From June 11-13, 2024, a preparatory meeting for the Gender Equality Forum within the Berlin Process 2024 took place in Bar, Montenegro. This gathering brought together high-ranking officials, namely Gender Agencies of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) and Members of Parliament, and civil society representatives, to focus on three key themes: women’s participation in the regional labor market, inclusion in EU accession decision-making processes, and the role of reconciliation in EU integration in preparation for the Berlin Process Gender Equality Forum, taking place September 19. The Berlin Process has a central role in fostering regional cooperation among the Western Balkans Six, also in Gender Equality.
The meeting underscored the importance of recognizing and promoting women’s contributions to these areas, emphasizing the benefits of gender equality for sustainable development, democratic leadership, and lasting peace. This event was held as part of the project "Regional Cooperation for EU Integration," commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Kvinna till Kvinna, one of the world’s leading women’s rights organizations, presented an overview of their work. Their efforts aim to leverage the EU accession process to strengthen women's rights and gender equality in the Western Balkans, supporting civil society organizations in advocacy and networking.
Building on these inputs, participants concentrated on three key issues, laying the groundwork for drafting recommendations to be integrated into the Berlin Process.
1. Economic Empowerment: Introduce incentive programs for employers, support civil society organizations with grants, and promote social entrepreneurship and cross-border employment. Harmonize qualification frameworks, address unpaid work, prevent workplace gender-based violence, and enhance educational opportunities for women.
2. Women’s Inclusion in Decision-Making for EU Accession: Increase gender quotas, regulate women's participation in negotiation teams, implement a double voting system for women's issues, and prevent online discrimination. Align laws with EU standards, enhance monitoring bodies, improve gender statistics, raise public awareness, and foster cooperation with CSOs.
3. Reconciliation as a Precondition for EU Integration: Implement Resolution 1325 regionally, empower the gender machinery, promote joint initiatives, establish a revolving fund for women's empowerment, and link reconciliation efforts with broader women’s inclusion strategies.
The meeting concluded with a shared vision to enhance regional cooperation, accelerate EU integration, and strengthen gender equality across the Western Balkans. The key recommendations will be further refined at the Gender Equality Forum scheduled for September 19, 2024.
Please find the report here