This publication focuses on challenges in cooperation between governments and civil societies in the Western Balkan countries in six selected areas covered by chapters 23 and 24 of the accession negotiations with the European Union: effective monitoring of the implementation of action plans and strategies; human rights issues; migration and asylum policies; the judiciary and justice system; anti-corruption policies and activities; and civic education.

The study is co-authored by 20 experts from the Western Balkans. They map the problems in each of the subject by providing the existing framework of strategies, legislation and action plans, as well as the practical dimension of civil society–government cooperation in this regard. The authors offer consolidated recommendations to both the government and civil society, and additional recommendations to the EU, the international community, donors, and other stakeholders, with the aim to enhance collaboration in each country in the particular areas.

The idea of the project “Thinking 4 Governance” Sharing V4 experience on NGOs, CSOs and think-tanks’ interaction with administration was to share with a broad spectrum of NGOs, CSOs and think-tanks from the Western Balkans the V4 counterparts’ experience in their cooperation with the public administration in the EU integration process, particularly membership negotiations, and its continuation after the accession. The project aimed to bring together the representatives of NGOs, CSOs and think-tanks from all Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia and to present them the best practices of such cooperation in the Visegrád countries.

The project was supported by the International Visegrad Fund.