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Dialogue on an inclusive and peaceful transition in Syria

Following the fall of the Assad regime, Syria faces a crucial crossroad: a peaceful political transition or continued instability.

After 14 years of war and five decades of brutal dictatorial rule, there is a strong desire among Syrians to build a new society characterised by peace, democracy and inclusion.

The Palme Center therefore, together with SILC and the Swedish Institute for Dialogue in Amman, brought together representatives from different sections of Syrian society for a meeting regarding the way forward for the country. The participants came from diverse political and social backgrounds and met to discuss how Syria’s future system of government can reflect the country’s multifaceted society.

Dialogue on possible ways forward

During the discussions, issues such as peaceful coexistence, coalition-building and equal representation between women and men were raised. By also drawing on experiences from other countries that have undergone political transitions, the participants were able to identify common challenges and possible ways forward.

North Macedonian citizens’ demands become political commitments

Many citizens in North Macedonia feel that solely contact with politicians rarely leads to real change. Ahead of the 2025 local elections, the Palme Center’s partner organisation, NGO Info-centre, therefore brought together over 1100 residents across six municipalities to formulate their priorities for their own local communities.

Through a structured process involving surveys, focus groups and public debates, citizens were given the opportunity to ask mayoral candidates directly how they intended to implement these demands. Post the election, the process was followed up with the newly elected mayors.

Citizens’ demands become political commitments

The result was a democratic breakthrough: in all six municipalities, the mayors signed formal cooperation agreements for the 2026–2029 term of office, in which they committed to working on the basis of the priorities formulated by the citizens themselves.

Civil society in Albania strengthen dialogue on labour law

When changes in Albanias labour law were adopted in 2024, the process drew strong criticism. The legislative changes were implemented without sufficient dialogue, which caused concern among employees and trade unions.

Center for Labor Rights logdes complaint

The Palme Center’s partner organisation Center for Labor Rights (CLR) drew attention to the shortcomings of this process through analyses, advocacy work and dialogue with responsible institutions. They also lodged a formal complaint with the country’s commisioner, who initiated an investigation of the legislative process.

The investigation showed that the requirements for consultation with affected actors had not been met. It was therefore recommended that the government strengthen the consultation process and involve the labour market to a greater extent through the national labour council.

Now more transparent decision-making and inclusion of civil society

As a result of CLR’s work, the responsible ministry is now committed to improving dialogue with civil society and trade unions in the event of future changes to labour legislation. This marks an important step towards more transparent decision-making processes and stronger empowerment for workers in Albania.