Multi-dimensional Reviews (MDR) are the result of a collaborative effort by the OECD and the economies under review. This report was carried out by the OECD Development Centre in collaboration with the Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE). The report benefited from excellent collaboration with the Governments in the Western Balkans.
The review was produced under the guidance of Mario Pezzini, Director of the OECD Development Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD Secretary-General on Development. The review was led and co‑ordinated by Jan Rieländer, Head of Country Diagnostics and Strategy, together with Gorazd Režonja, Policy Analyst. The report was drafted by Jan Rieländer, Juan de Laiglesia, Gorazd Režonja, Lara Fleischer (OECD WISE), Diana Hanry-Knop, Kerstin Schopohl and Andrea Colombo (OECD Development Centre), and Marija Kuzmanović (external consultant). The analytical and drafting work for all the economy chapters was co-ordinated by the staff of the OECD Development Centre. Diana Hanry-Knop co-ordinated the work for Albania, Gorazd Režonja the work for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jan Rieländer the work for Kosovo, Andrea Colombo the work for North Macedonia, and Juan de Laiglesia the work for Serbia. Vararat Atisophon, Kate Chalmers, Lucie Fourel and Nishtha Jain (OECD Development Centre) provided superb statistical and research support. Secretarial assistance was provided by Myriam Andrieux (OECD Development Centre).
A special thanks goes to the Multi-dimensional Reviews’ main focal points and their teams in the Government institutions. Majlinda Dhuka, General Director of Department of Development and Good Governance, and Oriana Arapi, General Director of Policy Unit, both in the Office of the Prime Minister, were the main focal points in Albania and were supported by Nertil Jole, Daniela Tako and Anjeza Xhaferaj. Hamdo Tinjak, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, was the main focal point in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was supported by Admir Alihodžić. The focal points in Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina were Jovana Simić, Expert advisor to the Prime Minister, and Rijad Kovač, Assistant Director, Federal Institute for Development Programming. Vedat Sagonjeva, Director of the Strategic Planning Office, Office of the Prime Minister was the main focal point in Kosovo and was supported by Venhar Nushi. Elena Ivanovska, State Adviser on Monitoring the Implementation of the Government Programme, and Ivanna Hadjievska, Advisor to the Prime Minister on International Relations and Cooperation with Organizations, both in the Office of the Prime Minister, and previously Ana Jovanovska, former Head of the Sustainable Development Unit, Cabinet of the Deputy President, were the main focal points in North Macedonia. Branko Budimir, Assistant Minister, Department for planning, programming, monitoring and reporting on EU funds and development assistance, Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia was the main focal point in Serbia, and was supported by Danilo Golubović, and Vladimir Lazović.
The report was greatly supported by the Embassies of Sweden in the economies of the Western Balkans, including Petra Burcher, Ermelinda Xhaja, Biljana Dzartova Petrovska, Ivana Nakikj, Torgny Svenungsson, Mario Vignjević, Ida Reuterswärd, Snezana Vojčić, Nasrin Pourghazian, and Erik Pettersson. The Embassies of Sweden provided support for the project through the organisation of missions and workshops, and have provided valuable comments in the process. The OECD team is also grateful to the Delegations of the European Union, the World Bank offices, the United Nations Resident Coordinator offices, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development offices and other stakeholders in the regional economies, which provided valuable facts and information during the OECD missions.
The team is grateful for insightful comments by Marzena Kisielewska (OECD Global Relations Secretariat), Gregor Virant, Annika Uudelepp, Jesper Johnson, Kaido Paabusk, Xavier Sisternas, and Bagrat Tunyan (OECD Public Governance – SIGMA), Alessandro Lupi, Barbara Baredes and Santiago Gonzalez (OECD Public Governance – Governance Indicators and Performance Evaluation), Bathylle Missika and Gaelle Ferrant (OECD Development Centre), Elizabeth Fordham, Caitlyn Guthrie, Hannah Kitchen and Richard Li (OECD Directorate for Education and Skills), and Dorothee Allain-Dupre, Jose Enrique Garcilazo, and Maria Varinia Michalun (OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities).
The Western Balkan economies, member countries of the OECD Development Centre, and other experts gathered during the informal meetings of the Mutual Learning Group held in September and October 2020 to review Multi-dimensional Reviews and to share insights of development experiences. The report benefited from valuable comments and examples by the lead reviewers and discussants. H.E. Adrian Maître, Ambassador and Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland in Albania provided the lead review of Albania. Vedat Sagonjeva, Director of the Strategic Planning Office, Office of the Prime Minister, Kosovo provided the lead review of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ana Jovanovska, former Head of the Sustainable Development Unit, Cabinet of the Deputy President, North Macedonia provided the lead review of Kosovo. Ayana Manassova, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Paris provided the lead review of North Macedonia. Mr Andrea Cascone, Director of the Adriatic and Balkans Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy provided the lead review of Serbia. José Román León Lora, Minister Counsellor, Development and EU DAC delegate, EU Delegation to the OECD provided the lead review of the regional overview. Ermelinda Xhaja, Programme Officer, Embassy of Sweden in Tirana, Albania served as a key discussant for Albania. Agnes Stenström, Chief Economist Team, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency served as a discussant for Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia. Erik Petterson, Programme Manager at the Embassy of Sweden in Pristina served as a key discussant for Kosovo. Ida Reuterswärd, First Secretary, Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade served as a key discussant for Serbia. Susanna Gable, Chief Economist, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency served as a key discussant for the regional review. A special thanks goes to chairs of the six informal meetings, including Abdelghni Lakhdar, Co-Chair of the Mutual Learning Group, Ayana Manassova, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Paris, Suvi Tuominen, First Secretary at the Permanent Delegation of Finland to the OECD, Christoph Graf, Counsellor at the Permanent Delegation of Switzerland to the OECD and Daniela Benjamin, Deputy Delegate, Office of the Delegate of Brazil to International Economic Organizations in Paris, Embassy of Brazil in Paris.
The MDR team is grateful to the representatives from ministries, agencies, private sector and non-governmental organisations that took part in the numerous fact-finding meetings and the workshops held in 2020, as well as for their insightful contributions and comments to the publication.
In Albania, Majlinda Dhuka, Oriana Arapi, Nertil Jole, Evis Qaja, Daniela Tako, Julia Cela, Anjeza Xhaferaj (Prime Ministers' Office, Policy Unit for Development and Good Governance), Oljan Kanushi, Mitea Gegushi and Drilona Deliu (Cabinet of Prime Minister), Irena Malolli, Thimjo Plaku, Gjergji Simaku (Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy), Brikena Shehu (Ministry of Justice), Redi Baduni, Lediana Karalliu, Erjola Sojati (Ministry of Turism and Environment), Idriz Haxhia (Ministry of Interior Affairs), Dikensa Topi (Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth), Herida Duro (Ministry of Culture), Merita Xhafaj and Brunilda Dervishaj (Ministry of Health and Social Protection), Ada Ilia (Minister of State for Diaspora), Kleina Kasanai (Minister of State for Enterpreneur Protection), Albana Kociu and Arvena Deda (Department of Public Administration), Gerta Lubonja and Anduen Karagjozi (Agency of Management of Water Resources), Nensi Lalaj and Adelina Greca (National Agency of Territory Planning), Rezar Turdiu and Arben Skenderi (National Agency of Cadaster), Zamir Dedej (National Agency of Protected Areas), Ledion Lako (National Coastal Agency), Romina Kostani (National Agency of Information society), Haki Cako and Fatjona Xhaferri (National Agency of Civil Protection), Genci Celi and Sokol Nano (Albanian Investment and Development Agency (AIDA)).
In Bosnia and Herzegovina at the state level, Directorate for Economic Planning, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Ministry of Communications and Transport, Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia and Herzegovina at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Institute for Development Programming, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, Ministry of Physical Planning, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Agency for Privatization, Tax Administration, and Federal Employment Agency. In Bosnia and Herzegovina at the level of Republika Srpska, Government of the Republic of Srpska, Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation, Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology, Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry for Scientific-Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour, War Veterans and Disabled People's Protection, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Trade and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Employment Agency, and Tax Administration.
In Kosovo, Office of Strategic Planning (Office of the Prime Minister), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Ministry of Education, Science Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Finance, Transfers and Labour, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Administration, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Local Government Administration, Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Anti-Corruption Agency, Agency on Gender Equality, Food and Veterinary Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Inter-ministerial Water Council, Central Bank, Kosovo Competition Authority, Office for Budget and Finance, Agency for Statistics, Municipality of Pristina/other municipalities, Employment Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Commission, Labour Inspectorate, Social Services, Trade Union Representatives, Investment and Enterprise Support Agency, American Chamber of Commerce, Customs Administration, Tax administration, Balkan Green Foundation, Foundation Open Society, Regional Environment Kosovo, Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms, and Civil Rights Program.
In North Macedonia, Elena Ivanovska and Ivanna Hadjievska (Office of the Prime Minister), Kalinka Gaber, Hristina Koneska Berovska and Ljubica Gerasimova (Secretariat of European Affairs), Ana Jovanovska, Viktor Andonov, Daniel Josifovski and Sandra Andovska (Cabinet of the Deputy President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, in charge of economic affairs and co-ordination of economic departments), Jasmina Mjastorovska, Biljana Stojanovska, Marina Arsovska and Sofket Ramadani (Ministry of Economy), Vesna Cvetanova, Magdalena Simonovska, Jordan Trajkovski, and Aleksandra Velkova (Ministry of Finance), Aleksandar Dilije and Aleksandar Musalevski (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy), Biljana Zdraveva and Svetlana Gligorovska (Ministry of Transport and Connections), Dushan Tomisic, Darko Docinski and Goran Veleski (Ministry of Labour and Social Policy), Tatjana Vasić (Ministry of Justice), Andriana Stojanovska (Ministry of Local Self-Government), Biljana Prentovska (Ministry of Culture), Mihajlo Kostovski (Ministry of Health), Lendita Dika, Vlatko Trepski, Ana Karanfilova, Katerina Nikolovska and Vesna Indova (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning), Elena Bodeva, Tanja Dinevska, Shpresa Jusufi and Igor Popov (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Tanja Ilievska (Fund for Innovation and Tehnology), Aneta Krsteva (National Bank), Aleksandar Argirovski and Rita Gligorievska (Public Procurement Bureau), Snezana Shipovic, Mirjana Boshnjak, Arija Caushovska, and Branko Hinikj (State Statistical Office), Ivan Ivanov (Invest North Macedonia), Zlatko Vterovski and Dragan Ivanovski (Customs Administration), Ivana Donchevska and Vasil Blazevski (Public Revenue Office), Biljana Koceska (National Agency for Security-Migration), Nadica Kostovska (Ministry of Education and Science), Mihajlo Kostovski (Ministry of Health), Tanja Ilievska (Fund for Innovation and Technology), Frosina Velkovska Petkovska and Violeta Stojanovic (Employment Agency of the Republic of Macedonia), Zorica Dzingova-Trpcevska, Zlate Stojanovski and Toni Vojnevski (Labor Inspectorate), Ana Panceva (Social Services Agency), Maja Konevska and Irena Popovska, Karolina Anovska and Rosa Galevska (Commission for the Protection of Competition), Arbonara Bajrami and Elena Zlateska (Bureau for Economically Insufficient Developed Regions), Bojan Dunev and Aleksandar Sapundziski (Directorate for Water Management), Darko Blinkov (State Inspectorate for Environment), Mare Basova and Tatjana Minovska (State Enterprise for Forests), Atanas Kochov and Dusko Mukaetov (Academia), EKO ZVON, Jadranka Arizanovska (Chamber of Commerce), Aleksandra Chavadareva (MASIT), Drilion Iseni (OEMVP), and Maja Filipceva (Amcham).
In Serbia, the Office of the Prime Minister, Branko Budimir, Danilo Golubović, and Vladimir Lazović (Ministry of European Integration), Slavko Lukić (Regional Development Agency Zlatibor), Vukasin Vučević, Natalija Luković, Tanja Stojanović and Verica Kugić (Ministry of Mining and Energy), Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy, Ministry without portfolio responsible for innovation and technological development, Ministry without portfolio responsible for regional development and coordination of the work of public companies, Ministry without portfolio responsible for demography and population policy, Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Amalija Pavić and Marko Jovanović (AmCham Serbia), Gordana Lukić (Commission for Protection of Competition), the Team of the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, Jelena Mujčinović and Janko Prica (Public Policy Secretariat), and the National Academy for Public Administration for their hospitality, Nataša Đereg and Pera Marković (CEKOR), Miloš Đinđić (European Policy Center), Zorana Milovanovic (Evropski pokret u Srbiji), Duska Dimovic (WWF in Serbia), Ivan Topalović (Belgrade Open school), Public Procurement Office, Labour Inspectorate, Commission for State Aid Control and Department for State Aid Control, National Employment Service, National Bank, Fiscal Council, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, and H.E. Carlo Lo Cascio, Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade and his team.
Finally, the team acknowledges Jessica Hutchings for editing the manuscript. Aida Buendia, Delphine Grandrieux and Elizabeth Nash from the OECD Development Centre’s Communications and Publications Unit, and Meral Gedik (Consultant) edited, laid out and produced the report.
This publication was produced with the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the OECD Development Centre and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, or that of the Governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia.