Western Balkans

Further Cooperation

• TAIEX projects in North Macedonia and Serbia

  TAIEX stands for "Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument". It supports public administrations in the harmonization, application, and enforcement of EU law and facilitates the exchange of best-practice examples. The instrument can be used very flexibly as it is primarily demand-oriented and provides tailor-made expertise. This is achieved mainly through short-term workshops, training courses, and study visits. TAIEX projects are financed and organized by the European Commission.

  The Austrian Parliament has already completed two European Commission TAIEX projects in cooperation with the French National Assembly.

  In May 2024, the "Workshop on the Role of the National Assembly in the Accession Process of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union" took place in Belgrade. Focus was on the role of EU committees before and after EU accession as well as on best practice examples from Austria, France, and Croatia. The topic of cooperation between the government and parliament, and the latter's control function, was also addressed.

  In December 2021, the Austrian Parliament participated in the two-day seminar on "EU Accession, Revised Methodology and the Fundamentals: What Changes for the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia". The aim of the workshop was to focus explicitly on the needs of the Macedonian Parliament and its crucial role in the EU accession process and to raise awareness at both the political and administrative levels.

  More information about TAIEX (europa.eu)

• Twinning Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova

  Twinning is an instrument of the European Union for institutional cooperation between the public administrations of EU member states on the one hand and partner countries on the other. It was originally created in the context of EU enlargement. The programme was later extended to the Eastern Partnership countries.

  Through a wide range of activities such as workshops, on-the-job training, study visits, and peer-to-peer activities, Twinning projects lasting several months or years make an important contribution to the development and expansion of institutional structures.

  The pre-accession process to the EU is also about strengthening democratic institutions. Parliaments play a central role in this. The involvement of the national parliaments of the respective partner countries is, therefore, essential.

  Participation in the EU Twinning project to support the Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina in EU integration tasks (2019-2021):

  The Austrian Parliament actively supports the consistent and sustainable accession of the countries of South-Eastern Europe to the EU, thereby contributing to stability in the region.

  In 2019-2021, a consortium between the Hungarian Parliament as Project Leader and the Austrian and Croatian Parliaments as Junior Member State Partners carried out the Twinning project "Empowerment and further Support to the Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina in EU Integration Tasks". The project was tendered by the European Commission.

  The aim was to strengthen the parliamentary structures of Bosnia and Herzegovina by seconding experts from various fields such as EU participation, ICT, electronic legislative processes, budgeting, communication and human resources development.

  This third project for Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at strengthening the four Parliamentary Administrations, particularly in the area of EU integration. The ten cantonal Parliaments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina were also included in individual areas. This involved the following four topics:

  • Expansion of the competencies of the EU organizational units in the parliaments
  • Deepening the cooperation between parliaments on EU matters
  • Improving the competencies of administrative structures in the legislative process in connection with pre-accession to the EU
  • Development of the competencies of the cantonal assemblies

  The Parliaments of the Czech Republic, Belgium (both Chambers and the Flemish Parliament), France (National Assembly), Portugal and Slovakia also took part in the project with experts.

  In the course of the project, concrete implementation plans were developed at the administrative level; in addition, priorities were set at the political level, and forums for regular exchange and cooperation were established. Furthermore, the project accompanied the ongoing work process (committee support, preparation of meetings, staff recruitment, conference preparations).

  More information about Twinning:  

  • Website of the European Commission and the BMEIA
  • Twinning Project - EU support to the Parliaments of BiH in EU integration tasks
  • Information about Twinning project with Moldova

• Cooperation with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD)

  The HUGEN project (Human Rights and Gender Equality Network) of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) aimed to support parliaments in the Western Balkans with international standards on human rights and gender equality. In 2021 and 2022, virtual meetings of the relevant parliamentary committees on human trafficking and violence against women took place. Austrian Parliamentarians also actively participated in these meetings.