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Since May 2012 Serbia had been granted an EU-candidate state status. This is the closest the country has ever been to the EU, which was a stage victory for the former government in Belgrade. But meanwhile most Serbs just shrug their shoulders: the EU enthusiasm has faded away. A lot of people are sceptical about how much economical and cultural improvement the EU membership could bring to their country. The situation is similar in the neighbouring countries: high unemployment, corruption, less developed civil societies, environmental problems, almost no independent media. And on top of all that comes the very slow reappraisal of the latest wars.

In the same time there is a new generation growing up, which perceives the EU as patronizing. But what could an alternative look like? How is the relationship between the fragmented states of Ex-Yugoslavia and the EU – which hopes and expectations are there both sides? Where does the EU reach its limits? The Balkan rearranges itself in a new way – is there potential for the establishment of a new sub-region within the EU?

The Media Program South East Europe of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung , the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe (n-ost), Access Info and BIRN invite journalists from the Western Balkan and from the rest of Europe to discuss and exchange ideas with regional actors and representatives of international organisations and NGOs.

Parallel to the Media conference there will be a Legal Leaks workshop on freedom of information rights for journalists and citizens.