The 2024 Civil Society and Think Tank Forum of the Berlin Process took place from October 9-11 in Berlin, celebrating its 10th anniversary. The event gathered over 115 organizations from the Western Balkans and the EU to discuss critical topics such as EU integration, energy transition, rule of law, gender and diversity, and others. Anja Bosilkova-Antovska, Head of Policy and Advocacy at BCSDN, participated in a workshop on enabling spaces for civil society, focusing on advocacy and grassroots engagement. Anja contributed to the discussions, highlighting key approaches for CSOs to remain active and influential in challenging civil society environment. Participants highlighted the importance of regional cooperation based on European standards and stressed that the rule of law is essential for progress on EU integration. They called for stronger local ownership of the Berlin Process, improved transparency, and better monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The forum concluded with recommendations to involve more decision-makers, private sector representatives, and citizens to strengthen public dialogue on EU enlargement and regional cooperation. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN