The 9th Friends of the Western Balkans (FoWB) Network Meeting and Willy Brandt Programme Seminar convened from June 4–5, 2026, in Podgorica, Montenegro, to examine the strategic and operational dimensions of European integration. Held alongside the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, the forum brought together members of the European Parliament, representatives from national parliaments, and a broad network of policy experts to analyse the current trajectories of regional cooperation and enlargement policy. 

Our Director of Research and Programmes attended the event, participating in the technical sessions and contributing to the panel discussions. The discussions provided an important opportunity to engage with the speakers on the structural mechanisms driving regional integration and EU enlargement. 

The seminar focused on several critical policy frameworks, with interactive sessions addressing both the opportunities and obstacles inherent to the current accession methodology:

• The Efficacy of Regional Frameworks: Debates centred on the practical performance of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the Common Regional Market (CRM), assessing how these initiatives can best serve as credible instruments for EU alignment rather than fragmented or overlapping platforms.

• The Growth Plan and Gradual Integration: Participants evaluated the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, discussing the strategic balancing of financial incentives against robust rule-of-law benchmarks. Discussions also explored various proposals for phased or gradual integration to allow candidate states to access early benefits while maintaining strict compliance with core EU standards.

• Socioeconomic Dimensions of the Green Agenda: The presentation of a dedicated study highlighted the complexities of managing a Just Transition for coal industry workers in the region, emphasising the need to align national environmental targets with community-level economic protections.

A key outcome of the gathering was the endorsement of the network's official joint statement, titled "Call for a progressive EU enlargement." The document strongly affirms Montenegro’s target of achieving EU membership by 2028, while reiterating that the ultimate success of the enlargement process rests on sustained political will within both the EU Member States and candidate countries.

We express our sincere thanks to the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and its co-organisers for convening this vital institutional dialogue. The insights gained will continue to inform our ongoing research and policy analysis regarding Western Balkan integration. 

Re-ACT Lab promotes research and innovation as a means to advance governmental and policy-making reforms in Kosovo and regionally.