Dren Puka from KCSF is participating in the Civil Society & Think Tank Forum (CSF) 2026, taking place in Prishtina.

As part of the Forum, he joined the panel “Safeguarding Civic Space and Democracy: From Commitments to Conditionality for a Credible EU Enlargement Process.” The discussion focused on how the enlargement process can give real weight to democratic standards and civil society participation.

Puka stressed that:

◾ The region already has many formal mechanisms for participation. The challenge is whether they produce meaningful participation and influence, and whether there are consequences when they do not.

◾ This requires two responses: in the short term, restoring the weight of democratic criteria and participation in the enlargement process; in the long term, building democratic ownership from within society, through stronger links between civil society, citizens, movements, students, trade unions and informal groups.

◾The EU and governments should assess the quality and meaningfulness of consultations, rather than simply whether they took place, and ensure that civil society is involved early and substantively in reform processes linked to EU integration, including those under the Growth Plan and Reform Agendas.