Pristina – ESI discusses the role of diaspora in Western Balkans’ EU accession

Adnan contributed to two high-level ECFR events. Photo: ESI

ESI senior analyst Adnan Ćerimagić took part in the Regional Diaspora Experts’ Forum, held on 12 December 2025 in Pristina, Kosovo. The conference brought together policymakers, diaspora professionals, and international partners to discuss how diaspora engagement can support EU accession processes and labour mobility in the Western Balkans.

The event was opened by Kosovo’s acting deputy minister for foreign affairs and diaspora, Lisa Gashi, who underlined the strategic importance of diaspora and laid out different initiatives implemented by the governemnt.

Adnan spoke in panel on “Voices from the Diaspora,” contributing ESI’s analysis on advocacy, knowledge transfer, and strengthening institutional links between Western Balkan administrations and professionals working within EU and international frameworks. He highlighted practical barriers to mobilisation and outlined ways to better leverage diaspora expertise for skills development and labour mobility, as well as potential of diaspora for changing the perception of the region.

Adnan also facilitated session on “Diaspora Engagement Strategies and Building Inter-Institutional Linkages,” guiding participants through best practices and concrete steps to improve ongoing communication and cooperation between Western Balkan institutions and diaspora networks with experience across EU structures.

• ESI proposal: “Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue”
• ESI background: “Scoreboard - The true state of accession - What the Commission assessments reveal”
• ESI proposal: “End the turtle race How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process”
• ESI proposal: “Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal”
• ESI proposal: “47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe”
• ESI proposal: “Abandon clichés about Bosnia: Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions”
• ESI proposal: “No partition: Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory”
• ESI report: “Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans: Measure corruption in order to fight it”