On 3 July 2019, the second edition of the Think Tank Forum was held in Poznań after Skopje in May this year. This format of experts’ meetings from the Western Balkans and the EU was initiated during the Polish presidency in the Berlin process. The Think Tank Forum is co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Center for Eastern Studies (OSW).

The Forum was opened by Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Government Plenipotentiary for the Western Balkans Summit, who spoke out in favour of cooperation stating that the future of Western Balkans is the European Union. He underlined the fact that Poland strongly advocates and believee that without Western Balkans EU is not a complete project".

After this unequivocal call for cooperation and integration a total of three panels were held focusing on crucial topics showcasing the potential of the Western Balkan region:

(i) Connecting the dots

(ii) Growing together

(iii) The challenges ahead.

NALAS executive director, Kelmend Zajazi made a strong point in the 2nd panel on “Growing together” by stressing the role of local governments and the need to include them in the process of integration and revitalization of public services at the local level. In this context, Local Government Associations need to be involved as strategic dialogue partners for the WB6 and EU MS in order to use the potential of local governments and their contribution for the overarching objective of promoting regional cooperation.

For more detailed information, please contact the following link: https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/wydarzenia/think-tank-forum-poznan