Since 2014, the Berlin Process aims to support the Western Balkan countries’ EU accession process by organizing annual summits. These summits are held in alternating European cities and their goal is to strengthen regional cooperation and facilitate a continuous dialogue among the Western Balkan countries as well as with EU member states. To strengthen the voice of civil society in these high-level talks, the summit is accompanied by a Civil Society & Think Tank Forum. In 2022, the Berlin Process Summit was hosted by the German Government for a second consecutive year and, just as in 2021, the Aspen Institute Germany organized the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum in collaboration with the Southeast Europe Association and with support from the German Federal Foreign Office. The forum consisted of two successive events. The first, on October 19 – 20, was held digitally and brought together experts, think tankers, and civil society representatives from the Western Balkan countries to jointly debate a wide range of challenges in the region, exchange best practices, and develop concrete policy recommendations. These recommendations were given a platform and discussed with government representatives at a second conference in Berlin on November 1 – 2, shortly before the Berlin Process Summit.
Publications
Southeast Europe Association and Aspen Institute Germany: Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2022 – Conference Report and Policy Recommendations, December 2022
Policy Recommendations from the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum 2021
Youth Initiative for Human Rights: “Supporting Reconciliation Processes in the Western Balkans” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Institute for Research and Policy Analysis – Romalitico: “Acceptance and Social Inclusion of Minorities in the Western Balkans” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje: “The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening Democracy“ (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Centre for Contemporary Politics: “Countering Disinformation and Strengthening Media Independence” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Regional Center for Sustainable Energy Transition: “Green Agenda: Energy Transition” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
European Fund for the Balkans: “Green Agenda: Air Pollution” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Center for Environment: “Green Agenda: Biodiversity and Nature Conservation” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
Cooperation and Development Institute: “Integrity Compliance in Infrastructure Projects” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 2021)
SHARE Foundation: “Digitalization in Public Services: Enhancing Transparency, Securing Data Protection” (Civil Society & Think Tank Forum: Berlin 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 2021)
