A week ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit, the European Economic and Social Committee held a conference in Vienna sending a clear message: civil society is essential for building trust between institutions and citizens and between the European Union and the region.
The 3rd meeting of the EU–Albania Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) brought together representatives of organised civil society and social partners from Albania and the European Union to exchange views on Albania’s accession process.
Trust and Partnership at the Heart of EU Enlargement
Event type
Conference
Location
ÖGB ,
Johann-Böhm-Platz 1 A
Vienna
Austria
On 29 May 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organised a High‑Level Civil Society Conference that brought together EU and Western Balkans stakeholders to discuss the role of civil society in advancing EU enlargement, strengthening democratic resilience and supporting socio‑economic convergence in the region.
The conference, took place on 12 March 2026 at Europe House Skopje, brought together representatives of civil society organisations, social partners, EU institutions, and national authorities to discuss key priorities related to North Macedonia’s EU accession process.
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.
This conference brings together representatives from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and youth councils and other organisations across the Western Balkans and the European Union to examine the pivotal role of young people in EU accession negotiations.
Albania remains firmly committed to EU integration, advancing accession negotiations and implementing the growth plan for the Western Balkans, with reforms in the rule of law, digitalisation and the green transition. However, anti-corruption and media freedom require further robust efforts. These topics were at the centre of discussions during the 2nd meeting of the EU-Albania Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee on 21 November 2025.
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Montenegro held its 21st Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) on 16 December 2025, at the EESC in Brussels, Belgium. This platform, established between the EESC and Montenegrin civil society, provides a civil society perspective within the EU institutional framework related to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Montenegro. The JCC enables civil society organisations from both sides to monitor Montenegro's accession negotiations, discuss common interests, and inform the public about the challenges during the accession period.
The second meeting of the EU-Albania Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) will took place on 21 November 2025 at the EESC in Brussels, Belgium. This platform, established within the institutional framework of the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), will enable representatives from both the EU and Albanian civil society to monitor the country's accession negotiations, discuss issues of common interest, and highlight concerns to be addressed on Albanian's path towards the European Union.
The EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its 20th meeting on 28 November 2025 in Serbia. This platform, established within the institutional framework of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), will enable representatives from both the EU and Serbian civil society to monitor the country's accession negotiations, discuss issues of common interest, and highlight concerns to be addressed on Serbia's path towards the European Union.
