Paper short abstract:

The paper examines cultural contact, cultural change, cultural hybridisation and institutional conflicts related to the implementation of the first twinning project in Serbia within the Ministry of Agriculture. Also discussed are transformative capacities of the instrument and outcomes of the project.

Paper long abstract:

This case study examines cultural contact, cultural change and eventual cultural hybridization, as well as cultural fissures and institutional conflicts ensuing from the implementation of the first twinning project in Serbia (the CARDS Programme Agricultural Twinning Project "Institutional Capacity Building within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management).

The paper starts from an analysis of preconditions for the successful application of Twinning as an instrument of institutional and administrative change in the frame of EU enlargement. It is followed by an assessment of the state of Serbian public administration, and of the characteristics of Serbian administrative culture in general. In the next step, presented are results of in-depth interviews with the STEs, RTAs and other project participants on their expectations and surprises; on various types of culture observed in the Ministry; on clashes between short and long term strategies and horizontal vs. vertical approaches in the frame of ATP; on conflicts between various EU partners in the project; and on transformative capacities of various elements of the Twinning instrument and the possible outcomes of the ATP.

Research on Twinning as a "Siamese solution" to the problems of legal, institutional and cultural change and homogenisation suggests that no instrument can be considered as a panacea to such complex issues. Success in motivating people, in inspiring trust, and in effecting gradual cultural changes that will persist even after the project ends can only come as a result of interactions between well intentioned, honest, trustful and respectful individuals from all engaged sides.