Re-ACT Lab has officially launched today its Research Programme 2026 - 2027, a comprehensive strategic framework designed to navigate the policymaking and analysis in the Western Balkans through a period marked by various institutional and environmental challenges. 

The launch comes at a critical juncture for the region. With the EU accession process facing the tension between "geopolitical necessity" and "merit-based reform," and with internal governance systems under pressure from environmental and digital shocks, the need for rigorous, independent analysis has never been greater. 

Gresa Smolica, the Executive Director of Re-ACT Lab, emphasised that the new programme is built on the conviction that research must actively shape reality, not just observe it:

"Over the past two years, we have proven that independent analysis, when timely and grounded in integrity, can directly influence national priorities and safeguard democratic standards. As we enter this new cycle, our mission remains constant, but our focus is sharpening. The 2026 - 2027 research programme is not merely a research agenda; it is a blueprint for how we rethink resilience, react to policy developments and reform the governance structures that define our future." 

Building on a Legacy of Impact (2024 - 2025) 

The Research Programme builds upon a highly successful biennial cycle where Re-ACT Lab cemented its position as a catalyst for policy change. 

In 2024, we demonstrated that technical expertise can drive government action. Re-ACT Lab's recommendations on accessing IPARD funds were officially adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture, proving the organisation's ability to impact national priority setting. 

In 2025, our foresight was validated at the highest European levels. Early warnings regarding the human rights risks of "externalising migration" (specifically the Italy-Albania and Kosovo-Denmark agreements) were subsequently echoed and validated by the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, cementing the adequacy and rigour of Re-ACT Lab's research. 

Furthermore, the organisation played a pivotal role in the Berlin Process Summit in 2024, where its advocacy for unblocking CEFTA and the introduction of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapters into CEFTA was integrated into the final policy recommendations presented to the EU and regional leaders during the summit. 

Crucially, this period also marked Re-ACT Lab's emergence on the international level. Our expertise and opinion were increasingly sought by major European media outlets: 

• Knack (Belgium) featured Re-ACT's critical analysis on the human rights implications of prisoner transfer agreements (like the one between Kosovo and Denmark); 

• El Periódico (Spain) sought our commentary on the EU's decision to classify Kosovo as a "safe country" and its asylum capacities; 

• Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (Italy) invited Re-ACT Lab for an interview on the recommendations on CEFTA reform and trade standards in the Western Balkans. 

The 2026 - 2027 Research Programme: Two Programmes and One Horizontal Pillar for the Future

The newly launched programme is not just a collection of topics; it is a response to the challenges and issues that are defining policymaking in the region. Operating under the slogan "Rethink.React.Reform.", the programme addresses critical issues in the region: specifically, the widening gap between the EU’s new geopolitical logic of integration and the traditional merit-based reform requirements. It further scrutinises the region’s vulnerability in a multipolar world, where policy incoherence is deepened by the competing financial and political offers of external actors. Domestically, the programme confronts the reality that environmental risks are no longer isolated issues but systemic risks, requiring a shift toward adaptive governance and strategic public spending to ensure a transition that is both green and just.

The research programme operationalises Re-ACT Lab's work into two core programmes and one horizontal pillar, designed to address the region's interconnected challenges: 

1. Programme I - Home and Abroad: Lenses of Connectivity 

2. Programme II - Resilient Society: Building a Sustainable and Adaptive Future

3. Horizontal Pillar - Good Governance: Fostering Transparent and Inclusive Governance. 

The research programme outlines the key priority topics and key questions that Re-ACT Lab will be addressing throughout these two years. 

Re-ACT Lab promotes research and innovation as a means to advance governmental and policy-making reforms in Kosovo and regionally.