The conference aimed to promote and advance institutional dialogue between the elected representatives in national parliaments, civil society organisations and journalists' associations in the Western Balkans, with a view to promoting freedom of expression as a fundamental human right and strengthening the role of civil society organisations.

The event is part of a joint cooperation between the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), BH Journalists’ Association (BHN), Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) and the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia which was the co-organised and hosted the ceremonial part of the conference on 26 November2021.

In addition to the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Radovan Tvrdisic, in the introductory part of the conference the participants were also addressed by the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi, President of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia Mladen Cadikovski, Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Aleksa Becic and Bosnia and Herzegovina parliamentary representative Lazar Prodanovic, as well as representatives of journalists' associations of the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of the international community in the country, MPs and other media organisations.

The conference was concluded with the signing of a joint Declaration on Cooperation between parliamentary representatives and the media on improving the legal environment for the safety of journalists, as a precondition for freedom of expression and the right to information.