The Berlin Process is an initiative launched by Germany in 2014 to promote regional cooperation and support the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European Union. The Summit brought together the Heads of Government of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as representatives of European countries, EU institutions and international organisations.

Following the Summit, the Chair’s Conclusions were published, outlining the main outcomes of the discussions and priorities for further cooperation. Particular attention was given to combating corruption, organised crime and illicit financial flows.

In particular, participants emphasised the importance of moving beyond formal compliance with financial integrity standards towards their effective implementation. Key priorities included strengthening regional cooperation, information-sharing, financial investigations and asset recovery. These efforts are expected to contribute to strengthening the rule of law, institutional trust and economic resilience.

In the context of combating organised crime, Summit participants supported enhancing operational cooperation among law enforcement authorities across the region, including information-sharing, joint activities and institutional capacity-building.

Regarding anti-corruption efforts, participants welcomed the outcomes of the regional meeting organised on 15 October in Tirana, Albania, by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) in partnership with international partners. The event focused on strengthening anti-corruption institutions, advancing regional cooperation and translating anti-corruption commitments into practical action.

Following the meeting, RAI presented initial recommendations covering six priority areas for further action:

1. strengthening the independence of anti-corruption authorities – safeguarding their political, operational and financial independence while ensuring effective oversight, transparent procedures and accountability;
2. implementing EU anti-corruption standards – aligning national legal frameworks and practices in the Western Balkans with the new EU Directive on combating corruption and the forthcoming EU Anti-Corruption Strategy. Particular attention should be given to defining institutional responsibilities, implementation timelines and indicators to track progress;
3. advancing practical regional cooperation – expanding peer learning and the exchange of proven anti-corruption tools, strengthening cooperation among law enforcement and anti-corruption authorities, including cross-border exchange and verification of asset declarations and efforts to combat illicit financial flows;
4. strengthening civic oversight – promoting transparent local governance, meaningful citizen participation and civil society engagement in decision-making, responsible business practices and civic education;
5. using digital technologies and artificial intelligence – exploring modern tools to strengthen corruption prevention, detection, risk assessment and oversight, while ensuring data protection, transparency and meaningful human oversight;
6. enhancing transparency in anti-corruption reforms – ensuring that governments publish objective and verifiable data to assess progress in anti-corruption reforms, including in the context of the region’s EU accession process.

The discussions also addressed improvements to asset declaration and verification systems, conflict-of-interest prevention, whistleblower protection, and emerging corruption risks related to migration and environmental governance.

The outcomes of the meeting were reflected in the Summit’s Chair’s Conclusions, which emphasised the need to translate regional anti-corruption commitments into effective implementation and measurable results.

The Summit marked the conclusion of Montenegro’s 2026 Chairmanship of the Berlin Process. The next Summit is planned for 2027 under Austria’s chairmanship.