22 years ago in 1999 we created ESI in a Sarajevo garden. We had no funding, but a mission: that ideas and research can protect democracy and preserve peace in wider Europe. Since then we wrote thousands of pages; made 15 documentaries; gave many interviews.
Here is a short and incomplete overview of the first few years and what we tried:
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22 years ago, in 1999, we created ESI in a Sarajevo garden. We had no funding, but a mission: that ideas and research can protect democracy and preserve peace in wider Europe. Since then we wrote thousands of pages; made 15 documentaries; gave many interviews.
Rasul Jafarov, Gerald, Anar Mammadli 
Pieter Omtzigt and Gerald 
ESI kitchen talk 
Adnan Cerimagic 
Madrid, 2019 
ESI dinner 2019 
Founding meeting of ESI in Sarajevo in 1999
Here is a short and incomplete overview of the first few years and what we tried:
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The world and the European Union have changed since 1999.
States who joined the EU have enjoyed democratic peace. Around the EU there has since been more violence and war: from Belarus to Ukraine, Syria to Libya, Iraq to the Caucasus. In the EU there are new challenges to the rule of law and human rights.
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Some highlights from 22 years:
Our first reports in 1999 was on how to support a multiethnic and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina:
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In 2001 we wrote a big report – in cooperation with Martti Ahtisaari – recommending that the Balkan Stability Pact focus on regional energy integration; on creating a common market with the EU; and on visa liberalization for all Balkan citizens.
Democracy, Security And The Future Of The Stability Pact For South Eastern Europe
Martti Ahtisaari
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We teamed up with former EU interior ministers to persuade the EU to offer visa free travel to the Balkans, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, and Turkey.
Giulio Amato and Otto Schily on ESI trip to Ankara 
Gerald Knaus and Nigar Göksel in debate on Georgian visa liberalisation in Istanbul
It was a great if incomplete success (Kosovo and Turkey still missing).
The Schengen White List Project Compendium
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We carried out field research into causes of underdevelopment.
In Bosnia: Protests and Illusions – How Bosnia and Herzegovina lost a decade
In Kosovo: Cutting the lifeline – Migration, Families and the Future of Kosovo
In Serbia: Discussion Paper: The cost of non-Europe – Textile towns and the future of Serbia
In Macedonia: Ahmeti’s Village – The Political Economy Of Interethnic Relations In Macedonia
And pushed since 2002 to extend EU cohesion policies to the Balkans: Assistance, Cohesion And The New Boundaries Of Europe – A Call for Policy Reform
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We worked on Jacobins and Libertarians in Georgia and on reconciliation and the debate on genocide and Armenia-Turkey.
Georgia: Georgia’s Libertarian Revolution – Part one: Georgia as a model
Armenia and Turkey: Noah’s Dove Returns – Armenia, Turkey and the Debate on Genocide
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And we worked on growing repression of civil society in Azerbaijan: Oslo abuse debate – Mr Jagland goes to Baku – June 2 Berlin event – a tradition of dissent
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We wrote scripts and made interviews for 12 documentary films for ORF, 3sat, and ERSTE Stiftung: Return to Europe
Macedonia: Macedonian Wedding
Serbia: Serbia – Exit Europe
Romania: Romania – timisoara.com
Moldova: Moldova – Lost in Transition
Croatia: Twilight of Heroes – Croatia, Europe and the International Tribunal
Macedonia film 
Moldova film 
Dejan Anastasijevic, Serbia film 
Trailer
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And how to save the Council of Europe in the face of the biggest threat in its history: to be captured and bought by autocracies: The strangest love affair – autocrats and parliamentarians, from Berlin to Strasbourg
And a few more things here: esiweb.org
Thanks for your interest!
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People shaping 22 years of ESI:
More: Where new ideas are born – ESI Anniversary Conference Story
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If YOU want to join us as ESI junior fellow or know someone who does: How to become an ESI Junior Fellow
More: Junior Fellows
Istanbul 2009 
Yana Zabanova 
ESI seminar in 2013 on Büyükada island