The CESS newsletter was first published in 1999. Security Matters does not only inform our readers of our events and projects, but it also discusses a theme in-depth. The Security matters dives into timely topics through short commentaries and interviews with opinion-makers, researchers, and policymakers.

Civil society oversight of security: The case of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Compiled by CESS Team

In this Security Matters No. 30, we celebrate the 30^th birthday of CESS. We also focus on civil society oversight of security in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Read about the BIHOS project and get to know our partner institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Read more, download Security Matters #30 (PDF)

Governing security together
Compiled by CESS Team

In this issue of Security Matters we focus on concluding our DECOS research and capacity building project in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Jos Boonstra writes about European integration and the Western Balkans in his editorial. Merijn Hartog and Beatrijs Visser discuss regional cooperation in their commentary. Central to this newsletter are interviews with Dijana Dejanoska Petkovska of the Audit Office in North Macedonia, Majlindë Sinani-Lulaj, Kosovo’s Deputy Ombudsperson, and Denis Gila from the Albanian Parliament.

Read more, download Security Matters #29 (PDF)

Defending democracy – democratic defence
Compiled by CESS Team

A war is raging in Europe. In Ukraine, people are fighting for survival. In Europe and beyond, there is fear of escalation. Whatever the outcome, the war will change our continent permanently. Among the many questions being brought to the fore by the war, are certainly the defence of democracy and democratic defence. At the Centre for European Security Studies, we have sought to contribute to democratisation of defence and security in Europe since 1993. Our last activity in Ukraine was a security sector oversight project in 2019-20, working closely with the parliament, ombudsman, accounting chamber, and civil society. Together with our European partners, we stand ready to continue such work in support of a secure and democratic Europe. Most of the writing in this Security Matters precludes the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here, we share our experiences in implementing the democratic security oversight project DECOS in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.

Read more, download the PDF

Security Matters #28

Security Sector Oversight in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia
Compiled by CESS Team

The CESS newsletter Security Matters has been around since 1999. This 27^th edition is restyled, but its content on political developments, democracy, human rights, and security in Europe and beyond, remains unchanged. In this issue, oversight of the security sector is discussed as part of our DECOS project in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia.

Read more, download the PDF

Security Matters #27