Overview
The Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) is a 10-year, $30-million grantmaking initiative that supports democracy, good governance, and Euroatlantic integration in Southeastern Europe. This award-winning public-private partnership was created in 2003 by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. BTD is structured to allow both European and U.S. partners to join the effort to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the Balkans. Since its founding, additional contributions from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Tipping Point Foundation, Compagnia di San Paolo, the Robert Bosch Foundation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark have made BTD a true transatlantic partnership. Grantmaking
Operating from the German Marshall Fund's Belgrade office, BTD awards grants in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia, including Kosovo. BTD also gives regional grants to organizations promoting the benefits of a pan-Balkan network. Policy Dialogue
In addition to grantmaking, the Balkan Trust for Democracy continually works to accelerate the region's integration into Euroatlantic structures and to raise the profile of the Balkans. Together with GMF's Washington Headquarters and its other European offices, BTD connects local actors with European Union, American, and international individuals and institutions in order to build networks and consensus on Balkan issues from a broader, multi-stakeholder perspective. The Bulgaria Fund
The new Bulgaria Fund, also located in Belgrade, is a 3-year, $3-million grantmaking initiative of the United States Agency for International Development and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Created in 2007, it continues the USAID reform agenda in Bulgaria.
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Book presentation - "Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe"
On March 4, the Austrian Parliament hosted a presentation of the book Reclaiming Democracy: Civil Society and Electoral Change in Central and Eastern Europe that was edited by GMF's Joerg Forbrig and Pavol Demeš in cooperation with Erste Stiftung. The event featured Barbara Prammer, president of the Austrian Parliament; Erhard Busek, special coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe; Sonja Puntscher-Riekmann, director of the Research Institute on European Integration; Boris Marte, managing director of Erste Stiftung; and Pavol Demeš , director of Central and Eastern Europe of GMF. Held in the historic committee room of the lower house, the event provided an opportunity for Austrian policymakers, journalists, and NGO representatives, as well as students, to discuss recent democratic changes in Central and Eastern Europe.
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Basescu serves up some suprises in NATO Summit Preview
On January 31, GMF Brussels hosted a talk by Romanian President Traian Basescu, entitled "Gearing up for the NATO Summit," that was later opened up for a question and answer session from the audience. Dr. Ronald D. Asmus, the executive director of GMF's Brussels Office, moderated the event held in the packed Polak Room of the Residence Palace.
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Bulgarian FM discusses next steps for the Balkans
On January 4, GMF hosted Ivailo Kalfin, the foreign minister and deputy prime minister of the republic of Bulgaria, for a luncheon roundtable entitled "What Next for the Balkans," in which he examined the pitfalls and opportunities of a fragile upcoming year for the Balkan region, and highlighted the region's relationship with both Europe and the United States. |
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