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.

Representatives of the Eastern European Domestic Advisory Group and Ukrainian Domestic Advisory Group held their eight joint meeting on 5 November 2025. The objective of the meeting was to prepare a set of recommendations for the EU-Ukraine Trade and Sustainable Development Sub-Committee and the Civil Society Forum on 12 November 2025.

The first meeting of the Eastern European Domestic Advisory Group for Ukraine/Moldova/Georgia took place on 4 November 2025.

During the meeting, the EU DAG elected its presidency for the 2025–2028 term and held a tour de table to introduce its members and the organisations they represent.

It was likewise an opportunity for members to receive an update from the European Commission on the implementation of trade and sustainable development commitments and to discuss the draft joint statement adopted at the EU–Ukraine DAG-to-DAG meeting on 5 November 2025, which was subsequently presented at the Civil Society Forum on 12 November.