Regional cooperation and European integration are key to further advancing gender equality - Gender Equality Forum 2026 held in Sarajevo

The event gathered over 150 representatives from governments, international organizations, institutions, academia, and civil society organizations from the Western Balkans and EU member states. Organized with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the forum was opened by Biljana Pejović on behalf of the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, along with Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić, director of the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Heike Backofen Warnecke from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany. Speaking about reform processes in Montenegro, Pejović emphasized that Montenegro, as the most advanced candidate country for EU membership and chair of the Berlin Process, is committed to sharing experiences and supporting regional countries in aligning legislation with EU law, strengthening institutional capacities, and applying European standards in gender equality. During the Open Space part of the forum, she proposed the topic “Strengthening regional cooperation in gender equality within the Berlin Process – from dialogue to joint action,” presenting Montenegro’s initiative to establish a new cooperation track within the Regional Coordination Body dedicated to mutual support among regional countries in the EU accession process. The proposed initiative includes sharing experiences in legislative alignment with EU law, implementing EU directives on gender equality and non-discrimination, preparing negotiation positions and compliance tables, and strengthening institutional capacities through joint regional activities and knowledge exchange. Montenegro remains strongly committed to advancing gender equality, strengthening regional cooperation, and European integration, confident that joint efforts can achieve more sustainable and tangible results for all citizens of the region.