On 14 and 15 November in Tirana, Albania, BCSDN’s Head of Policy and Advocacy Anja Bosilkova-Antovska participated in the 2024 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Western Balkans Meeting. The regional gathering brought together high-level government representatives, civil society leaders, and policy-makers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. The event provided a vital platform to exchange experiences, share best practices, and discuss the latest developments in open government initiatives across the region.
Key Discussions and Takeaways
The meeting emphasized key areas for advancing open governance, including anti-corruption reforms, digital transformation, and the protection of civic space. Discussions also highlighted the role of parliaments and political leadership in driving meaningful reforms. BCSDN contributed insights on strengthening civil society’s role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. The following are the key takeaways and central themes of the meeting:
- Political Leadership and Commitment: Emphasizing the importance of reform agendas driven by the political commitment of government officials and ministries for public administration.
- EU Accession as a Reform Driver: Advocating for aligning national reforms with EU standards to improve governance frameworks.
- Tackling Corruption through Open Government: Promoting transparency in public procurement, beneficial ownership disclosure, and political finance reforms.
- Digital Transformation: Stressing the need for ethical standards and privacy safeguards in the adoption of AI and digital tools to improve governance.
- Enabling Civic Space: Highlighting the need to bridge the gap between legal rights and practical implementation, especially concerning CSO financing and cooperation.
BCSDN’s Contributions to Enabling Civic Space
The new OGP Strategy 2023-2028 has highlighted that there can be no open government without free civil society and that OGP is an “equal partnership between government and civil society”. OGP has recognized the critical role of civil society in driving transparency, accountability, and participatory governance, Thus, strengthening civic space is now a central focus of OGP’s efforts, emphasizing the need to protect fundamental freedoms and create enabling environments where CSOs can thrive.
During the session on enabling civic space, Bosilkova-Antovska emphasized the importance of fostering an environment where civil society organizations can operate freely and effectively. Presenting BCSDN’s latest regional report on the state of civic space in the WBT, discussions focused on reducing bureaucratic barriers, ensuring sustainable funding mechanisms, and strengthening institutional frameworks for CSO-government cooperation. Key points included addressing the gap between legal guarantees and practical implementation, promoting transparency in public funding for CSOs, and enhancing structured dialogue through civic councils and participatory platforms.
Moving Forward
BCSDN underscored the importance of maintaining momentum in open government reforms through collaborative approaches and sustained dialogue. The upcoming OGP Global Summit in Spain in late 2025 will serve as a critical opportunity to showcase regional achievements and reinforce commitments to transparency and accountability.
As advocates for enabling civic spaces, BCSDN remains dedicated to supporting reforms that empower civil society and promote participatory governance. Through continuous engagement and partnerships, we aim to ensure that open government principles translate into impactful and sustainable changes across the Western Balkans.