich process. The target group for the Learning based in Zagreb. Jan Ebert Founda on in Sarajevo from 27‐ conference was na onal government Rutkowski, Lead Economist at the 28 October 2011. ministries, public employment World Bank, presented the Bank’s The conference discussed the issue of services, social partners and regional recently published flagship report on organiza ons. LSEE’s Senior Research ‘Skills, Not Just Fellow, Will Bartle , gave a keynote Diplomas’. lecture on ‘Challenges and priori es A round table for skills gap analyses in the Western of Balkans’. A special session of the presenta ons conference was dedicated to by civil presenta ons of papers by members servants, trade of the LSEE Research Network on unionists and labour market imbalances in the Social Cohesion, which included six employers’ organisa ons contributed Western Balkan countries focusing on papers by members of the network to the depth of the discussion and skills gaps and mismatches, a cri cal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croa a, facilitated a valuable and produc ve issue for economic compe veness Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. interchange between research and and future economic growth and Addi onal presenta ons were made policy. A follow up conference on the prosperity in the region. It addressed by researchers from the Interna onal same theme was held the role of key stakeholders in the Labour Organisa on, the European in July 12‐13 Page 6
Visi ng Speaker Programme Page
h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europea nIns tute/research/LSEE/Event Visiting Speaker Programme s/researchSeminars/Home.aspx A series of research and policy seminars
This year saw the con nua on of the LSEE Visi ng Speaker Programme. Building on the excellent range of contribu ons the year before, the series once again resulted in a wide variety of topics. The year started with a lecture by Professor Richard Caplan (Oxford) (photos‐1&5), who spoke about exit strategies from the Balkans to 2 3 4 Afghanistan. Arranged as a joint event with the Department of Government’s presented a paper on the poli cal final speaker of the 2011‐2012 Conflict Research Group, the event economy of state building in Kosovo. programme was Aidan Hehir The final speaker of the Michaelmas (Westminster), who outlined a number term was Radu Cinpoes (Kingston), of problems rela ng to decentralisa on who spoke about Romanian migrants in in Kosovo. Britain. Over the course of the year, we were The Lent term started with a talk by delighted to welcome a number of Professor Stefan Wolff (Birmingham) familiar faces to the events, as well as (photo‐2) on efforts to resolve the many new ones. longstanding conflict over Transnistria. In addi on to LSE staff and students, This was followed by Fikret Causević the events were a ended by colleagues (Oxford), who from other spoke on academic economic ins tu ons as liberalisa on well as in the Western journalists, Balkans. The government third speaker officials, of the term diplomats and 1 was Stefanos members of Katsikas the general a racted considerable interest, (Goldsmiths), public with an especially given the recent conflict in who used the interest in the Libya. Following on from this, Jelena occasion to 5 region. Obradović‐Wochnik (Aston) (photo‐4) launch his new
spoke about war crimes and coming to book, Nego a ng Diplomacy in the terms with the past in Serbia and New Europe: Foreign Policy in Post‐ Podcasts from many of the talks are Dominik Zaum (Reading) (photo‐3) Communist Bulgaria (I.B.Tauris). The available at the LSEE website
2012‐13 Academic Year
Planning is currently underway for next year's Visi ng Speaker Programme. Confirmed speakers include Steven Blockmans (Leuven and CEPS), Max Watson (University of Oxford ), Damiana Otoiu (University of Bucharest and LSEE), Philip Cunliffe (University of Kent), Marko Milanović (University of No ngham), Jelena Lausev (University of Belgrade and LSEE), Gemma Collantes‐Celador (City University), Jasna Dragović‐Soso (Goldsmiths), Vanessa Pupavac (University of No ngham) and Soeren Keil (Canterbury Christ Church University). We also hope to be able to circulate details of a number of other events in the months ahead.
Unless otherwise stated, all Seminars take place in the Cañada Blanch Room (COW 1.11), Cowdray House, Portugal Street, LSE at 18:00 Page 7
Talks with Albanian Political Figures Fatos Nano, former Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, former Mayor of Tirana & Leader of Albanian Socialist Opposi on
This year LSEE welcomed two of facing the country. ques ons about healthcare reform, a Albania’s most prominent poli cal The visit was par cularly major project in the country, he was figures. significant inasmuch as it On 9 December 2011, we hosted a is widely believed that Mr roundtable discussion with Fatos Nano, Nano will stand for the the former Prime Minister of Albania presidency of Albania in and former leader of the Socialist Party 2012. of Albania. Followed on from the visit by Fatos Nano, on 26 March 2012, LSEE, in conjunc on with the Department for Social Policy, hosted a public lecture by Edi Rama, the current leader of the Socialist Party and the From le to right: former Mayor of Tirana. Erion Veliaj, Edi Rama & Arjan Gjonca Speaking to a large audience of students and members of asked about the measures that he the Albanian community in London, he would introduce to reform the tax outlined what he saw as the key system and tackle the problem of priori es for Albania. He also noted corrup on. Fatos Nano that he was seeking to learn how other Although the debate was dominated by countries had approached key policy domes c ma ers, there were also a Speaking before an invited audience of issues and that during his trip to Britain regional specialists, Mr Nano gave his few ques ons on foreign policy, he had met with a number of leading including Kosovo. Both events were insights into a number of key figures from the Bri sh Labour Party. developments taking place in Albania, kindly co‐ordinated and chaired by and outlined some of his ideas as to At the end of his presenta on, there Arjan Gjonca how to address a number of current was a lengthy, and spirited, ques on economic, poli cal and social problems and answer session. As well as LSEE Events Page
h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europea nIns tute/research/LSEE/Event s/Past‐Events.aspx Meetings with Serbian & Bosnian MPs
LSEE was delighted to welcome two from Bosnia‐Herzegovina and In the case of the Serbian delega on, delega ons of regional consisted of Halid Genjac (Party of the main focus was on the forthcoming parliamentarians to the School in the Democra c Ac on), Nermina parliamentary and presiden al first half of 2012. Both groups were in Ćemalović (Social Democra c Party), elec ons. the United Kingdom as guests of the Dragan Vrankić (Croa an Democra c In contrast, the conversa on with the Bri sh Group of the Inter‐ Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Bosnian group was predominantly Parliamentary Union. Borislav Bojić (Serb Democra c Party). centred on the economic situa on in The first delega on, which came in Given the widely differing poli cal the country; although March, was from Serbia and consisted perspec ves of the members of the the on‐going poli cal of Nada Kolundžija (Democra c Party), two groups, on both occasions there difficul es in the Željko Tomić (Democra c Party of was a lively discussion about a range of country also featured Serbia) and Vesna Pešić, an current economic, poli cal and social heavily independent MP. The second group, issues. which came at the end of June, were Page 8
Serbia and the Western Balkans: Economic Challenges, European Perspectives Božidar Djelić, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia
On 7 November 2011, LSEE hosted Prime Minister and Minister for decentralisa on. As was pointed out, a lecture by Božidar Djelić, the Deputy European Integra on of Serbia. Held at the latest census figures have revealed a me when Serbia was busy pressing that the popula on is declining across its case to be accepted as a candidate much of Serbia. In response, the for membership of the European Minister described various steps being Union, the talk a racted considerable taken to try to regenerate areas interest. In his presenta on, which was outside of Belgrade and Novi Sad and held in the Shaw Library, the Minister persuade businesses, both domes c outlined the significant progress made and foreign, to invest more widely. by Serbia in the decade since the fall of Another ques on related to efforts to Slobodan Milošević. encourage expatriate Serbs to return Although he acknowledged that much home ‐ a key issue for many of the s ll remained to be done, he Serbian students a ending the lecture. nevertheless stressed that on the basis While again acknowledging that the of the work done so far Serbia situa on needed to improve, he deserved to be granted candidacy. At stressed that Serbia was keen to the end of his lecture, the Minister encourage people to return and fielded ques ons on a wide range of channel their experience and exper se issues. towards developing the country further From le to right: ‐ especially as it pursues European Božidar Djelić & James Ker‐Lindsay In addi on to the Kosovo issue, another major topic was integra on
Policy Discussion Milodrag Katnić, Finance Minister of Montenegro
LSEE welcomed Milodrag Katnić, the on ‘Public Consump on and Finance Minister of Montenegro who Economic Growth’ in 2010. He has made a presenta on at a policy served as the head of the working seminar at LSEE on 10 October 2011. group for nego a ons on accession Dr Katnić is a graduate of the University of Montenegro to the European of Montenegro’s School of Economics Union in charge of economic and where he studied entrepreneurship financial issues and sta s cs. While A full Cañada Blanch Room and entrepreneurial finance a er which working on the nego a ng team for he obtained a Master's Degree on the accession of Montenegro to the public debt analysis in 2005 and a Ph.D. World Trade Organiza on, he was in the government’s budget deficit. The charge of the financial and service government now aims to reduce the area sec on un l Montenegro deficit by cu ng public expenditure became a WTO member in 2011. with a long‐term goal of maintaining In his talk, Minister Katnić presented government expenditure below 40% of an overview of the current issues GDP and promo ng the private facing Montenegrin economy and enterprise economy. Other priori es of the government’s response to the the government include expenditure effects of the global economic crisis, on infrastructure investments, which hit Montenegro par cularly a rac on of foreign investment and hard in 2009. The resul ng promo on of tourism. His presenta on From le to right: recession resulted in a reduc on in was followed by a lively debate with Will Bartle & Milodrag Katnić tax revenues and a large increase in the audience Page 9
Panel Debate Challenges of Economic Development in Kosovo: Between Corrup on and Ins tu on Building
The ques on of economic development such ins tu onal development had In his talk he explained how, since 1999 in Kosovo was the subject of a panel been hindered by historical factors, and the economic development of Kosovo debate organised by LSEE, on 13 March con nued to be hindered by problems had been in the hands of UN and EU 2012. such as corrup on, the con nued administrators and that even a er the The event opened with a presenta on existence of informal networks and the declara on of independence, in 2008, a by Iraj Hashi (photo‐1), Professor of uneven applica on of the rule of law. handful of key countries, led by the Economics at Staffordshire University, The second speaker of the evening was United States, con nued to play a key Avni Zogjani (photo‐2) the founder of role in Kosovo through their Embassies the Organisa on for Democracy in Pris na. As a result, they must also An corrup on and Dignity (ÇOHU!), a bear responsibility for the poor leading Kosovo NGO working in the economic situa on in Kosovo today. field of economic development. Having priori sed stability over development, they have failed to build the strong ins tu ons Kosovo needs, and have failed to tackle the 1 widespread corrup on in Kosovo. The Debate was co‐organised with the in which he outlined the pa erns of LSE Student Union Albanian Society ins tu onal development in Kosovo and explained the link between effec ve ins tu ons and economic development. In the case of Kosovo, 2 LSEE Events Page
h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europea nIns tute/research/LSEE/Event s/Past‐Events.aspx Panel Lecture Obstacles to Western Balkan Trade in Services
In October 2011 LSEE organised a European Bank for Reconstruc on and Sanfey and Ivana Prica partly panel debate on the subtle but Development (EBRD), and Dr Ivana responded to this, but also added increasingly important issue of Trade in Prica, Assistant Professor at the Faculty further dimensions to the issue. Peter Services in the Western Balkans. We of Economics, University of Belgrade. Sanfey’s presenta on looked more at the role that trade integra on more had the The debate generally can play for economic pleasure to kicked‐off recovery and growth, especially a er welcome with a short the global and Eurozone crisis. In turn, from presenta on Ivana Prica looked more specifically at Washington on the recent the domes c level and highlighted a DC Dr Borko World Bank number of challenges to trade Handjiski, study on integra on and market liberalisa on in Economist at ‘Barriers to the region as well as the poten al the World trade in social and economic costs that may be Bank and services in the associated to these processes. author of a CEFTA region’, number of From le to right: a study that An interested debate reports and Vassilis Monas rio s, Borko Handjiski & Ivana Prica forcefully calls followed with students studies on for deeper and academic experts Regional Trade in South East Europe, trade integra on in the region and from the audience who was joined in the panel by Dr further liberalisa on in the Trade in Peter Sanfey, Lead Economist at the Services. The presenta ons by Peter Page 10
One‐day Conference on Cyprus The Cyprus Economy at a Time of European Uncertainty: Managing Reform and Sustainability
On 10 February 2012, the School The event opened with a keynote draw on human capital, such as hosted a major one day conference on address by Mrs Praxoula Antoniadou‐ tourism, educa on, medical services the Cyprus economy. Kyriacou (photo‐1) the Minister for and business services. At the same Co‐organised by LSEE and the Hellenic Commerce, Industry and Tourism. me, the discovery of energy resources Observatory ‐ with generous support Acknowledging the significant gave grounds for op mism for the from Deloi e Cyprus, Marfin Popular challenges facing the Cypriot economy future. Bank and the Na onal Bank of Greece ‐ as a result of the crisis in the Eurozone, The rest of the day was arranged around three plenary sessions covering the themes of ‘Macroeconomic challenges’, ‘Finance and Banking’ and ‘Tourism and Energy’. During these sessions, a wide range of subjects were covered, including the shape of the banking sector, labour market reforms, the likely impact demographic changes and the ques on of how to manage energy revenues. The conference concluded with a lively round‐table discussion, which was chaired by Professor Chris Pissarides ‐ 2010 Nobel Memorial Prize Winner (photo‐2) 1 2
she nevertheless noted that Cyprus ‘The Cyprus Economy at a Time of Conference page European Uncertainty: Managing stood to benefit from its geographic posi on on the edge of Europe, which Reform and Sustainability’ was the first h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europeanIn major conference outside of Cyprus to means that it is close to countries that s tute/research/hellenicObservato examine the effects of the European are growing economically. Looking ry/Events/Conferences/Cyprus_Co economic crisis on the island. ahead, emphasis should be placed on nference_2012_Gallery.aspx developing those sectors that could
International Black Sea Symposia
For the second year running, LSEE and, more recently, LSEE. West: A path towards extroversion’. academics have par cipated in the The 4th Symposium took place in LSEE was represented by Dr Will Interna onal Black Sea Symposium, an Vouliagmeni, Greece in September Bartle , who gave a presenta on on annual conference organised by the 2011 under the theme ‘The Black Sea ‘Economic and Social Development in Interna onal Center for Black Sea Region in Transi on: New Challenges the Black Sea area: EU policies and Studies (ICBSS), the Research & and Concepts’. Dr Vassilis Monas rio s instruments’, part of his work Training affiliate of the Organisa on of par cipated as moderator in the conducted under the auspices of the the Black Sea Economic Coopera on training sessions of the Symposium and SEARCH FP7 project. As with previous (BSEC). gave a presenta on on ‘Growth models years, the Symposium a racted a The Symposium, which brings together and development trajectories: selected number of par cipants who academics, prac oners, young discussing alterna ve drivers to growth had the chance to discuss extensively professionals and policy‐makers from from the Eastern European on important issues for the Black Sea across the Black Sea region for an experience’. region, including issues of intensive one‐week interac on and The 5th Symposium took place in July environmental sustainability, energy delibera on on topical issues 2012 in Athens, Greece, under the security, conflict resolu on, regional concerning the region, was established theme ‘The Black Sea region as an coopera on (with a special theme this in 2008 and since 2009 has received influen al crossroad between East and year on ‘science, technology and the support of the Hellenic Observatory innova on’) and EU rela ons Page 11
2nd Joint PhD Symposium on SEE
On Monday, 18 June 2012, Goldsmiths, symposium, the event was specifically challenges, far right poli cs, religion University of London hosted the 2nd designed to bring together emerging and culture, crime and corrup on, Joint PhD Symposium on South East scholars working on the Europe. region across a wide variety Following on from the first conference, of disciplines in the social which was hosted by LSEE, in June sciences and humani es. 2010, the event was once again a joint Contribu ons therefore ini a ve between LSEE‐Research on came from history, poli cs, South East Europe (London School of economics, interna onal rela ons, European studies, sociology, law, anthropology and cultural studies. Yet again, the event proved to be extremely popular. The par cipants of the Symposium This me it exchanging ideas during a break a racted over 50 speakers from across the United minori es and migra on, foreign Kingdom, Europe and North policy, civil society, gender, na onalism America. and conflict. Chaired by staff from the three The next symposium will be hosted by The par cipants ins tu ons, as well as other SSEES‐UCL in 2014 in one of the Symposium Sessions leading regional scholars, the
day was organised into four Economics), the Centre for the Study of sessions (two in the morning and two Symposium page the Balkans (Goldsmiths), and the in the a ernoon), each of which were Centre for South‐East European Studies divided into four parallel panels. These h p://www.gold.ac.uk/csb/ne (School of Slavonic and East European panels covered an extensive variety of wsandevents/even tle,31202 Studies, University College London). subjects, such as ins tu onal ,en.php As was the case with the previous development, regional economic
Film Screening & Discussion On 23 November 2011, LSEE jointly During their travels, the two organised a screening of the acclaimed protagonists stop to speak with documentary, ‘The Long Road through prominent figures from the region and Balkan History’. Held in conjunc on visit important historical sites as they with the Centre for the Study of the seek to understand the break up of Balkans at Goldsmiths, University of Yugoslavia. A journey through the past, London, the event was a joint ini a ve present and future, the film has been of the Embassies of Slovenia and Serbia called the ul mate Balkan road movie. in London, who also generously At the end of the film, we were pleased sponsored the evening. to welcome Dušan Gajić, the producer Cri cally acclaimed, the film charts the of the film, on stage to talk about the journey of the two writers ‐ Miljenko origins and development of the film Jergović, a Croat, and Marko and answer ques ons from the large Vidojković, a Serb ‐ as they drive a Yugo audience who came for the screening. along the more than 700 mile‐long The evening ended with a wine road once known as the ‘Highway of recep on, during which the lively Brotherhood and Unity’. debate and discussion con nued Page 12
Who’s Who
Professor Kevin Featherstone Dr Spyros Economides Dr Vesna Bojicic‐Dzelilovic European Ins tute Head; LSEE Co‐ordinator; Senior Research Fellow, Department LSEE Co‐Chair; Hellenic Observatory Deputy Director; of International Development Hellenic Observatory Director; Senior Lecturer in International Ele herios Venizelos Professor of Relations and European Politics Dr Claire Gordon Contemporary Greek Studies & European Institute Teaching Fellow in Professor of European Poli cs Dr James Ker‐Lindsay East European Politics
LSEE Public Events UK Co‐ordinator; Professor Şevket Pamuk Ms Ismini Demades Eurobank EFG Senior Fellow in the LSEE & Hellenic Observatory Manager LSEE Co‐Chair; Chair of Contemporary Politics of South Eastern Europe Turkish Studies Programme Ms Ioanna Antonopoulou Dr Will Bartle Temporary LSEE Administrator & Dr Vassilis Monas rio s LSEE Research Grants and Networks Hellenic Observatory Administrator LSEE Acting Director; Co‐ordinator; Senior Research Fellow Senior Lecturer in the Political in the Political Economy of South Mr Helios Reveli Economy of South Eastern Europe Project Support Assistant Eastern Europe
LSEE ‐ Research on South Eastern Europe European Ins tute, LSE Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE
Tel: +44(0)20 7955 7198 Email: [email protected]
Website: h p://www2.lse.ac.uk/europeanIns tute/research/LSEE/Home.aspx Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LseeResearchOnSouthEasternEurope Twi er account: h ps://twi er.com/LSEE_LSE
Research Associates Visiting Fellows Adam Fagan 2011‐12 Professor of Poli cs, Queen Mary, University of London Jelena Lausev Umut Özkırımlı Assistant Professor of Economics Professor of Poli cs & Director of Turkish‐Greek University of Belgrade Studies, Istanbul Bilgi University Kenneth Morrison Senior Lecturer in Modern European History De Mon ort University Donors Aleksandra Nojković We would like to record our gra tude to: Assistant Professor of Economics University of Belgrade Eurobank EFG
Hellenic Petroleum S.A. 2012‐13 John S. Latsis Public Benefit Founda on Damiana Otoiu Na onal Bank of Greece IICCMRE; Poli cal Science Department University of Bucharest Viohalco S.A.
LSEE is part of the LSE’s European Ins tute, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence