Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID)

Summary of organization’s strategic orientation:

The Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) was founded in 1997 in the form of a citizens’ association, as the first Serbian watchdog organization with the primary task of organizing election monitoring in the country. Determined to contribute to evidence-based policy planning, CeSID has been evolving as a think tank since 2002, bringing together some of the most prominent experts from the Western Balkans in the fields of sociology, statistics, political science, public policies, business, law and media, public health, entrepreneurship, psychology, energy efficiency and the environment around its projects, research and advocacy. CeSID has 25 years of experience and over 70 successfully implemented projects in cooperation with numerous stakeholders ranging from political parties, local communities, international organizations, educational institutions, civil society organizations, trade unions, research centers, media, companies and state institutions in Serbia, but also throughout the Western Balkans.

Summary of the supported project:

The project “Understanding Crises, Strengthening Resilience: Towards the Last Stop of EU Integration” aims to contribute to the strengthening of European integration in Serbia by improving communication between state authorities, civil society organizations and the media, and to raise citizens’ awareness of the benefits of EU membership. The activities of the project include a comprehensive public opinion survey, analysis of challenges such as the lithium crisis, and identification of strategies for overcoming obstacles in the European integration process.
Through four specific objectives (SCs), the project will establish a strong platform for progress in European integration: assessing support for integration, improving the understanding of processes among key actors, strengthening cooperation between relevant institutions and the media, and developing effective communication strategies. CeSID will engage different target groups, including public authorities, civil society and the media, to broaden dialogue and improve understanding on European integration.
Through the organization of the conference and an online campaign, the project will contribute to better informing the public, while the presentations of research findings and policy proposals will improve the dialogue between key actors.
The expected results of the projects include increasing understanding and support for European integration among key actors, better informing the public, and establishing a constructive dialogue between the media, state authorities and civil society. The project also aims to improve the promotion of EU integration through effective communication strategies and provide citizens with access to better quality information.
In the long term, the project will ensure sustainability through the public availability of research results and policy proposals, strengthening the capacities of civil society and states, and through the continuation of activities on social networks. It is planned that the project results will influence policy-making and promote European integration as a key priority in the social and political context of Serbia.

Project goal(s):

Overall objective

To contribute to the strengthening of European integration in Serbia by empowering civil society organizations and the media, improving communication between state authorities and raising public awareness of the benefits of EU membership.

Specific objective(s)

SC 1: Assess support for the European integration process in the context of the lithium crisis, the adopted Growth Plan and the possible enlargement of the EU without Serbia, and identify key obstacles, ways to overcome and opportunities for progress.

SC2: To improve the understanding of the European integration process among key actors and the general public.

SC3: Strengthen cooperation and dialogue between public authorities, civil society and the media in the context of European integration.

SC4: Develop and implement effective communication strategies to promote European integration in a different context.

Beneficiaries:

State authorities, in particular the Ministry of European Integration (MEI)
Civil Society Organizations
Media
Expert public
Decision-makers

Main activities:

Preparing an assessment of support for the European integration process
Preparation of a methodological framework for public opinion research
Implementation of public opinion research
Establishing cooperation with MEI
Making practical policy proposals
Preparation of strategic communication interventions
Presentation of key findings and suggestions for practical
Realization of a working breakfast with the media, discussion of findings and strategic interventions
Presentation to civil society, discussion on findings and strategic interventions
Conference with two panels: research and strategic communication interventions
Conducting an online campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of European integration