The transition process to democracy and market economy in the Western Balkans has been stalled by injections of corrosive capital. Rather than building robust government systems based on democracy and rule of law, governance gaps remain widespread in all Balkan countries. As a result, external actors, particularly undemocratic states, have been able to reassert their role in the region and undermine democratic development. This has become particularly visible throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Center for International Private Enterprise and the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) celebrate the launch of a new report on tackling corrosive capital in the Western Balkans. The report explains the applications of CSD’s Monitoring Anti-Corruption Policy Implementation methodology, and how it is used to identify common patterns of corrosive capital throughout the region. Four target countries are highlighted, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The report concludes with proposing actionable solutions to build more resilient economies in Southeast Europe.
Opening Remarks
Eric Hontz, Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Eurasia, Center for International Private Enterprise
Ruslan Stefanov, Director, Economic Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
Speakers
Dr. Aleksandar Gerganov, Senior Analyst, Center for Study of Democracy, and Assistant Professor, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Igor Stojanović, Independent Consultant and Director of PCM Consulting, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Misha Popovikj, Researcher, Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’ Skopje (IDSCS), Republic of North Macedonia
Dr. Rumena Filipova, Research Fellow, Economic Program, Center for Study of Democracy, Bulgaria