From 18 to 20 September 2026, Tirana will host the Citizens’ Forum Albania, organised by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group of the European Parliament in cooperation with the Parliament of Albania. The Institute for Democracy and Mediation is the national partner for the event.

This three-day event will bring together citizens, Members of the European Parliament, Albanian MPs and national experts to discuss Albania’s role in the EU enlargement process, with a focus on placing citizens at the heart of democratic decision-making.

The Forum will feature roundtable discussions, plenary sessions, and expert presentations on key themes such as governance, economic development, and civic participation. Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, share their visions for Albania’s European future, and contribute to citizen-led recommendations on critical issues. The event will culminate in a voting session where participants will endorse the final outcomes, followed by a closing reception.

This is an opportunity for citizens to help shape the future of Albania and Europe together, amplifying citizens’ voices and promoting democratic innovation through regional activities tied to EU integration.

The Citizens’ Forum brings together 50 citizens selected to reflect the diversity of the country, taking into account gender, age group, education and place of residence. The composition also mirrors citizens’ attitudes towards the EU enlargement process itself, ensuring the Forum’s views are representative of the wider population.

It will focus on the enlargement process, giving participants the opportunity to discuss their expectations regarding: a) thematic priorities, and b) the organisation of the process, including the actors involved, forms of negotiation, and timing.

The initiative unfolds in two phases: first, national Citizens’ Fora held in each Western Balkan country; then a regional Western Balkan Citizens’ Forum in Brussels, gathering a selected number of participants from the national citizens’ assemblies to present recommendations to EU institutions.