Fund for an Open Society–Serbia

Throughout 2006, Serbia continued its hesitant path toward changes, reforms, consolidation of democratic institutions, and rapprochement with Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The May 2006 Montenegro referendum that resulted in that country’s independence gave Serbia default independence as well. By November, a new but flawed constitution was passed, despite objections and calls for postponement by Serbian civil society groups and political analysts. Serbia’s continued lack of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia led to a suspension of talks with the EU on the Agreement on Stabilization and Association. The future status of Kosovo continued to divert the government’s attention from its development and political reform agenda. Also in November, Serbia was invited to join NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, and the country continued to lead the Western Balkans in pursuing economic reforms.

The Fund for an Open Society–Serbia responded to these developments by promoting and supporting activities that further democratization and pro-European development. It also focused on building effective coalitions to organize and advocate for social change and to enhance civil society and democracy in Serbia.

The following briefs describe some of the foundation’s activities and achievements in 2006.

TV Series Denounces Milosevic Regime to Wide Acclaim

A documentary TV series supported by the foundation showed how the Milosevic regime used the pretext of defending the national interest to increase its power and unleash ethnic wars across the former Yugoslavia. Ordinary Serbians suffered while the regime and its military, political, and business supporters made fortunes and threatened or killed opponents. The series, which sought to help Serbians confront the recent past, generated huge public demand resulting in three rebroadcasts and the release of a DVD that sold out within a week.

Multiethnic Communities Work Together for Better Governance

The final phase of a project in three multiethnic communities in northern Serbia helped strengthen local ombudsmen and the development of interethnic councils to defend minority rights and advance local policies that carefully consider issues of ethnicity. Croats, Hungarians, Roma, Romanians, Ruthenians, Slovaks, and Ukrainians increased their participation in governance as a result of this joint effort of the foundation and OSI’s Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative.

Reports Show Progress on EU Requirements

Despite the fact that EU negotiations have been suspended due to Serbia's lack of full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal, fund-sponsored monitoring found that progress toward EU membership has been made. Two reports (part of a forthcoming series) showed improvement in access to information, civil society inclusion in developing legislation, and harmonization of legislation with human rights norms and anticorruption standards. The foundation will continue to monitor Serbia's progress toward EU membership and support civil society in advocacy activities aiming to remedy identified shortfalls in reform and integration processes.

Opportunities Grow for Intellectually Disabled in Serbia

People with intellectual disabilities in Serbia are increasingly living on their own, finding employment and participating in local communities. Efforts by the foundation and the Open Society Mental Health Initiative have persuaded employers such as McDonald’s and municipal agencies to commit to hiring the intellectually disabled. One Belgrade project helped two dozen intellectually disabled people live independently in the larger community. These successes have been aided by foundation-supported NGOs that helped develop tax breaks for hiring the developmentally handicapped, and the Serbian government’s commitment in 2006 to begin deinstitutionalization.