The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its 10th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum in Budva, Montenegro, gathering over 100 participants to discuss how to accelerate socio-economic convergence with the EU to improve living standards across the region.

The two-day forum, held on 13–14 May, was organised with the support of the European Commission, the Open Society Foundation-Western Balkans (OSF-WB), the Western Balkans Fund (WBF) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Hosted in Montenegro, the event aimed to reinforce the country’s ambition to become the next EU Member State by 2028 and to serve as a model for the rest of the region.

Nik Gjeloshaj, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Economic Policy and Minister for Economic Development, said: ‘We are confident that we will be able to close two chapters at the intergovernmental conference during the Polish presidency in June, and that additional chapters will be ready for closure by the end of this year.’

Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), underlined: ‘This forum sends a strong signal – the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union, and civil society must be at the heart of that journey. The European Economic and Social Committee will continue to stand firmly beside our partners in the region, every step of the way.'

Amer Kapetanović, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council, stressed: ‘Regional cooperation is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a need-to-do. The Common Regional Market is coming into focus, with the potential to accelerate convergence and unlock up to 10% GDP growth through practical reforms and solutions. More than 500 civil society organisations have been directly involved in shaping it, because meaningful change only happens when people are part of the process.’

Andi Dobrushi, Regional Director of the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans, explained: ‘This Forum is about more than policy – it is about the people whose relentless work has carried the region forward through decades of transformation. At OSF-WB, we support a broad range of actors who bring both grassroots legitimacy and policy insights to the table.’

H.E. Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, said: ‘Together, we can ensure that this once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Western Balkans is not missed.’ (at)