The opinion is being elaborated as an exploratory opinion at the request of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. 

The hearing will examine how organised civil society contributes to implementing reforms within the framework of EU’s Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans and the Ukraine Facility. 

First session will feature insights from Brussels based stakeholders, offering perspectives from EU-level actors engaged in the region. The following session will be a discussion with stakeholders from the countries concerned that will provide on the ground viewpoints from civil society representatives and practitioners directly involved in reform processes.

The EU and the Viet Nam Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs), established under the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, met in a "DAG-to-DAG meeting" on 20 January 2026. The event started with a workshop on EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), discussing consequences for SMEs and farmers and how to navigate in this area.