Multi-level governance in the Western Balkans

The SIGMA–NALAS Multi-Level Governance Conference, brought together central and local government representatives from the Western Balkans to explore effective multi-level governance. Organised in partnership with NALAS, the event featured discussions on decentralisation reforms, EU integration, and local government finance. Drawing on SIGMA’s 2024 Monitoring Reports and NALAS’ fiscal decentralisation insights, the conference offered a platform for peer learning, policy dialogue, and intergovernmental co-operation. Experts from the EU, OECD, and regional institutions shared tools, data, and strategies to strengthen local governance and support sustainable, inclusive development across South-East Europe.

• Opening speeches
  Marash DUKAJ, Minister of Public Administration, Montenegro
  Misela MANOJLOVIĆ, Secretary General, Union of Municipalities of Montenegro
  Orlando FUSCO, EU Delegation, Podgorica
  Bianca BRÉTÉCHÉ, Deputy Head of the SIGMA Programme

• Assessing the state of multi-level governance in the Western Balkans
  Monika KURIAN, Senior Policy Advisor, Multi-Level Governance, SIGMA
  

• Inter-municipal co-operation in the Western Balkans and EU
  Pawel SWIANIEWICZ, National Institute for Local Government; University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland, SIGMA expert

• Multi-level governance and the EU accession process
  Nina BLAZIC, Director General, Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro
  Kelmend ZAJAZI, NALAS Executive Director
  Nikola TARBUK, Secretary General, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, Serbia
  Niall SHEERIN, Deputy Head of the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe
  Halko BASARIC, Senior Advisor, Association of Municipalities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  Aleksandar MARINKOVIC, Programme Director for Finance and Planning System, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia, Serbia
  
  Moderator: Miloš Djindič, Programme Manager and Senior Researcher, European Policy Centre
  

• Toolkit for analysing local government functioning
  Patrik PRUZINSKY, SIGMA expert

• Local government finance in South-East Europe
  Elton STAFA, NALAS Fiscal Decentralization Expert

• Discussion: Status and Perspectives of Local Government Finance Reforms
  Olta CACA, Director of Statistics and Performance, Agency for Support of Local Self-Government, Albania
  Isabelle CHATRY, Head of Unit, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities
  Snežana MUGOŠA, Director General, Directorate for the Financial System of Local Self-Government and Wage Policy, Ministry of Finance Montenegro
  
  Moderator: Dario RUNTIC, Advisor to the Minister of Finance of Croatia and the Association of Croatian Cities

• Summary and closing remarks

Download the presentations from the event