The first meeting of the project “Regional Fundamentals Snapshot” – Advancing Cooperation on EU Cluster 1 in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia , supported by the Western Balkans Fund, was held. This workshop was also held within the framework of the month of Civil Society Engagement for EU Accession, supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Albania.
The meeting took place in Tirana, where partners discussed Albania’s experience and good practices in advancing the first cluster of EU negotiation chapters (Cluster 1), as well as lessons that can serve Kosovo and North Macedonia.
The discussions focused on:
• Albania’s concrete experiences in fulfilling the obligations arising from Cluster 1
• Shared regional challenges and existing gaps
• Opportunities for regional cooperation and mutual learning
• The importance of multi-stakeholder engagement and evidence-based dialogue
• The role of civil society in advancing the European integration agenda
• Civil society cooperation mechanisms
Participants emphasized that progress in this cluster requires, above all, consistent technical work, but also political will to place European integration at the top of the national agenda.
Civil society has an irreplaceable role in pushing this agenda forward—through monitoring, analysis, evidence-based dialogue, and advocacy for genuine reforms. The importance of creating an enabling environment for the active participation of civil society was also highlighted.
The project is implemented by the Kosovo Law Institute (KLI), in cooperation with the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG) and the Center for Investigative Journalism – SCOOP Macedonia, and is supported by the Western Balkans Fund. It aims to build a more coordinated regional approach to advancing reforms under Cluster 1