EU-Western Balkans Civil Society High-Level Conference: Trust and Partnership at the Heart of EU Enlargement

EU - Western Balkans Civil Society High Level Conference: Trust and Partnership at the Heart of EU Enlargement

On 29 May 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, is holding a high-level conference under the theme: "Trust and Partnership at the Heart of EU Enlargement" in Vienna to raise awareness and win public trust for EU Enlargement in Austria.

The event is organised in cooperation with the Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) of the European Commission and the Open Society Foundation – Western Balkans (OSF-WB). The conference will bring together EESC members, representatives of organized civil society from the Western Balkan partners (employers, trade unions, civil society organisations), youth representatives and stakeholders from Austria’s civil society and government.

Date: 29 May 2026, from 09.30-17.00

Venue: ÖGB, Austrian Trade Union Federation, Catamaran building, Johann-Böhm-Platz 1, Vienna

Programme | EESC

Link to attend: here | Interpretation: EN, DE, MN, HR, SR, BS, SQ, MK

Welcoming Addresses

• Séamus Boland, President of the EESC
• Wolfgang Katzian, President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation and the President of the European Trade Union Confederation
• Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister of European Affairs, Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU (video message)

For more information please contact: 

EESC- Press Unit

Millie Tsoumani, amalia.tsoumani@eesc.europa.eu

@EESC_PRESS