LocationsWomen Must Be at the Centre of Reforms and the Future of the Western Balkans
No Equality in the Western Balkans Without Systemic Changes
May 7, 2026
Women Lead: Economy, Alliances and the Future of Integration opening panel discussion
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
Budva, 5-6 May 2026 – The Western Balkans can achieve faster and more sustainable development only if women are equally included in decision-making, resource management, and economic flows, participants concluded at the regional dialogue “Women Lead: Economy, Alliances and the Future of Integration”.
The two-day event was organized by the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the European Union, bringing together representatives of institutions, international organizations, the business and academic communities, civil society, and regional partners.
Throughout the dialogue, participants stressed that gender equality must become an integral part of economic reforms, labour market policies, and EU integration processes, as sustainable development, stronger economies, and fairer societies cannot be achieved without the full participation of women.
Data presented at the event showed that women account for almost two-thirds of the inactive and unemployed working-age population in the region. Women in the Western Balkans also continue to carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work — spending on average one to three hours more per day on unpaid work than men. At the same time, every third women-led business identifies limited access to finance, mentoring, and business networks as a major obstacle.
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević while opening the dialogue stated that the goal is not only formal alignment with European gender equality standards, but for Montenegro to become a regional leader in their implementation.
“Women in Montenegro and across the region are already demonstrating leadership in institutions, the economy, and society. It is our responsibility to ensure that the system finally catches up with that potential,” Gorčević said.
Maida Gorcevic, Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro Ekaterina Paniklova stressed that joint efforts are focused on removing barriers that limit women’s participation in the economy.
“Our focus is on practical solutions — improving access to finance, strengthening childcare services, and opening opportunities in the digital and green sectors. With women still making up almost two thirds of the inactive and unemployed working-age population, expanding their participation is a direct way to strengthen economic performance and deliver tangible results for people and businesses", Paniklova stated.
Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Montenegro Resident Representative
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
Liselotte Isaksson, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, underlined that the European Union continues to strengthen its response to challenges in the field of gender equality.
“The new EU Gender Equality Strategy confirms that the European Union is reinforcing its commitment to promoting women’s rights and gender equality,” Isaksson said.
Liselotte Isaksson, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
During panels dedicated to economic growth, labour markets, institutional accountability, regional alliances, and intergenerational leadership, participants emphasized that inequalities affecting women are not accidental, but rather the result of systems that require deeper reforms in labour markets, education, finance, and governance.
Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue Naida Nišić stressed that ongoing reforms must help build a labour market that supports women’s economic independence, equal opportunities for career advancement, and decent work:
“The new Labour Law and the reform processes we are implementing are designed to strengthen equal opportunities, support women’s economic independence, and ensure decent work for all. Our priority is to make gender equality standards the norm, rather than the exception, in Montenegro’s economy,” Nišić stated.
Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue Naida Nišić
UNDP Montenegro
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Gjeka emphasized that there can be no lasting progress without strong institutional mechanisms:
“If we want gender equality to become a reality in the labour market, the new law, gender mainstreaming of legislation, and stronger mechanisms are the foundation of that change,” said Gjeka.
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Gjeka
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
Danijela Gačević, Head of Programme Department at the Regional Cooperation Council, emphasized that with strategic support, women’s entrepreneurship has the potential to become a key driver of economic growth, resilience, and stronger regional cooperation and connectivity.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Neva Grašič, highlighted that Slovenia demonstrates how even a small country can have a strong impact when it consistently invests in women’s leadership, builds alliances and shared platforms, and actively promotes gender equality values and policies at both European and global level.
Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro, Branimir Jukić, underlined that greater participation of women has been one of the main drivers of social progress and development, stressing that further economic growth and overall advancement depend on the full inclusion of the other half of society in development processes.
The second day of the dialogue focused particularly on the role of regional alliances, women’s networks, and new generations of women leaders in driving sustainable change.
Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović emphasized the importance of women’s networks:
“The role of women’s networks is not symbolic; it represents a fundamental corrective of the system. In practice, this means that they are no longer just a space for support, but also a platform for influence and change – a place from which policies and processes are actively shaped,” Adžović said.
Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, Siniša Bjeković, stressed that women’s social and economic power is still not aligned with their contribution to society:
“The key obstacles remain stigma, prejudice, and male dominance in decision-making positions. The role of the state must be active – through policies that concretely encourage the empowerment of women, especially the most vulnerable ones,” Bjeković concluded.
The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, Siniša Bjeković
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
Jelenka Andrić, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality of Montenegro, stated that gender equality must become a governance standard rather than the responsibility of individual initiatives or institutions.
Marko Vešligaj, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, highlighted the importance of stable support for women’s organizations and greater participation of women in decision-making processes.
Edi Gusia, Executive Director of the Kosovo Agency for Gender Equality*, presented their experience, stating that systemic policies have produced measurable results, including support through STEM scholarships for women and a significant increase in their participation in these fields.
Regional gender equality expert Sonja Lokar pointed out that sustainable change requires strong links between institutional reforms and social movements, emphasizing that processes initiated “from above” can only be consolidated through pressure and mobilization “from below.”
In closing remarks, Bojan Vujović, Director General for the Coordination of EU Financial Assistance at the Ministry of European Affairs, stressed that the key task ahead is to translate regional knowledge and recommendations into concrete policies and measurable results:
“Montenegro has made significant progress in the previous period in strengthening its legal and strategic framework in the field of gender equality, and it will continue to work dedicatedly on its improvement, while strengthening regional cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and experience with partners in the region,” Vujović concluded.
Bojan Vujović, Director General for the Coordination of EU Financial Assistance at the Ministry of European Affairs
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Montenegro, Silke Hollander, stressed that partnerships and alliances are key to moving from political commitments to measurable results:
“Regional alliances, women’s networks, and cross-sector partnerships are the fastest path from commitments to real change. UNDP will continue to act as a platform for partnerships and a driver of systemic change – connecting policies, finance, and regional cooperation so that today’s conclusions become tomorrow’s laws, budgets, and measurable results,” Holander said.
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Montenegro, Silke Hollander
UNDP Montenegro/ Radonja Sredanović
At the end of the two days dialogue, participants concluded that the region cannot achieve its full development potential without the full inclusion of women, and that systemic change, accountability, and strong regional cooperation are essential to accelerating progress.
The dialogue was organized within the regional programme “EU4GenderEquality”, funded by the European Commission and jointly implemented by UNDP and UN Women.
MINISTRY OF EUROPEAN AFFAIRS / UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN MONTENEGRO (UNDP)
*For the European Union, this designation is used without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the declaration of independence of Kosovo. For UNDP, all references to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).