Tirana became a regional hub for public finance reform from March 23–25, 2026, as civil society organisations, government representatives, and EU stakeholders gathered for the Building Alliances for Budget Accountability (BABA) Regional Convening—culminating in the first regional launch of the Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2025 for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.
Organized by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and funded by the European Commission, the three-day event brought together a diverse community of actors committed to one shared goal: advancing transparent, participatory, and accountable public finances across the region.
A Space for Reflection, Learning, and Collaboration
The first two days of the convening created a dynamic and open space for reflection and exchange among civil society partners and institutional stakeholders. As the current phase of the BABA initiative approaches its conclusion, the gathering offered a chance to assess nearly three years of collaboration and impact. Participants explored key questions shaping the region’s budget accountability ecosystem:
- What progress has been achieved in strengthening transparency and participation?
- Which partnerships and approaches have enabled change?
- What challenges continue to limit meaningful engagement?
Through interactive sessions, participants moved between roles as learners, contributors, and co-creators—sharing country-level experiences while jointly identifying practical strategies for future action. Discussions highlighted the importance of strong collaboration between civil society and public institutions, capacity-building for effective fiscal analysis and advocacy and linking budget work more directly to people’s lived experiences. While progress was acknowledged, participants also recognized that engagement across stakeholders remains fragmented and that more effort is needed to translate technical gains into tangible outcomes. Structured as a collective learning journey, the convening guided participants from reflection toward forward-looking action.
Key themes included:
- The role of relationships and trust in enabling reform;
- The importance of adaptable strategies in complex political environments;
- The need to strengthen a shared narrative around the value of budget accountability.
By the end of the two days, participants identified common regional priorities, distilled lessons learned, and outlined concrete next steps for continued collaboration.
OBS 2025 Regional Launch: From Compliance to Credibility
Building on this momentum, the third day marked a major regional milestone—the official launch of the Open Budget Survey 2025.
Under the theme “From Compliance to Credibility: Strengthening Budget Accountability in the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” the event brought together a broader audience of government officials, civil society organisations, audit institutions, and EU representatives to engage with the latest findings.
The OBS first launched in 2006 remains the world’s only independent, comparative tool measuring:
- Budget transparency
- Public participation
- Oversight
The 2025 results highlighted a critical insight: while countries in the region have made progress in meeting formal transparency standards, significant gaps remain in ensuring that these efforts translate into real accountability and public trust. The launch event moved beyond presenting findings to fostering meaningful dialogue on reform priorities.
Three key discussions shaped the day:
- Transparency Gains and Their Limits
Participants reflected on whether improvements in transparency are leading to substantive change, emphasizing that compliance alone is not enough. - Why Accountability Gaps Matter Now
With increasing fiscal pressures and growing public expectations, speakers highlighted the real-world implications of weak oversight and limited participation. - Pathways to Building Trust
The final discussions focused on practical steps to move from measurement to implementation—transforming evidence into credible, lasting reforms.
Across all sessions, a shared message emerged: data must be paired with action. Strengthening accountability requires not only technical tools, but also political will, institutional cooperation, and active civic engagement.
Representatives from the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), Ivana Petrisková and Liljana Tanevska Arsova, participated in the convening and OBS launch as part of the Gender Budget Watchdog Network. Their engagement emphasized the importance of integrating gender-responsive perspectives into budget accountability efforts and ensuring that public finance decisions reflect the diverse needs of all citizens. The event also provided an opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships, exchange experiences, and contribute to shaping the next phase of collaboration.
