Every year the European Commission publishes a Progress Report for countries of the enlargement region. As in other countries, in Kosovo the report evokes wide comment from figures in politics, media and society around its publication in autumn.

For the rest of the year the findings of the European Commission report less prominent on the public agenda even though it is exactly the period of time when work is done by Kosovo institutions to address the identified challenges from the report and eventually get better marks in the next progress report. The conclusions of the report do disappear but stay at the centre of Kosovo’s work agenda as the key compilation of benchmarks for European standards.

If the progress report is the central tool to monitor Kosovo’s European ambitions it is crucial that everybody in Kosovo gains better understanding of what it actually says. This is why the Media Centre Çagllavicë/Caglavica with the support of the EU in Kosovo is organising a series of debates discussing Kosovo’s efforts to make progress. The project aims to explain the content of the report and with it transparency and understanding of what reform efforts are required to advance Kosovo’s European integration. It should give the Kosovo authorities an opportunity to explain the work they are doing to media and the public and to answer questions.

In 2010 the Media Centre Çagllavicë/Caglavica is planning six debates starting on 29 April 2010 and then once per month with the final one in the days following the publication of the progress report. The first debate will be more general, with panelists looking back on the achievements in the first 6 months and priorities for the following six months. The debates in between will have a priority area as a focus, e.g. economic governance and progress, human rights, the environment and rule of law.

Panels will consist of experts from international and local institutions and civil society. Media is invited to participate actively in the debate.