Civil Society Forum opens in Kosovo to advance Western Balkans cooperation

The 2026 Civil Society and Think Tank Forum of the Western Balkans opened in Pristina, Kosovo, under the motto ‘Proofs, Not Promises’. Organized by the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans and the Government of Kosovo, in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, the event serves as the official civil society platform for the Berlin Process.

During the forum, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that Kosovo has become one of the strongest democracies in the Western Balkans by strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption, and protecting fundamental liberties. He emphasized that regional cooperation depends on good relations between neighbors based on shared European values.

The forum is scheduled to run until October 7 and is structured around six thematic working groups tasked with developing policy recommendations. Andi Dobrushi, Director of the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, noted that the forum aims to bridge the gap between policy documents and the actual lives of citizens, ensuring that reforms result in tangible progress.