The Regional Conference “Resilient Voices: Western Balkans Civil Society in a Changing World”, co-hosted by BCSDN and Partners Albania, concluded successfully on October 1, 2025, in Tirana. The event gathered civil society representatives, policymakers, institutional actors, and donors from across the Western Balkans and the European Union. The conference addressed the sector’s challenges and opportunities, including democratic reforms, shrinking civic space, limited funding, and the European integration process. Civic space discussions focused on the civil society environment in both the Western Balkans and the EU, assessing ways to safeguard civic participation and opportunities for influence towards a more enabling environment. The crucial role of civil society in the EU integration process, including in monitoring reforms and cooperation with public institutions, was highlighted, offering ideas for meaningful involvement. Panels also emphasized the need for revising donor and public funding modalities to enable organizations to play their key role in democratic reforms and processes, highlighting the importance of core and long-term support. The conference conclusions will be presented in a forthcoming Declaration.
Source: BCSDN