The purpose of this seminar is to discuss civil society’s concerns and expectations regarding the EU accession process' impact on peacebuilding and conflict prevention in the Western Balkans. It will bring together civil society representatives from the region and recently acceded EU Member States as well as experts on the EU Accession process and representatives from EU institutions. It aims to identify how peacebuilding and conflict prevention can be integrated into the EU accession process and how the EU accession process could function as a catalyst for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Participants will develop civil society recommendations on this topic. Throughout the seminar, special consideration will be given to the role which EU Member States and the EU institutions play in the accession process. Issues that are to be discussed at the seminar are such as the lessons learned from previous EU accession rounds, identification of common concerns and expectations regarding conflict prevention as well as the EU accession and the relationship between the accession process and other EU policies and activities, including the CSDP Missions in the region. Furthermore, what can be done to address the identified concerns and fulfill expectations will be discuss, as well as what is the way forward in advocating for a conflict sensitive EU accession process and how to use EU funding for peacebuilding (Example of the PEACE Programme in Northern Ireland). More information about the event can be found on the EPLO website.

[EPLO]