Overview
The Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) is a 10-year, $36-million grantmaking initiative that supports democracy, good governance, and Euroatlantic integration in Southeastern Europe. This award-winning public-private partnership was created in 2003 by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. BTD is structured to allow both European and U.S. partners to join the effort to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the Balkans. Since its founding, additional contributions from Compagnia di San Paolo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Robert Bosch Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Royal Netherlands Embassy in Belgrade, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and Tipping Point Foundation have made BTD a true transatlantic partnership. Grantmaking
Operating from the German Marshall Fund's Belgrade office, BTD awards grants in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. BTD also gives regional grants to organizations promoting the benefits of a pan-Balkan network. Policy Dialogue
In addition to grantmaking, the Balkan Trust for Democracy continually works to accelerate the region's integration into Euroatlantic structures and to raise the profile of the Balkans. Together with GMF's Washington Headquarters and its other European offices, BTD connects local actors with European Union, American, and international individuals and institutions in order to build networks and consensus on Balkan issues from a broader, multi-stakeholder perspective. The Bulgaria Fund
The Bulgaria Fund, also located in Belgrade, is a 3-year, $3-million grantmaking initiative of the United States Agency for International Development and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. It continues the USAID reform agenda in Bulgaria. In 2009, the Fund completed its grantmaking activities, and now focuses on the monitoring and evaluation of supported projects.
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Lady Ashton speaks at GMF civil society meeting in Belgrade
On February 18, GMF’s Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD), in cooperation with the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, hosted EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, along with other prominent representatives of civil society for a meeting in Serbia.
The complete remarks of Catherine Ashton are below:
 
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Book Launch Sparks Debate on Russia-Georgia War and European Security
On February 17, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) hosted a book discussion and debate on A Little War That Shook the World: Georgia, Russia, and the Future of the West by GMF Brussels Executive Director Ronald D. Asmus. Published by Palgrave Macmillan, the book discusses the causes and implications of the Russia-Georgia war of August 2008. Asmus was joined by Stephen Hadley, former national security advisor to George W. Bush.
A summary of the book and its public reception can be found here.
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CEE leaders, Albright highlight region’s desire for Obama’s attention
On July 16, GMF hosted a high-level roundtable discussion about a letter from prominent Central and Eastern European (CEE) leaders to the Obama administration. The Washington, DC meeting featured the Honorable Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State and now principal of the Albright Group, as a commentator.
Listen to Albright, Vondra, and Gyarmati's entire commentary and discussion
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