Collection of Policy Briefs on the Digital Transition in the Western Balkans

This deliverable ‘Overview of the collection of Policy briefs on Digital Transition across all policy areas’ includes the products of Task 4.1 of the POLICY ANSWERS project which addresses alignment of priorities related to digitalisation in the Western Balkans across different policy areas. This task promotes a whole-of-government approach, strengthening coordination and focusing the dialogue across different policy areas and across the region. This cross-cutting thematic task produces several outputs, policy briefs and reports, summarising pertinent issues across the region, and provides recommendations.
This deliverable discusses issues relevant for digitalisation such as infrastructure, legislation and human resources, where the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans (WB) and a variety of stakeholders play a role.
In the first two-and-a-half years of its implementation, the POLICY ANSWERS consortium developed, together with external experts, a policy report and a policy brief.
Policy Report on the Digital Transformation in the Western Balkans
The Policy Report presents a comprehensive overview on the digital transformation in the Western Balkans (WB), addressing various dimensions including infrastructure, skills, governance models, strategic frameworks, and legal and regulatory frameworks.
The report presents a comprehensive analysis of the digitalisation landscape in the WB, addressing various dimensions including ICT infrastructure, skills, governance models, legal frameworks, eGovernment initiatives, and user experience. As the WB undergo a significant transition toward digitalisation driven by globalisation, technological advancements and the EU integration process, understanding the current state of digitalisation in the WB is crucial for policymakers, stakeholders and businesses to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas requiring improvements.
Based on individual interviews, research and outcomes from the Policy Dialogue Conference in Sarajevo (2023), it underscores the importance of aligning with the EU Acquis and of fulfilling the obligations of Chapter 10 - Digital Transformation and Media.
The report has been prepared by the POLICY ANSWERS consortium in its WP4, led by Sanja Damjanovic (GSI) and Bojana Bajic as regional expert and was further supported by Goran Pastrovic as well as other external experts providing inputs through interviews and their contributions at the conference in Sarajevo.
POLICY ANSWERS Policy Brief. Digital Transformation in the Western Balkans
The Policy Brief presents an Executive Summary of the Policy Report described above. It was prepared by the POLICY ANSWERS consortium in February 2024 but updated in order to be printed for dissemination at the Ministerial meeting of the Steering Platforms on 30 September-1 October 2024 in Skopje. By implementing the recommendations and learning from best practices, the WB economies can expedite digitalisation initiatives, effectively navigate the digital age and unlock growth and innovation potential while ensuring inclusivity and sustainability.

Both documents are available on the Western Balkans Info Hub and were extensively disseminated:
https://www.westernbalkans-infohub.eu/documents/policy-answers-policy-report-and-briefdigital-transformation-in-the-western-balkans/

The deliverable has been developed in the frame of the Horizon Europe project "R&I policy making, implementation and support in the Western Balkans", Grant Agreement N° 101058873.