UN Women strengthens regional collaboration for gender-responsive EU accession
UN Women offices from eight countries in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans gathered in Tirana, Albania, to exchange knowledge, strengthen capacities, and build a shared vision for advancing gender equality through the EU accession process.
Date:
Tirana, September 11 - More than 25 representatives from UN Women offices gathered for a two-day retreat of the Gender Equality Facility (GEF) Community of Practice. It was hosted by UN Women Albania under the EU-funded EU for Gender Equality Facility Project.
Discussions centered on how to better support national governments in the EU accession process while ensuring that gender equality remains a priority throughout.
The EU accession process involves wide-ranging reforms across a number of areas, including governance, rule of law, human rights, and gender equality. The retreat was an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to ensure that gender perspectives guide legislation, policies, and budgets throughout this transformative process.
“Across the region we have ten countries on the EU path, either candidates or potential candidates, making accession a truly transformative process,” said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “This process is anchored in good governance, rule of law, human rights, and gender equality. For UN Women, this alignment is a key strategic opportunity to advance the gender equality agenda across the region.”
Gender equality is also a central requirement for EU membership. Andre Rizzo, Head of European Integration at the EU Delegation to Albania, explained:
“Gender equality is embedded in EU treaties and policies. For aspiring member states, aligning legislation with the EU gender acquis is essential. In accession negotiations, gender equality falls under cluster one, ‘The fundamentals’ cluster, which is opened first and closed last. This highlights its importance in the process.”
Participants pointed out the practical value of the retreat. Tamar Vashakidze, Programme Specialist from UN Women Georgia, said:
“This workshop was an excellent opportunity to learn from each other and discuss how UN Women can support countries in accelerating EU accession while advancing gender equality.”
Ivona Paunovic-Bisevac, Project Management Specialist from Moldova, added:
“These past two days were both insightful and practical, showing different ways to mainstream gender in EU accession. The experience accumulated through the Gender Equality Facility and the exchange of good practices will guide us in supporting the newest candidate countries.”
At the end of the retreat, the participants left with enhanced knowledge and practical insights, and a renewed commitment to keeping gender equality at the center of EU accession. The event highlighted the power of cooperation, peer learning and cross-border collaboration in accelerating progress on women’s rights and equality across the region.