Fostering policy dialogue on fundamental rights
The TRAIN Programme’s participants, who come from various different research backgrounds, explored a broad spectrum of topics in their policy papers. Research projects included studies of corruption, administration reforms, freedom of expression, women representatives in parliament, and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual people.
After the opening seminar in Belgrade in April – where the participants got to know each other and developed and discussed their first ideas concerning the policy papers – the mid-term seminar in Berlin made it possible for them to go a step further. The participants presented drafts of their papers and had the opportunity to receive feedback from their colleagues as well as from a peer reviewer.
They also worked on methods of disseminating advocacy, preparing the ground for the third – and last – seminar of this year’s TRAIN group, which will take place in Brussels in the autumn. There, the participating researchers will present their findings to EU decision makers and forge contacts with potential partners in Brussels. They will discuss their policy papers with figures from different EU institutions (the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of Ministers) and Brussels-based organizations and receive input in view of the dissemination of their results to national policy-makers.
In Berlin, the participants met with relevant actors and experts from the German policy scene, for instance from the German Bundestag, the Federal Foreign Office and the Chancellery. The rich and lively discussions were sparked by both the inputs of the Western Balkan and the German analysts on recent developments, challenges and the accession process of the countries in the region.
TRAIN stands for “Think Tanks Providing Research and Advice through Interaction and Networking” and is dedicated to promoting independent policy research institutes from the Western Balkan region. In a series of workshops, participating researchers work on writing policy papers and developing advocacy strategies. Its overall aim is to support civil society organizations and foster the national and European policy dialogue on key issues regarding the EU-integration process.
