During meetings held with European Union (EU) officials in Brussels, young women from Kosovo encouraged the EU to ensure that Progress Reports and EU programs adequately mainstream gender. They also requested for the EU to make public most impact analyses. Requiring that men and women benefit equally from all EU-funded projects would make the EU a better role model for Kosovar institutions, they said .
The meetings took place as part of a study visit during which approximately 15 young women gathered in Brussels from 10 to 14 Nov. to advocate to EU institutions from a gender perspective. KWN’s Zana Rudi took part.
Organized by Kvinna till Kvinna (KtK), this study visit brought together young women from the western Balkans (Kosovo, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina), facilitating national and regional collaboration among women’s groups related to the progress report process.
The first two days focused on EU policies and methods to use in providing input to progress reports through shadow reports. Tidita Fshazi, Expert in European and International Law, explained step by step the EU enlargement process, considering each country’s current situation. She assisted young women to prepare main points to be raised in meetings with EU officials.
The next three days, the group met with various institutions to advocate their concerns. They met the European Parliament Committee for Foreigner Affairs, European Parliament Committee for Gender Equality, European Peacebuilding Liaison Office and representatives of the Netherlands in the EU, among others. Young women presented their concerns and priorities, offering recommendations.