The Western Balkans Civil Society High-Level Conference, held on 24 May in Ljubljana, brought together EESC members, Slovenian officials, and civil society representatives from the Western Balkan region, including BCSDN representatives from KCSF (Kosovo), CPCD (BiH) and the Executive Office.
The event facilitated exchanges on necessary reforms in the Western Balkans and the EU to uphold the enlargement policy as a key EU success. Discussions also focused on the current state of civil society in the region and the need for better inclusion in the accession process, as well as in the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The potential and necessary contribution of organized civil society to the implementation of the Growth Plan, was discussed through the lessons learned from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, as well as how to accelerate the socio-economic convergence of the region with the EU.
Participants adopted conclusions emphasizing a merit-based EU accession process with increased financial support, robust conditionality, and active involvement of civil society. Key points included the need for transparency, regional cooperation, and resolving political disputes to ensure successful integration and public support in the Western Balkans.
Ahead of the conference, BCSDN urged the EESC to reconsider Kosovo’s exclusion from the Enlargement Candidate Members Initiative. While the EESC has pioneered the gradual integration of prospective EU members, Kosovo has been excluded due to its lack of formal candidate status. At the Conference, a Kosovo delegation, as well as BCSDN’s regional staff, held a side meeting with EESC key representatives, to discuss potential future involvement of Kosovo participants in upcoming ECMI events.
Read more and download the full document outlining the Conclusions of the event at EESC’s website.