When it comes to the EU accession process, the EU puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of civil society; the Union supports the development and inclusion of CSOs in the formulation, adoption and monitoring of policy implementation in the context of EU enlargement and the Berlin Process. As a strategic actor that straddles the line between public and political realms, CSOs play a role in furthering accountability, transparency, reconciliation, and regional cooperation. At this Policy Dialogue, a panel of experts talked about how civil society in the Balkans utilises this position between citizens and politicians in order to live up to the responsibilities with which they have become associated, and what kind of challenges they face in their everyday work. The panellists also discussed what civil society in the Balkans makes of the Berlin process and the new opportunities that have opened up to the sector since last year in Vienna to participate in the process.