Region Report is our series of interdisciplinary, research-based policy papers. They are short, accessible and free to all.
Region Report
Eray Mutlu
This paper examines regionalism in Serbia through the case of Vojvodina, arguing that the province functions within a system of centrally constrained decentralisation despite formal guarantees since 2006. Vojvodina’s autonomy peaked under Yugoslavia’s 1974 Constitution, which granted near-republic status, but was dismantled during the Milošević era. Post-2000 reforms reinstated limited self-governance, defining competencies in areas such as education, agriculture, and minority rights. Yet contemporary autonomy remains largely symbolic, reflecting Serbia’s unresolved tension between decentralisation pressures and centralist resistance. The paper concludes that without stronger fiscal and legislative autonomy, regionalism will remain superficial.
Stephen Chilimidos
This Region Report analyses the foundations of the Flemish independence movement, emphasising producerism and interregional fiscal imbalance. It examines nationalist party platforms, regional disparities, and institutional trust. The paper proposes binding fiscal coordination, increasing revenue autonomy, and formalising federal citizen panels to strengthen Belgian federalism.
Javier García Gómez
This Region Report examines the increasing role of regional governments in EU decision-making, focusing on their presence in Brussels through their own offices, European networks, and the European Committee of the Regions. It analyses disparities in regional influence and effectiveness, highlights institutional and informal mechanisms of lobbying, and proposes reforms to strengthen regional representation to enhance interregional cooperation and foster democratic participation at the EU level.
Jack Gill
The concept of regionhood is a combination of regional identity and regional governance institutions. By taking these two dimensions into account, regionhood can be used to determine the feasibility and sustainability of a region’s empowerment with autonomy. Regionhood can thus be applied by policymakers across Europe to improve regional governance and economic development, and strengthen regional cultures in their countries.
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