Dr. Nermin Oruč, CREDI’s Director of Research, participated in an event organized by the Academic Network for Cooperation in Southeast Europe (AMSSEE) on December 13, 2024, at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo.
The event focused on social inclusion—a comprehensive process aimed at reducing inequalities and ensuring equal access to resources, rights, and opportunities for all, regardless of social, economic, or ethnic background. Social inclusion challenges are particularly significant in the Western Balkans, where adherence to EU standards (Chapters 19 and 23 of the Stabilization and Association Agreement) is critical for further integration.
A key initiative discussed was AMSSEE’s project on monitoring social inclusion measures. Launched by the Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade, the project aims to provide policymakers with reliable data on the implementation of public policies related to social inclusion. A prototype software tool has already been developed to track these measures comprehensively. Further advancements in this project hold promise for enhancing regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Dr. Oruč contributed to the dialogue by sharing insights from CREDI’s research on social inclusion and presenting models developed for measuring the efficiency of social policies. Other speakers included Dr. Goran Bašić (AMSSEE & IDN) and Vasva Smajlović, MA (Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo).
The event served as a platform to explore opportunities for strengthening a regional network focused on social inclusion policies in the Western Balkans.