By fostering partnerships and exploring new opportunities, the Forum aims to contribute to the growth of a dynamic and interconnected creative economy across the Western Balkans, balancing the region’s rich cultural heritage with future innovation.
On 28 May 2025, the Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Creative Economy, part of the Berlin Process, will be held in Kotor.
The Berlin Process, being hosted by the United Kingdom this year, aims to convene leaders from the six Western Balkans countries alongside other European leaders to advance regional stability, security, and economic cooperation.
The Forum is bringing together Ministers of Culture, Education, and Economy from across the Region to explore the potential of the creative economy as a driver of sustainable growth, cultural identity, and social cohesion and to foster dialogue, learning, and the exchange of best practices at the ministerial level.
The primary objective is to foster the development of a linked WB6 creative market, aiming to shape policies and deliver tangible actions that will strengthen collaboration and investment but also to provide a platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and ideas. Additionally, the Forum will serve as an opportunity to engage with international organisations, including the European Union and the World Bank, reinforcing a shared commitment to unlocking the full potential of the creative economy.
The programme will highlight successful models from the UK in creative technology, research and development, and higher education collaboration, offering insights that can support innovation and economic expansion in the Region.
We are honoured to confirm that Dame Karen Pierce, the UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, will be in attendance.
Additionally, the Forum will precede British Council x CIM Forum: Growth Reimagined, an event focused on creative economy development hosted by the British Council on 29 and 30 May 2025. Growth Reimagined is being developed in partnership with CIM Forum 2025, the largest regional festival dedicated to media and the creative industries, and the BEYOND Studio, UK’s leading conference for thinkers, makers, investors, and researchers across the creative industries.
For more info about the event, please visit: Growth Reimagined@CIM Forum.
About the Berlin Process
- The Berlin Process was set up in 2014 as a platform to boost cooperation between the Western Balkans Six (WB6), the Berlin Process host countries and the EU. High official representatives of WB6 and their peers in host countries meet at least once a year at the Summit and preparatory Ministerial meetings. The Process also involves EU institutions, international financial institutions, civil society, youth and businesses, providing high-level political support and broad outreach and visibility to regional cooperation initiatives and respective policies, but also to EU connectivity projects in the Region.
- The Berlin Process was initiated to utilize the potential of increased regional cooperation and connectivity in the Western Balkans and bring concrete benefits to the citizens of the Region. The idea was to foster a wide range of projects in order to increase neighbourly relations and interpersonal relationships while subsequently supporting the EU integration of the Region.
About the Creative Industries
- Creative industries rank among the four sectors of the economy with the highest employment of women. In total, cultural and creative industries employ nearly 50 million people worldwide. According to forecasts, the economic impact is expected to triple by 2030, by which time it will account for ten percent of global GDP.
- The creative industries play a crucial role in generating employment, attracting investment, and increasing social progress, while also promoting cultural diversity and having immense potential for growth and innovation. By putting creative industries in focus, we foster global collaboration, provide a platform to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas, and find solutions to support economic growth and social progress.