This year, the Berlin Process celebrates its 10th anniversary. For the first time as part of the Berlin Process, the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is hosting the Gender Equality Forum entitled "Feminist Development Policy - An Approach to Accelerating the European Integration of the Western Balkans", implemented with the support of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and in cooperation with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

This new format brought together various interested parties from the Western Balkans, including members of parliament, representatives of relevant ministries, gender agencies, mayors, civil society, as well as representatives of regional organisations and the European Union. The goal of the Gender Equality Forum is to formulate recommendations on how to cooperate on issues concerning gender equality and the inclusion of gender-sensitive aspects in the Berlin Process.

Markovic and Aleksandrov used this opportunity to meet with parliamentarians from the Western Balkans and discuss the challenges facing the entire region in terms of equal participation of women, despite the high level of awareness of greater inclusion of women in all spheres of life is at a. In three panel discussions, the participants of the Forum discussed topics related to the importance of the fight against gender-based violence and increase of social security standards, encouraging the participation of women in the common regional labour market, involvement of women in decision-making as regards accession to the European Union, contribution of the female perspective to reconciliation in the region.

Serbia has recognised the importance of this topic and has a minister in the Government who deals directly with the issue of gender equality and economic empowerment of women. Minister Tatjana Macura addressed the participants in the third panel, talking about the importance of the fight against gender-based violence and increasing social security standards to encourage women's participation in the common regional labour market.

The Forum formulated recommendations related to strengthening policies against gender-based violence, ensuring parity in high-level decision-making bodies, especially in those related to EU accession processes, strengthening support for women entrepreneurs, including a gender-responsive perspective in reconciliation efforts in the Western Balkans, improving the collection of sex-disaggregated data.

The participants concluded that it is necessary to institutionalise the Gender Equality Forum as a permanent component of the Berlin Process.