Civil Society Forum 2021
The Aspen Institute Germany and the Southeast Europe Association jointly assumed responsibility for the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum in 2021, which was supported by the Federal Foreign Office. The forum consisted of two consecutive events. The first event on October 19 and 20, 2021, took place digitally and brought together experts and representatives from civil society and think tanks from the countries of the Western Balkans to discuss a variety of challenges in the region, exchange experiences and develop concrete policy recommendations. Over the course of two days, in multiple panel discussions and working groups, civil society representatives from the Western Balkans discussed a range of problems that the region is facing. Representatives of the German government, the European Commission, and other EU and regional institutions were also present at the forum. The topics that experts and civil society activists discussed, exchanged best practices about, and developed concrete policy recommendations on, ranged from the Green and Connectivity Agendas to democracy promotion, digitalization, media freedom and minority rights as well as reconciliation. These recommendations were given a platform and discussed with government representatives at a second conference in Berlin on November 1 – 2, 2021, shortly before the Berlin Process Summit.
Publications
Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, Policy Recommendations. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Supporting Reconciliation Processes in the Western Balkans. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Institute for Research and Policy Analysis – Romalitico, Acceptance and Social Inclusion of Minorities in the Western Balkans. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje, The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Democracy. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Centre for Contemporary Politics, Countering Disinformation and Strengthening Media Independence. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Regional Center for Sustainable Energy Transition, Green Agenda: Energy Transition. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
European Fund for the Balkans, Green Agenda: Air Pollution. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Center for Environment, Green Agenda: Biodiversity and Nature Conservation. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Cooperation and Development Institute, Integrity Compliance in Infrastructure Projects. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
SHARE Foundation, Digitalization in Public Services: Enhancing Transparency, Securing Data Protection. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
Think for Europe Network, The Future of the EU in the Western Balkans… and the Future of the Western Balkans in the EU. Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin, Aspen Institute Germany and Southeast Europe Association, 2021.
