20/10/2026
๐ค The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public services takes many forms, from digital assistants to systems that analyse data.
To better understand this development, ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ "๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ: ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ง๐ฌ." The project examines how AI is used and governed in selected public administration sectors across six Western Balkan countries. It explores legal and policy frameworks, governance practices, institutional engagement and civil society capacity, identifying opportunities for advocacy, monitoring and policy dialogue at national and EU levels.
Preliminary findings, based on desk research, indicate that:
๐ ๐๐-๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ. Some countries have adopted AI strategies, while others are preparing strategies or draft legislation. In some contexts, no AI-specific instrument has yet been adopted, and existing systems are primarily subject to broader laws on data protection, non-discrimination and administrative procedures.
๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐๐. In many cases, information about the technologies and data used, testing, impact assessments and institutional responsibilities is not publicly available. Citizens are not always clearly informed when AI is used in a service or influences a decision affecting them.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ง. The documents record research, submissions and advocacy, while specialised expertise appears to be concentrated among a limited number of organisations. In some cases, consultation with civil society organisations and affected groups is not documented or does not take place through structured mechanisms.
Field research and interviews with relevant stakeholders are ongoing. The findings will be further developed as the project progresses. Stay tuned!
This project is supported by Open Society Foundations Western Balkans.